From Coal Country to D.C.

Growing up in the small coal mining community of Mingo County, WV, Chris Williamson, assistant secretary of labor for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is a tried-and-true Mountaineer. Even after moving to the Washington, D.C., area, he continues to be mindful of his rich Appalachian roots and proud of his extensive coal mining lineage. Keeping his great grandfather’s old mining hat in a glass case behind his desk to serve as a reminder of where he came from, Williamson credits his humble upbringing as the primary source of his heartfelt passion for helping others.

“Mining has always been a big part of my life,” Williamson says. “My great grandfather was a United Mine Workers of America coal miner for over 30 years. Coal mining is such an important part of not just the economy in Southern West Virginia, but also its history and culture. I was raised by my grandfather. He still lives in the same home he built in the town of Dingess over 50 years ago. He taught me the value of hard work and public service.”

With a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from West Virginia University (WVU), a Master of Public Policy from American University and a Juris Doctor from WVU College of Law, Williamson had always envisioned himself working in a capacity that was geared toward bettering the lives of others. When tragedy struck the Mountain State and the entire coal mining community on April 5, 2010, the day of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster that killed 29 miners, Williamson knew he wanted to help ensure something like that would never happen again.

“About a month before I graduated law school, the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster happened,” he says. “At that point in time I had already decided I wanted to pursue a career in public service. I had the opportunity to work for an administrative law judge at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission right out of law school. That’s where I really got interested as a lawyer about the power of the Mine Act. That’s where I thought I could make a difference at that point in time.”

Williamson says a lot of the mine safety rules and regulations put into action today are a direct result of coal miners in the Mountain State.

“There’s a whole history and reason why Congress put all those protections for miner safety and health into law and created our agency to enforce those, and a lot of it comes out of West Virginia,” he says. “There’s a history of West Virginia coal miners going on wildcat strikes just to raise awareness and have black lung disease actually recognized as an occupational illness. This led to what was the 1969 Coal Act that was the predecessor to the 1977 Mine Act. Then there were mining disasters that happened like the mining disaster that happened in Farmington, WV, the community where U.S. Senator Joe Manchin grew up.”

Before his position at MSHA, Williamson worked for Manchin in 2013 as the primary advisor of labor and mine safety health issues, which included the oversight of prominent issues such as black lung benefits.

“Working in Manchin’s office was special,” he says. “I got to wake up every day and go try to do something better for West Virginians.”

Williamson also worked on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee as part of the labor counsel for Chairman Tom Harkin in 2014 and joined MSHA for the first time during the Obama administration as key advisor to Assistant Secretary Joe Main. Before stepping into his current position with MSHA, Williamson also briefly worked as a labor lawyer with the National Labor Relations Board.

“I learned a lot of things that have allowed me to hit the ground running in my position now,” he says. “Having that background and experience with labor management relations and believing in labor management relations and knowing that most issues can be worked through when people get together in good faith and discussion. Just really believing in, understanding and prioritizing that process and the relationships with the representatives of our employees has been really important in my capacity to serve as the agency head.”

Created in 1978 from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977—more commonly known as the Mine Act—MSHA’s primary goal is to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and illnesses in all mines across the nation. MSHA is organized into nine major program areas, all with unique, yet equally important responsibilities.

“The 1977 Mine Act created MSHA and set up the modern framework for which we enforce the Mine Act,” says Williamson. “The act is very clear that the top priority or concern in the coal or other mining industries must be the safety and health of its most precious resources, which are the miners.”

As assistant secretary of labor for MSHA, some of Williamson’s day-to-day responsibilities include fostering good labor management, setting priorities, collaborating with other agencies and building relationships.

“I’m all about the mission of this agency. It’s a very clear, defined mission and involves working together with all the agency’s employees, using the resources that Congress makes available to us and making sure we’re doing everything we can to protect miners’ safety,” he says. “That’s what I see my job as being. That’s what I come to work every day trying to do.”

While coal is typically what comes to mind when one hears the word “mining,” MSHA works diligently to maintain the health and safety of all miners.

“I come from a coal community,” says Williamson. “Mining is certainly well-steeped in coal mining. It is historically and continues to be a big part of not just the economy in West Virginia but the economy in the entire country. This agency and the work this agency does has an incredible impact on a number of communities in West Virginia. Our mine health and safety academy is located in Beckley and it’s an incredibly important facility. We also have district offices and field offices throughout the state. Growing up in these communities, that’s how I first got my passion for mine safety and health, but it has since evolved beyond that. I have a passion for all miners’ safety and health. My role is to protect all miners’ health and safety, not just coal miners.”

With somewhere between 12,000-13,000 different mines dispersed throughout the country, Williamson says that less than 10% of them are coal mines. While coal consistently ranks at the top of the country’s most frequently mined  resource, some other commonly mined minerals include copper, lithium, silver, gold, lead and nickel. As part of MSHA’s many responsibilities, every surface mine in the U.S. is inspected twice per year and every underground mine at least four times each year.

“Per the Mine Act, we inspect every mine in this country multiple times per year,” he says. “Whether that’s a sand and gravel mine in Kentucky, Virginia, out West or in New York state or a coal mine in West Virginia, we’re responsible.”

To mitigate the myriad of potential safety risks for miners, MSHA performs frequent health samples for environmental toxins and other hazardous substances, conducts thorough inspections and enforces strict health and safety rules for all U.S mines. Along with this, MSHA also offers technical assistance and educational training opportunities for mine operators.

“The way I see my role is to make sure I help and make sure the people who are doing that work have what they need to be able to do it,” he says. “This agency was given a singular but very important mission by the U.S. Congress to make sure those who choose the honorable and important profession of mining can do that work and come back at the end of their shift to their families, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy. That’s really what it all boils down to.”

While Williamson has learned many lessons of great value throughout his career, he cites one of the most important being the value of keeping an open mind and the willingness of remaining eager to learn.

“Something I try to do every day is learn something new that will help me tomorrow,” he says. “At MSHA, I learn something every day, and I think it’s fair to say that I will continue to learn something new every single day that I’m fortunate enough to have this position.”

A proud Appalachian, Williamson’s deeply rooted love for his home state shines through in everything he does. His passion for good health and the safety of all miners is forever grounded in the southern coal fields of West Virginia.

“Every job I’ve had in public service up until this point has had a larger role and mission, but I’ve always been able to find a piece of West Virginia in it.”