Work This Way: A Labor & Employment Law Podcast - Episode 38: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) with John Holmes of Maynard Nexsen
On June 5, 2025, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding the Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget....more
While new presidents are typically judged based on their actions in their first 100 days, the current Trump administration has moved at such a rapid speed that we think another recap is needed at the halfway point. Here’s...more
In mid-February, Trump nominated Wayne Palmer to lead the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and David Keeling to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). While these nominees have been...more
This week, Tina and Warren are joined by their colleague, John Holmes, a labor and employment attorney with extensive experience in MSHA and OSHA matters. In this episode, John shares his insights into the most common types...more
President Donald Trump recently nominated Wayne Palmer to take the reins at MSHA as the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health. Palmer is currently serving as a part of the Trump transition team within the Department...more
Over the last week, the Trump administration has put forward its nominees for Assistant Secretary for both the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Health and Safety Administration (MSHA)....more
As Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer braces for a flurry of questions at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on her way to a full Senate vote to become President...more
Our Workplace Safety thought leaders have pulled together their top predictions for the new year so that employers can get a running start to 2025....more
Our firm’s Workplace Safety Practice Group has provided some general perspectives on what employers can expect under the next Trump administration – but it’s time for a deeper dive that OSHA and MSHA safety professionals will...more
As the dust settles on the 2024 Election Cycle and the pundits continue analyzing and dissecting the results, the OSHA/MSHA Team at Conn Maciel Carey draws from decades of experience representing employers during Republican...more
It’s hard to keep up with all the recent changes to labor and employment law. While the law always seems to evolve at a rapid pace, there have been an unprecedented number of changes for the past few years—and this past month...more
Where is Everybody? Perhaps due to the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, it’s been a relatively quiet week in the labor and employment arena in Washington, D.C. President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene...more
Due to a recent court decision, metal/nonmetal mine operators are again facing the possibility of having to comply with two of the more onerous provisions of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) workplace...more
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is back in business as it will soon have a quorum again to decide cases. The Commission plays an important role in mine safety and health law....more
NY Natural Gas Moratorium Due to Lack of Pipelines, but Some in Denial - "The slowing of economic development resulting from New York's political actions is a testament to what happens when energy becomes politicized." ...more
As the calendar pages turn over to a new year, many wonder what to expect from workplace safety and its regulators in 2019. Here’s our run-down of 8 key areas where we expect to see action in the months ahead....more
How would the Trump administration’s government reorganization plan affect highly technical workplace safety programs, such as OSHA and MSHA? Part of the plan, announced June 21, 2018, proposes merging the Department of Labor...more
President Donald Trump on February 12, 2018, submitted his budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The President's full budget calls for approximately $4.4 trillion in total spending. Much of the budget seeks...more
Part of the Trump administration’s political platform was to shrink the size of the federal government that is not involved in defense and security. As that trickles down to OSHA, what will fewer compliance officers mean for...more
Washington returned after New Year’s to news on several Trump administration nominations related to workplace safety and health. This week, the White House announced the nomination of Marco M. Rajkovich, Jr. to be the new...more
It’s that time of year again: for employers to celebrate the successes of the prior year and make plans and resolutions for the new one. But OSHA and MSHA are making New Year’s resolutions, too, and employers are well-advised...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: President Trump’s selection for Administrator at MSHA has been confirmed this week by the Senate. In a 52-46 vote, David G. Zatezalo, of West Virginia, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate this week, on...more
Wheeling Resident David Zatezalo Confirmed to Lead MSHA - "In a strict party-line vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Wheeling resident David Zatezalo to lead the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. The vote to...more
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) questioned Donald Trump’s nominee to be the new head of MSHA, David Zatezalo, about small mine compliance assistance and technological advances within the...more
Trump is Still Pulling Out of Paris Agreement, Despite Chatter of a Reversal, Experts Say - "President Donald Trump is unlikely to reverse his position to pull out of the Paris climate agreement, despite the White House...more