Twenty American mining operations were recognised last week for outstanding safety records in 2012. National Mining Association (NMA), conferred its annual Sentinels of Safety awards on both metal/non-metal and coal surface and underground mining operations. This annual award goes to the nation’s safest mining operations with a minimum of 4,000 injury-free hours. This year it was given to six coal and 14 metal and non-metal mining operations. Mines compete in 20 different categories that reflect type and size, both surface and underground.
NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn noted the honouring of “those among us whose commitment to their own safety – and to those around them – has resulted in a level of performance achieved by only 20 mining operations across the country.”
In addition, the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, awarded Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Awards to three NMA member companies, Hecla Mining Co, Alpha Natural Resources and Matrix Design Group. At the ceremony, Dr Jeffery Kohler, NIOSH Associate Director of Mining, said: “The NIOSH Technology Innovation Awards recognise the significant advancements that the mining industry is making — above and beyond minimum regulatory requirements. Hecla and SAFEmine Technology’s success in deploying a collision avoidance system is a great example of adapting a technology used in aviation and applying it to improve mining safety. Alpha and Matrix’s development of an approved sensor bundle for atmospheric monitoring systems in underground coal mines opens up new and important opportunities to improve day-to-day safety, as well as post-accident functionality.”
The awards were presented at a dinner sponsored by Atlas Copco, Draeger, Freeport-McMoRan and Nelson Brothers.
The first inductees to the International Mining Technology Hall of Fame (www.im-halloffame.com) will be announced soon, and presentations will be made at the gala awards ceremony, Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 22, 2014.
Sentinels of Safety
Large Company Award Winners (by category):
Bank or Pit
School House Quartz Plant, Unimin Corporation
Coal Processing Facility
Kentucky River Loading, ACI/ICG Hazard, LLC, Arch Coal, Inc.
Dredge
Megasand Enterprises Inc.
Metal/Non-metal Mill
Bloomfield Plant, Nestle Purina PetCare
Open Pit
Keetac, United States Steel Corporation
Quarry
Chico Quarry, Martin Marietta Materials
Surface Coal
Buckskin Mine, Kiewit Mining Group Inc.
Underground Coal
SUFCO Mine, Canyon Fuel Co., Bowie Resource Partners, LLC
Underground Metal
Buick Mine/Mill, The Doe Run Company
Underground Non-metal
Pleasant Gap, Graymont (PA) Inc.
Small Company Award Winners (by category):
Bank or Pit
Fisher Industries Plant 6, Fisher Sand & Gravel Co.
Coal Processing Facility
Chesterfield Prep Plant, Omar Mining Co, Alpha Natural Resources
Dredge
Newark Pit, Broadfoot Sand & Gravel Co., Inc.
Metal/Non-metal Mill
Santa Rita Plant, Imerys Marble Inc.
Open Pit
Nichols Road Pit, Pacific Aggregates Inc.
Quarry
Laurel Quarry, Hanson Aggregates Midwest, LLC.
Surface Coal
Logan Hollow #1, Alden Resources LLC
Underground Coal
Roaring Fork No. 4, Dickenson-Russell Coal Co. LLC, Alpha Natural Resources
Underground Metal
Viburnum #29 Mine, The Doe Run Company
Underground Non-metal
Crab Orchard Mine & Mill, Lhoist North America, Inc.
