The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration will examine safety improvements in the mining industry in three public hearings next month, including one in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The hearings come six months after the deadliest mine disaster in 40 years, when 29 miners died in an explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va. These meetings will not directly address the Upper Big Branch disaster, as the investigation is ongoing.

To date, 58 miners in all sectors including coal, metal and other minerals, have died in 2010, with coal accounting for the largest segment at 44 deaths.

Nationwide, eight have been killed by objects falling inside the mines. MSHA reports that a disproportionate number of fatalities and injuries have happened to employees of outside contractors hired by mines.

The agency is receiving public comments through Dec. 17 as it develops regulations for safety and health management programs at mines. The public hearings will include presentations from academics, government agencies, industry representatives, workers' organizations, and health and safety experts. MSHA officials will also receive informal comments from members of the public.

The Pittsburgh meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Oct. 14 at the Omni William Penn Hotel, Downtown. MSHA also will stage meetings on Oct. 8 at its Arlington, Va., headquarters and Oct. 12 in Sacramento, Calif.

According to a memo written by MSHA head Joe Main, to be published in the Federal Register today, the agency is seeking examples from coal operators with strong safety programs.

"Year after year, many companies experience low injury and illness rates and low violation rates," Mr. Main wrote.

"For these companies, preventing harm to their workers is more than compliance with safety and health requirements; it reflects the embodiment of a culture of safety -- from the CEO to the worker to the contractor. This culture of safety derives from a commitment to a systematic, effective, comprehensive safety and health management program, implemented with the full participation of all workers."

Such programs, Mr. Main wrote, generally include extra training for workers and identification and control of workplace safety hazards.

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