Twenty Mines Win 2009 Sentinels Awards
The National Mining Association and MSHA recognized these coal and mineral mines during an Oct. 18 luncheon in Washington, D.C. NMA's president said more than 80 percent of U.S. mines had no lost-time injuries in 2009.
Twenty mines received 2009 Sentinels of Safety Awards this week from the National Mining Association and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, signifying they are the safest U.S. mines and recorded at least 4,000 injury-free hours during the year. The Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management and DOI's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement also presented 2010 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards and Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation Awards, respectively, on Oct. 18.
Six coal mines and 14 mineral mines won Sentinels Awards for having worked the most employee hours in each category without suffering a lost-time injury. Sentinels first were awarded in 1925.
"The mines we honor today symbolize our industry's commitment to excellence in mine safety performance and serve as an inspiration to the entire mining community," said NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn. "These mines are just a few among the more than 80 percent of U.S. mines that operated throughout 2009 without a single lost-time injury."
Robert Phillips, acting deputy assistant secretary for operations at MSHA, also spoke at the NMA luncheon.
Sentinels of Safety winners are mines that have worked the most employee hours in each category without suffering a lost-time injury. A minimum of 4,000 hours without a lost-time accident is required for award consideration, a requirement met by many more mines than were award winners.
The 2009 Sentinels of Safety Award winners are:
Large Company Award Winners:
Coal Processing Facility -- Wells Preparation Plant, Eastern Associated Coal LLC, Patriot Coal Corp., Wharton, W.Va.
Surface Coal -– Farmersburg Mine, Peabody Midwest Mining, LLC, Peabody Energy, Pimento, Ind.
Underground Coal -– Shamrock #18 Series, Shamrock Coal Company, Inc., Hyden, Ky.
Bank or Pit -– Shower's Plant, Fordyce Holdings, Inc., Mission, Texas
Dredge –- Columbus Plant, The Olen Corporation, Columbus, Ohio
Metal/Nonmetal Mill –- Edgar Plant, BASF Catalysts, LLC., McIntyre, Ga.
Open Pit –- Ruby Hill Mine, Barrick Gold Corporation, Eureka, Nev.
Quarry -– St. Genevieve, Tower Rock Stone Company, St. Genevieve, Mo.
Underground Metal -– Resolution Mine, Resolution Copper Mining, LLC., Rio Tinto Minerals, Superior, Ariz.
Underground Nonmetal -– The Detroit Salt Mine, Detroit Salt Company, LLC, Detroit, Mich.
Small Company Award Winners:
Coal Processing Facility -- CEF Alabama #3, Covol Engineered Fuels LC, Headwaters, Inc., Adger, Ala.
Surface Coal –- #1 Strip Mine, Jamieson Construction Company Inc., Calvin, Ky.
Underground Coal -– Corinth Mine, Warrior Investment Company. Inc., Cordova, Ala.
Bank or Pit –- Airway Sand and Gravel, Spokane Rock Products, Inc., Airway, Wash.
Dredge –- Belvidere Pit, Nichols Construction Company, Belvidere, Neb.
Metal/Nonmetal Mill -– Dupo Plant #9, Columbia Quarry Company, Dupo, Ill.
Open Pit -– Montpelier U.S. Silica, U.S. Silica Company, Montpelier, Va.
Quarry –- Crusher #4, Harney Rock and Paving Company, Burns, Ore.
Underground Metal –- Gold Road Mine, Addwest Minerals, Inc., Oatman, Ariz.
Underground Nonmetal -– Bromley Mine and Mill, Bromley Quarry and Asphalt, Inc., Atchinson, Kan.