West Virginia Coal Association announces mine safety award winners
Twenty-five companies were recognized on Thursday for excellence in mine safety for 2006. The awards were made at the 34th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium at the Charleston House Holiday Inn.
The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training. To be eligible, a mining operation must be free of fatal accidents for the year and then be nominated by their local state inspector, based on overall safety record, special safety programs and cooperation with state agencies.
Twenty-five companies were recognized on Thursday for excellence in mine safety for 2006. The awards were made at the 34th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium at the Charleston House Holiday Inn.
The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training. To be eligible, a mining operation must be free of fatal accidents for the year and then be nominated by their local state inspector, based on overall safety record, special safety programs and cooperation with state agencies.
The top award, the Barton B. Lay Milestones of Safety Award, went to Fola Coal Co.’s No. 1 Surface Mine in Clay County. This operation has produced 7 million tons of coal over the last two years, working 1.35 million man-hours without a single lost time accident.
"We are extremely proud of Fola Coal Co.," said WVCA President Bill Raney, "as we are of all of these award winning companies. We experienced a very difficult year in the industry in 2006. But we must remember that there were about 560 mines across the state that did not suffer a fatality. These awards serve as recognition to the best performers from that group."
For more information, contact Bill Raney. He can be reached at (304) 342-4153.
