JOSEPH A. HOLMES

The Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association (JAHSA) is a nonprofit organization that began in 1916 to promote health and safety in the mining industry and consists of representatives from Federal and State Governments, Mining Organizations and Labor.

The Holmes Safety Association consists of a national council, state councils, district councils, and local chapters. The chapters are made up of Holmes members at a single organization, for instance a mine or a supply company.

Objectives. The Association’s objectives are to prevent fatalities and injuries and to improve

health and safety among officials and employees in all phases of mining. These objectives guide and inspire all of the Association’s activities.

Growing Membership. All levels of the Association are strengthened by active participation from labor, government, mining companies, and suppliers. In recent years, the association has grown substantially, and has embraced the surface and non-coal mining sectors in addition to its traditional underground coal membership.

Awards. Awards are an important part of the Association’s safety leadership. These are given to individuals who have performed heroic acts and to mines with outstanding safety records.

Scholarships. The Association’s scholarship program encourages new generations to enter the mining safety and health profession. A financial award is given to deserving candidates (with preference given to miners or their children) to help defray their educational costs in a field related to mining health and safety. Meetings. Many of the councils and chapters have regular meetings to help their membership with safety issues. These meetings culminate in the annual meeting of the national council held every summer.