Washington, D.C. – Twenty American mining operations were recognized today for outstanding safety records in 2013. The National Mining Association (NMA) conferred its annual “Sentinels of Safety” awards on metal/nonmetal and coal mines for both surface and underground operations in ceremonies attended by miners, mine safety professionals and industry executives.
The “Sentinels of Safety” awards, given annually to the nation’s safest mining operations with a minimum of 4,000 injury-free hours, were won this year by six coal and fourteen metal and nonmetal mining operations. Mines compete in twenty different categories that reflect type and size, both surface and underground, across the country.
“Tonight we are here to recognize the best-of-the-best in mine safety performance,” said NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn. “We honor those among us whose commitment to their own safety – and to the safety of those around them – exemplify the importance that modern mining attributes to the safety of its employees.”
In addition, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) awarded Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Awards to NMA member Freeport-McMoRan, for mineral mining, and to Signal Peak Energy and to NMA member Keystone Mining Services/Jennmar for coal mining.
At the awards ceremony, Dr. John Howard, director of NIOSH, said: “The NIOSH Technology Innovation Awards recognize the significant advancements by mining industry in making mining both safer and more productive. We applaud Freeport-McMoRan Keystone Mining Services/Jennmar for devising an integrated approach to real time data analysis and automated alarms. And also applaud Signal Peak Energy for its leadership in showing how safety and productivity goals are fully compatible how they can best be achieved.”
Sentinels of Safety 2013
Large Company Award Winners (by category):
Bank or Pit
Schoolhouse Quartz Plant
Unimin Corporation
Coal Processing Facility
Ceredo Dock
Kanawha River Terminals
Dredge
Briggs Plant
Fordyce Holdings, Inc.
Metal/Nonmetal Mill
Hayden Concentrator
ASARCO, LLC
Open Pit
Smoky Canyon Mine
JR Simplot Company
Quarry
Genevieve Facility
Tower Rock Stone Co.
Surface Coal
Three Oaks
Luminant Mining Co., LLC
Underground Coal
West Elk Mine
Arch Coal, Inc.
Underground Metal
Troy Mine
Troy Mine Inc.
Underground Nonmetal
Cayuga Mine
Cargill Inc.
Small Company Award Winners (by category):
Bank or Pit
West Bloomfield Mine
Elam Sand & Gravel Corporation
Coal Processing Facility
Preparation Plant
Bell Country Coal Corporation
Dredge
LA Aggregate Materials, Inc.
Metal/Nonmetal Mill
Hickory Clay Hill
Old Hickory Clay Co. LLC
Open Pit
Sun City Mine
New NGC, Inc.
Quarry
Cedar Rapids Quarry
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
Surface Coal
Whitesell
Coal Loaders Inc.
Underground Coal
Poundmill Mine #90
Blue Diamond Coal Co.
Underground Metal
Pinson Mine
Atna Resources, Inc.
Underground Nonmetal
Crab Orchard Mine & Mill
Lhoist North America of Tennessee, Inc.