The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is shifting gears when it comes to mine safety.

MSHA Coal Administrator Kevin Stricklin, a guest speaker at the 39th annual West Virginia Coal Mining Symposium in Charleston Wednesday, told MetroNews the agency is shedding light above ground.

"Last year there were 12 fatalities on the surface and 9 underground. So it tells us we need to focus more on surface operators,” Stricklin said following his appearance before operators.

MSHA Chief Joe Main kicked off a new campaign on Tuesday called "Rules to Live By 3." It deals with the safety precautions and regulations that every surface miner needs to know.

After the 2006 Sago Mine disaster killed 12 miners,West Virginia public officials vowed to crack down on unsafe practices in the industry.

But in April 2010, we were reminded how much work needs to be done to improve mine safety. It was then that 29 miners died in another Mountain State disaster, at the Upper Big Branch Mine.

During his State of the State speech, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin urged legislators to approve a new package of mine safety rules.

By Taylor Kuykendall, Reporter - email

West Virginia's coal industry is hoping federal coal regulators will have guidelines for approving more extended-face, or deep-cut, coal mining plans as soon as spring.

West Virginia Coal Association Vice President Chris Hamilton has been advocating the use of remotely operated continuous miners with a face operation as far away as 40 feet. Though most machinery is designed to operate at that distance, Hamilton said, approval for deeper cuts have not been approved often.

U.S. Department of Labor

To the Mining Community:

Mine Safety and Health Administration 1100 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939

Thirty seven miners died in work-related accidents at the nation's mines in 2011. There were 21 coal mining and 16 metal/nonmetal mining fatalities last year, compared with 48 and 23, respectively, in 2010, making 2011 the year with the second-lowest number of mining deaths since statistics were first recorded in 1910.

CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Coal Association is hosting the 39th Annual West Virginia Coal Mining Symposium this week in Charleston. The event will be held February 1-3 and feature presentations on coal mine health and safety, regulatory issues, new technologies and coal’s role in our state’s economy, both today and in the future.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Sen. Joe Manchin will serve as keynote speakers on Thursday and Friday respectively. Federal Miner Health and Safety Administration Director Joe Main will also address the event on Thursday.  A full schedule of events is attached to this release.

The Mountaineer Guardian Awards for excellence in safety will be presented at lunch on Thursday and the Reclamation Awards will be announced at lunch on Friday.

The event has rapidly grown to become one of the major events on the annual events schedule in West Virginia. More than 800 people have pre-registered this year.