Question: Can my mining company make us work overtime? We have been working double-shifts, the miners are tired, and someone is going to get hurt.

Answer: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) does not have the authority to regulate hours of work. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is responsible for enforcing laws concerning overtime pay. There are no federal laws prohibiting overtime work, but employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek must be paid overtime wages. (For more information on wage and hour laws, see http://www.dol.gov). If you believe that certain workplace conditions are creating a safety or health hazard, you should discuss them with your supervisor or employee representative. You may also contact your local MSHA office to discuss your concerns. Contacts with MSHA can be made anonymously using Code-a-phone.