Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) develops and promulgates mandatory safety and health standards, ensures compliance with such standards, assesses civil penalties for violations, investigates accidents, cooperates with and provides assistance to the States in the development of effective State mine safety and health programs, improves and expands training programs in cooperation with the States and the mining industry, and, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services contributes to the improvement and expansion of mine health research and development. All of these activities are aimed at preventing and reducing mine accidents and occupational diseases in the mining industry.