About
The NORA Mining Sector Council brings together individuals and organizations with a shared interest in improving miner safety and health. Members attend meetings and participate in workgroups to improve mining conditions for worker safety. Discover more about what the NORA Mining Sector Council does and who the current members are.
Sector description
For NORA, the Mining Sector is defined by the industry segments coded under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 212: Mining (except Oil and Gas).
It includes the coal mining, metal ore mining, and nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying segments of the industry. Support activities are also included. These workers face risks that include
- Falling materials.
- Explosions.
- Fires.
- Powered haulage.
- Overexertion.
- Electrical equipment.
- Exposure to particulates and dusts including diesel emissions, coal dust, and silica dust.
Improved mining practices, research, and equipment have reduced the frequency of injuries and diseases, but they are still above acceptable industrial levels. The Mine Safety and Health Administration injury statistics indicate that mining is at an all-time low for reportable injuries and fatalities. Given that mining is an inherently dangerous industry, vigilance is still needed.
The Mining Sector of NORA is dedicated to continuing to reduce these incidences through miner health and safety research. The NORA Oil and Gas Extraction Council focuses on workers in industries extracting liquid and gas deposits.
The NIOSH Mining Program facilitates the work of the Council and coordinates NIOSH research in this sector.
Members
The Council has two co-chairs—one from NIOSH and one from a partner organization. The NIOSH Mining Program coordinators also help to facilitate the work of the Council. Members attend meetings and participate in workgroups.
Current members
Name
Organization
Bob Randolph
Co-Chair, NIOSH Program Coordinator
NIOSH
Lee Saperstein
Co-Chair
Missouri University of Science & Technology
Randy Reed
NIOSH Program Manager
NIOSH
Cara Halldin
NIOSH Program Assistant Coordinator
NIOSH
Carin KosmoskiNIOSH Program Assistant Coordinator
NIOSH
Adele Abrams
The Law Office of Adele L. Abrams PC
Dan Alexander
Retired – NIOSH
Kwame Awuah-Offei
Missouri University of Science and Technology
David Blackley
NIOSH
Andrea Brinkey
South Dakota School of Mines
Jürgen Brune
Colorado School of Mines
Jeff Burgess
University of Arizona
Alberto Cabán-Martinez
University of Miami
Jay Canada
Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Co.
Snehamoy Chatterjee
Michigan Tech
John Cowie
Industrial Minerals Association – North America
George Danko
University of Nevada Reno
Mark Ellis
Industrial Minerals Association – North America
Arthur Frank
Drexel University – Retired
Bill Gleason
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
Chris Greissing
Industrial Minerals Association – North America
Stephanie Griffin
University of Arizona
Ken Groves
Cementation USA, Inc
Lori Guasta
Colorado School of Mines
Joel Haight
University of Pittsburgh
Cara N. Halldin
NIOSH
Steve Harrison
Innovative Wireless Technologies, Inc.
Jim Haughey
Komatsu
Keith A. Heasley
West Virginia University
Thomas A. Hethmon
Hethmon Associates LLC
Ariel Hill-Davis
Industrial Minerals Association – North America
Joseph Hirschi
Southern Illinois University
Phil Joggerst
Small Mine Development, LLC
Douglas Johns
NIOSH
David Kanagy
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
Jessica Kogel
NIOSH
Stacey Kramer
Freeport McMoRan Inc.
Nikky LaBranche
University of Queensland
Scott Laney
NIOSH
Ali Lashgari
Clean Air
Paloma Lazaro
University of Arizona
Eric Lutz
University of Arizona
Matthew H. Main
Freeport McMoRan Inc.
Maral Malekian
University of Arizona
Hugh Miller
Colorado School of Mines
Michael Murphy
Caterpillar
Tom Novak
University of Kentucky
Julie Pier
Imerys Group PLC
Gerald Poplin
NIOSH
Mary Poulton
University of Arizona
Raja V. Ramani
Penn State University
Laura Reynolds
NIOSH
Josh Roberts
United Mine Workers of America
Pratt Rogers
University of Utah
Pedram Roghanchi
New Mexico Tech
Michael Runner
Intrepid Potash
Breanna Sanders
Rio Tinto Mining
Javad Sattarvand
University of Nevada-Reno
Mark Savit
Predictive Compliance
Steven Schafrik
University of Kentucky
Joseph Sottile
University of Kentucky
Monique Spruill
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Corey Stevens
Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
Jason Stoltz
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Stanley Suboleski
Evan Energy Investments
Marcus Thomas
SafeBox
Michael Wegleitner
Hecla Mining