WV Governor Taps New Chief for Miners' Safety and Health Bureau
"Greg Norman has always been a strong advocate for our coal miners and will continue working to keep them as safe as possible," Gov. Jim Justice said Jan. 25. "He has the experience and the knowledge to improve safety and enhance training. Greg's expertise will continue to make a real difference for our miners."
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has appointed Greg Norman to be the director of the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety & Training (MHST). Eugene White will serve as deputy director of the agency.
Norman was hired by the office a decade ago, in 2006, as a district inspector in the Region Two Welch, W.Va., office, and also performed the duties of electrical inspector. Two years later, he was named assistant inspector-at-large for the Region Two office, and he was promoted to supervisor of the Region Two office as inspector-at-large in 2010. He was later assigned to the agency's Charleston office to perform special assignments for the director, C. A. Phillips, during the time when the agency was conducting its investigation into the Upper Big Branch mine disaster, and in 2013 he was appointed to the position of deputy director of the agency.
"Greg Norman has always been a strong advocate for our coal miners and will continue working to keep them as safe as possible," Justice said Jan. 25. "He has the experience and the knowledge to improve safety and enhance training. Greg's expertise will continue to make a real difference for our miners."
"I am honored to continue serving our state and the coal miners of West Virginia. My objective is to continue to increase the safety of the workplace for all coal miners in West Virginia and to look at new technology available to increase safety," Norman said.
He began his mining career in 1975 at National Mine Corporation in Pineville, W.Va., working in mines as a general inside laborer, shuttle car operator, roof bolter, certified electrician, and a member of the mine rescue team. In 1978, he went to work for Robinson Phillips Coal Company, performing duties of electrician, a maintenance foreman, and mine rescue member. From 1979 to 1998 he worked for U.S. Steel Mining as a longwall electrician, prep plant electrician and electrician on continuous miner sections, and during that period he served as chairman of the United Mine Workers of America Local 1713 safety committee and as president of the local. He was a field representative for UMWA District 29 from 2000 to 2003 and also served as an International safety representative, according to the governor's announcement.