For full access to the "Sharpe’s Point: On Mine Safety” article archive and all new issues, articles and news alerts, subscribe now

Rock Products Magazine

• Welcoming a New Mine Safety Approach - May 1, 2012
• Diesel Study Results Present New Challenge - April 1, 2012
• Actions, Not Words, Reveal MSHA's Intent - March 1, 2012
• Taking a Step Forward - February 1, 2012
• Better Days for Mine Safety Lie Ahead - January 1, 2012
• Contrasting Views Emerge of MSHA Chief's Performance - December 1, 2011
• California Shooting is a Wakeup Call - November 1, 2011
• Storm Clouds Brewing over MSHA - October 1, 2011
• Brains, Not Brawn, the Path to Improved Safety - September 1, 2011
• Mine Operators Hold Key to Safe Workplaces - August 1, 2011
• Time is Right for Mine Safety Study - July 1, 2011
• Time to Modernize Mine Safety - June 1, 2011
• Comprehensive Mine Safety Reform is Back on the Table - May 1, 2011
• Changes Coming to MSHA Should Have Operators Smiling - April 1, 2011
• Compliance with Air Contaminants Rule Should Start Now - March 1, 2011
• Deficit Reduction Could Hurt Small Operators - February 1, 2011
• Big Picture Look at Safety Needed after Coal Tragedy - January 1, 2011
• MSHA Faces New Reality in Election Results - December 1, 2010
• Tough Talk Won't Improve Mine Safety - November 1, 2010
• Pivotal Period Coming for MSHA Enforcement - October 1, 2010
• Union Boss Got It Right, But No One was Listening - September 1, 2010
• Democrats Go It Alone on Mine Reform - August 1, 2010
• Coal-Mine Tragedy Puts Enforcement Model on Trial - July 1, 2010
• Aggregate Producers Will Feel the Pain of Recent Coal Tragedy - May 1, 2010
• Media Buys Bogus Mine Safety Claim on Case Backlog - April 1, 2010
• MSHA Exhausts Reserves of Trust - March 1, 2010
• Enlightened Approach Needed to Fix MSHA Citation Problem - February 1, 2010
• An Appeal to Congress over MSHA Enforcement - January 1, 2010
• Joe Main's Safety Agenda Shows Hopeful Signs - December 1, 2009
• Daylight Savings Time Switch Increases Risk for Injuries - November 1, 2009
• Extend Mine Safety to the Open Roads - October 1, 2009
• Health Issues Likely to Top Regulatory Agenda - September 1, 2009
• An MSHA Survival Guide - August 1, 2009
• Serious Injury Reduction Requires New Thinking - July 1, 2009
• Tough Regulation Enforcement Expected in the Obama Era - May 1, 2009
• A Blueprint for Changing How Mine Safety is Regulated - April 1, 2009
• NIOSH Issues Guidance on Reducing Low Back Pain - March 1, 2009
• Remembering Richard Stickler - February 1, 2009
• Concerns Regarding MSHA's Behavior - January 1, 2009
• One-Strike Rule Mars MSHA Drug Proposal - December 1, 2008
• CEOs Speak Out on Safety - November 1, 2008
• Gun Laws Proliferate - October 1, 2008
• More Dust Regs on the Way? - September 1, 2008
• Congress Taking a Close Look At Injury Reporting - August 1, 2008
• Some But Not All Relations with MSHA Deteriorating - July 1, 2008
• Missing the Point on Safety - June 1, 2008
• Building Safety Committees - May 1, 2008
• Industrial Hygienists' Credibility Under Scrutiny - April 1, 2008
• Washing Up for Safety - March 1, 2008
• NIOSH Suggestions for Improving Vehicle Safety - February 1, 2008
• MSHA Tough-Cop Approach: A Cause for Concern? - January 1, 2008
• Time to Act: Industry-Wide Safety Program Needed - December 1, 2007
• A New Era in Regulation Leaves Industry Stunned - November 1, 2007
• MSHA, DOL Should Stop Utah Coal Mine Probes - October 1, 2007
• S-MINER Act Puts Small Producers in Jeopardy - September 1, 2007
• MINER Act II: Not All Bad - August 1, 2007
• Hanson CEO Targets Zero - July 1, 2007
• Chargeability Criteria to Get IG Review - June 1, 2007
• More Mine Safety Legislation on the Way - May 1, 2007
• Problems and Promises of Genetic Testing - April 1, 2007
• Senate Dems Quick to Act on Mine Safety - March 1, 2007
• Message for Aggregates in Coal Report - February 1, 2007
• Shift Work and Long Hours: Risky Business - January 1, 2007
• Put the Brakes on MSHA's Proposal - December 1, 2006
• All Mining is Coal Mining - November 1, 2006
• NSSGA's Program is a Big Deal - October 1, 2006
• Thumbs Down for MSHA's 15-Minute Rule - September 1, 2006
• Time to Address Accident Prevention - August 1, 2006
• Health Risks Hurt the Bottom Line - July 1, 2006
• Feds Get Ho-hum Grade on Safety - June 1, 2006
• A Better Use for MSHA Money - May 1, 2006
• Rushing Down the Wrong Road - April 1, 2006
• Silica Smorgasbord - March 1, 2006
• OSHA Bill Could Spill Over to MSHA - February 1, 2006
• Safety Pros Favor Substance Abuse Rule - January 1, 2006
• Core Principles Valuable for Everyone - December 1, 2005
• Who Will Buy PPE? - November 1, 2005
• A Proposal to Put Down Lighting Up - October 1, 2005
• McAteer's Migraine - September 1, 2005

Articles Written for Other Publications

• Unions Disagree on MSHA's Safety Program Initiative, published in Inside Global Mining," Vol. 10, No. 2, 2010
• Another Approach to Reform Mine Safety, submitted to the New York Times, Dec. 15, 2010
• Aging a Factor in Miners' Injury Severity, submitted to USA Today, May 4, 2010
• Mine Safety Agency Misuses Inspection Resources, published by the Charleston Gazette, May 29, 2010
• Analysis: Mine Safety Article Misses the Big Picture, submitted to the New York Times, April 11, 2010
• Half-Right on Mining's Revolving Door," submitted to the Washington Post, April 19, 2010
• Mine Tragedy Will Spur Rush to Regulate, submitted to the Wall Street Journal, April 8, 2010
• Accident Probe Should Be Independent, submitted to the New York Times, April 8, 2010
• More to the Story on Mine Penalties, Letter to the Editor submitted to USA Today, April 9, 2010
• Mine Tragedy Spawns Misinformation, submitted to Fox News, April 9, 2010
• Mine Backlog Editorial Marred by Errors, submitted to the New York Times, Feb. 26, 2010
• Letter to the Editor: It's Not All Mine, Washington Times, July 12, 2009
• Proximity Devices Under Scrutiny, Inside Global Mining, Vol. 8, #3, July 2009
• Research Suggests Part 46 Has Not Reduced Injuries, Inside Global Mining, Vol. 8, #2, January 2009
• Crandall Canyon Fantasy (To New York Times, August 20, 2008)
• Tribune Wrong to Seek MSHA Director's Resignation (To Salt Lake Tribune, August 6, 2008)
• Writer's Faux Remarks about MSHA (To Boston Globe, May 31, 2008)
• Marcus' Column on MSHA Misleads (To Washington Post, April 10, 2008)
• Stickler Should Not Resign (To Salt Lake Tribune, March 15, 2008)
• Newspaper Slips on Coverage of New Labor Website (To Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 18, 2008)
• Advancing Mine Safety (Published by Louisville Courier-Journal, June 2006)
• Sago Victims Have Not Died in Vain (To Charleston Gazette, December 17, 2006