MSHA Recognizes Safest U.S. Mining Operations
Winning mining operations are from Alabama, Arizona, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming.
"Qualifying to win this award requires an exemplary commitment to safety and health in the workplace," said Dave D. Lauriski, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "The winners all deserve the highest praise for their efforts to work safely each and every day."
Since 1926, mining operations in various operational categories have been recognized for achieving the highest number of employee work-hours without an injury that resulted in lost time from work. To qualify for a Sentinels of Safety award, a company must compile at least 30,000 employee work hours during the year without a lost-time injury or fatality.
The eight winners are the Deep Mine #30 of Paramont Coal Corp. in Dante, Va.; the Black Thunder Mine of Thunder Basin Coal Co. in Wright, Wyo.; the Young Mine of ASARCO Inc. in Strawberry Plains, Tenn.; the Weeping Water Mine of Martin Marietta Aggregates in Weeping Water, Neb.; the Phelps Dodge Sierrita Inc. of Phelps Dodge Mining Co. in Green Valley, Ariz.; the Imerys Gantts Quarry of Imerys Carbonates, LLC in Sylacauga, Ala.; the Arena Plant of Hanson Aggregates South Central in Altair, Texas; and the Briggs Plant of Fordyce Ltd. in Victoria, Texas. An additional 32 mining operations in 17 states were also recognized for their exceptional safety records.
The Sentinels of Safety Awards are being presented today at a luncheon at the Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.