Who Is the “Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training” for MSHA Part 46?

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In MSHA’s Part 46, the regulation specifies a number of specific roles. One of those roles is the “Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training.”

It’s not always obvious what that means, even in a simple case when a mine operator is providing mining safety training for Part 46 compliance to employees who are full-time employees at the mine.

And that can get even more confusing if a person is completing training online, or if the person taking the training doesn’t work as a normal employee of the mine but instead is working there as a contractor.

So, we’ll give you the low-down on what (and who) the “Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training” is in all these various circumstances.

And don’t forget to download our free Guide to MSHA Training.

Who IS the Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training?

The person responsible for safety and health training at the mine is first mentioned in 46.9(b)(5). Here’s what it says there (in a list of things that must appear on training records):

A statement signed by the person designated in the MSHA-approved training plan for the mine as responsible for health and safety training, that states “I certify that the above training has been completed.”

An MSHA Part 46 Compliance Guide makes the duty of that Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training more clear:

Section 46.9(b)(5) requires that the person designated by the operator in the MSHA-approved training plan as responsible for health and safety training must certify that each miner has completed the required training.

By the way, that same Part 46 Compliance guide also makes it clear that there can be more than one “Person” responsible for safety and health training:

We recognize that some operators, particularly those that operate large facilities, may want the flexibility of having more than one person who can certify that training has been given under § 46.3(b)(5). There is nothing in the Part 46 regulations that would prevent an operator from giving this responsibility to more than one person.

The Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training and the Part 46 Training Plan Document

Now that we know who the person responsible for safety and health training is, and what that person’s ultimate responsibility is, it’s also important to know where that person’s name must appear on a Part 46 Training Plan.

To better understand this, check out this MSHA Part 46 sample Training Plan (created by MSHA).

Scroll down to page 6, and look at the box for item 2. You’ll see that there are spaces there to enter the name(s), title(s), and contact information for the person(s) responsible for safety and health training.

And in terms of MSHA Part 46 documentation and recordkeeping, that’s an essential thing to keep in mind about the role of the person responsible for safety and health training.

Who’s The Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training In Various Circumstances

Now that we know what this role is about, in general, and that this person’s name must be listed on the Part 46 training plan, let’s take a look at some specific circumstances, listed below.

Mining Operator is Delivering Training to Full-Time Mining Employees of the Mine Itself

The mine operator specifies one or more person to do this.

Same Scenario, but the Miners Completed Training that Included Online Training

Same answer as above (note the answer is not the producer of the online training in most cases)

A Contractor Completes Online Training Before Working Going to Work at a Mine (Where He/She Is Not an “Ordinary,” Full-Time Mining Employee)

The contractor’s employer must create a training plan, specify a person who will be the person responsible for safety and health training, and put that person’s name on the training plan.

Same Scenario as Immediately Above, but the Contractor is a Sole Proprietor (Own His/Her Own Business)

This person must create his/her own training plan and list himself/herself as the person responsible for safety and health training.

Conclusion: MSHA Part 46 & The Person Responsible for Safety and Health Training

Well, hope that helped answer some questions! Feel free to contact us if you’d like more information or if you would like to take some online MSHA Part 46 training courses.

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