(Washington, DC) - Montana's U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced today The Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has awarded a $137,460 grant to Montana for mine worker training and safety programs.

"Mining is Montana's third largest industry and workers deserve every tool available to stay safe on the job so they can go home to their families after a long days' work. Investing in training programs supports good-paying jobs for the long haul," said Baucus.

"Montana's miners work difficult, dangerous jobs," Tester said.  "They deserve all the resources we can provide to help them safely do their jobs and to responsibly provide the resources needed to fuel our economy."

The funding will be used to provide training and retraining of miners throughout the state.  All training is available to both surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines and contractors working on mine properties. The grants will fund federally mandated training for miners as well as health and safety awareness. State offices administer the grants and are able to tailor the training programs to fit each mine's individual needs and provide technical assistance for on-site trainings.

  Safety Topics Covered in Training Programs

·        Medical First Aid;

·        Montana Cola Mine Foreman Certification;

·        MSHA Training Plan Assistance;

·        Statutory Rights of Miners;

·        Trenching and Shoring Safety; and

·        Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Training