MSHA rolled out the third phase of its Rules to Live By (RTLB III) fatality and catastrophe prevention program with 14 new standards that will be subject to increased Agency scrutiny and enforcement.

In a media briefing following a meeting with stakeholders today, Assistant Secretary Joe Main said the emphasis in this phase is on accidents and deaths at surface mines, with seven of the eight new Coal standards under RTLB enforced at surface operations and four of the six at Metal/Non-Metal (M/NM) surface mines.