Published: November 6, 2019 |

The National Mining Association (NMA), the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation, and Enforcement (OSMRE) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), gathered last week to honor outstanding achievements in mine safety, environmental stewardship, and technology.

SAFETY

NMA’s Sentinels of Safety Award recognizes coal and mineral mining operations in 10 categories for recording the most hours in a calendar year without a single lost-time injury. A minimum of 4,000 hours is required for award consideration. The award categories reflect the safety accomplishments of both small and large mines.

Twenty American mining operations – six coal mines and 14 mineral/metal mines – were honored with the award recognizing performance in 2018.

“Safety is not just a top priority – it is the foundation that supports everything else in our industry. The Sentinels of Safety Award acknowledges outstanding achievements in safety and serves as a reminder that even the best safety programs require constant attention and awareness,” said Rich Nolan, NMA president and CEO.

Initiated in 1925 by then Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover, a former mining engineer, the Sentinels of Safety Award program remains the nation’s most prestigious recognition of mine safety and has helped foster a strong safety commitment on the part of U.S. mines.

Recipients include the following:

LARGE GROUP CATEGORY

• Large Coal Processing, Navajo Mine - Bisti Fuels Company, (North American Coal Corporation)
• Large Metal/Nonmetal Mill, Kinross Fort Knox - Kinross Fort Knox, (Kinross Gold USA)
• Large Surface Coal, Cordero Rojo Mine - Cordero Mining LLC, Cloud Peak Energy
• Large Underground Coal, Cedar Grove #2 Mine - Aracoma Coal Company, LLC (Contura Energy)
• Large Underground Metal, Resolution Mine - Resolution Copper Mining LLC
• Large Bank or Pit, Sand Processing Plant - Shale Support Holdings LLC
• Large Dredge, Brazos Plant - Hanson Aggregates LLC
• Large Open Pit, Wingate Creek Mine - Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC
• Large Quarry, Clinchfield Plant - CEMEX Southeast LLC
• Large Underground Nonmetal, Cayuga Mine - Cargill Salt

SMALL GROUP CATEGORY

• Small Coal Processing, Rawhide Mine, Peabody North Complex - Peabody
• Small Underground Metal, Lucky Friday Mine - Hecla Mining Company
• Small Bank or Pit, Plant #31 - Milestone Materials
• Small Dredge, Hill Road Pit - Westfall Aggregate & Materials, Inc.
• Small Metal/Nonmetal Mill, Cumberland River Quarry - Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Company
• Small Open Pit, Livingston Plant #1672 - Arcosa LW BR, LLC
• Small Quarry, Roff Plant - Covia Corporation
• Small Surface Coal, Upper Second Creek Mine - Locust Grove, Inc.
• Small Underground Coal, Meridian #2 Mine - Calico Coal, Inc.
• Small Underground Nonmetal, St. Clair Mine - U.S. Lime Company – St. Clair

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

The U.S. Department of the Interior recognized two coal companies, two hardrock companies and one equipment manufacturer for their outstanding environmental performance, mine reclamation accomplishments and community outreach programs.

OSMRE 2019 winners include:

• Good Neighbor Award: Navajo Mine, Navajo Transitional Energy
• Good Neighbor Award: Leer Mine Complex, Arch Coal
• National Award: Vermilion Grove Mine, Peabody
• National Award: Kayenta Mine, Peabody

BLM 2019 winners include:

• Mine Legacy Steward Award (formerly Fix a Shaft Award), Newmont U.S.A. Limited (NMA member)
• The Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award, Barrick (NMA member)
• The Hardrock Environmental Award, Graymont – Indian Creek Mine
• Small Operator Award, Goldnuts, LLC

TECHNOLOGY

In addition, NIOSH recognized this year’s Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Awards winners. Honorees are selected due to the significant advancements they have made to enhance mine safety by applying technology or improved processes in innovative ways.

The following companies were recognized for 2019:

• Safescape was recognized for developing the Laddertube, a safer, more durable and easier-to-climb escapeway ladder than a traditional steel or timber option.
 
• The Gillette College Industry Safety Training Center was recognized for developing a stand-alone blind spot awareness training, which uses 360-degree photos from an operating mine, GoPro and drone footage, and virtual reality technology, to allow users to virtually experience blind spots from within 10 pieces of commonly used equipment in coal mines.

Be in-the-know when you’re on-the-go!

CLICK HERE to register your email address.

Copyright © 2019 Mining Connection LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

For licensing permission, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)