Improving Mine Safety and Health

Sometimes, the best news is no news: Usibelli Coal Mine celebrated 1,000 days without a lost time accident, an incredible achievement which highlights the company’s dedication to excellence in safety. The milestone can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the workforce on site, as well as... Read More

Safety is an area of continuous improvement and constant practice, and that’s why mine rescue competitions help teams prepare for the worst. This year, a team from The Doe Run Company was awarded first place overall in the 2023 Southwestern Regional Mine Rescue Contest in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Out of... Read More

In September, 47 miners will be recognized in the Nevada Mining Association’s (NVMA) 2023 Individual Safety Awards, which are based on performance in the previous calendar year. These awards celebrate the industry professionals whose outstanding efforts ensure mine workers return home safely after every... Read More

Mine safety works hand-in-hand with technology, including our phones. That’s why the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) launched the Miner Safety and Health app for both iOS and Android systems. First launched in August 2022, the app is now available in Spanish. The Miner Safety and Health... Read More

Safety is paramount in the mining industry, and this is why we recognize achievements in safety milestones and innovation each year. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) awards annual Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Awards which recognize mines and companies... Read More

Safety isn’t something to consider occasionally; a true culture of safety involves constant awareness and thought, is embedded in all aspects of an organization, and emphasizes continuous improvement. That’s why mining companies like Kinross feature safety events like ‘Youth Safety Day’. Kinross Fort... Read More

Mine rescue competitions are held across the U.S. and Canada in both national and local formats, including some sponsored by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). These contests allow teams to practice and demonstrate skills we all hope will never have to be put into use, but also highlight... Read More

In March 2022, Wyodak Resources Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Black Hills Corp., was recognized for achieving CORESafety certification at its Wyodak Mine in Wyoming. This is an enormous occasion for celebration as it exemplifies the mining industry’s focus on miner safety. Rich Nolan, president... Read More

In December 2021, Wabtec Corporation announced the successful testing of its Collision Awareness System (CAS) Vehicle Intervention Solution. When integrated with the Komatsu Machine Integration Controller (MIC), the solution passed all key performance criteria and demonstrated the ability to decelerate... Read More

Safety is paramount in mining, and that’s why there are multiple awards celebrating outstanding performance in the category of safety. The Nevada Mining Association (NVMA) recognizes individual miners and operations for the previous calendar year. This year, the NVMA Individual Safety Awards honored... Read More

When it comes to safety, technological innovations can help improve miner safety. Some seek to address more specific problems, while others focus upon broader widespread challenges. In the first category, 2021 saw the introduction of an integrated array of technologies to improve proximity detection... Read More

There’s nothing as important as celebrating innovations in safety. The wellbeing of each and every miner is paramount, and advancements to make mining safer deserve recognition. Redpath, in a collaboration with SafeSight Exploration Inc., was recognized in April 2021 with the Ontario Mine Contractors... Read More

One of the most significant challenges in mining is miners’ dust exposure, which is why personal and environmental monitoring of dust is used in mines. However, the regulatory-approved monitoring process from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) can often take weeks to obtain results. This... Read More

This spring, Liebherr was awarded the ESTA Award of Excellence 2021 for its development of special WindSpeed Load Charts, which offer increased safety and more operating time when operating the crane in windy conditions. Now a large number of new mobile and crawler cranes are more stable for use in stormy... Read More

Mine safety requires dedication, commitment and constant vigilance. One piece of the puzzle lies in the mine safety and health management system of the mine, which must be robust in order to safeguard every worker. CORESafety® is a framework that is built on a foundation of leadership and culture, and... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today applauded revisions proposed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to update its 30 CFR Part 18 standards governing permissibility testing for electric motor-driven mine equipment and accessories. “The industry has long advocated... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA), the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) and the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), this month are honoring outstanding achievements in mine safety, environmental... Read More

In May 2020, Hecla Mining Company launched a contest called “SAFETY: Take It Home.” Entrants were asked to write a short specific story or example of how they, their families or friends have made a point of practicing safety at home. The deadline to enter was July 16, 2020. Details of the contest can... Read More

WASHINGTON D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Usibelli Coal Mine (UCM) for its CORESafety® certification. CORESafety is the NMA initiative with the objective of zero fatalities and a 50 percent reduction in mining’s injury rate within five years. Usibelli joins 10 other companies... Read More

The mining industry has particular expertise in health and safety – and the COVID-19 crisis has made that expertise even more vital. In fact, mining companies are helping support the health and safety of first responders, healthcare workers, and the communities they serve. Coeur Mining has made a... Read More

2019 was the safest recorded year in mining’s history, according to year-end numbers released by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Safety is an area that requires constant attention, which is why industry leaders came together with the National Mining Association in 2011 to create the CORESafety®... Read More

One of Kinross’ core values is Putting People First, which is why Kinross Fort Knox recently formed a fire brigade team comprised of 20 employees from emergency services teams who have been trained in managing hazards associated with fire safety. The team was created to supplement the local municipal... Read More

Usibelli Coal Mine (UCM) recently surpassed its prior safety record that was set in 2006 when the mine celebrated working 798 days without a lost time accident (LTA) on April 10 of this year. Since then, each day worked at the mine has established a new record of safety for mine employees. At the... Read More

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the impact of fatigue is seen not only in its effect on job performance of haul truck operators but also on the health of the operator and the productivity at the mine site. Combatting fatigue and making employees and supervisors... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Prairie State Generating Company’s (PSGC) Lively Grove Mine for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. PSGC joins eight other companies that have had operations independently certified under NMA’s signature... Read More

The most prestigious award in the mining industry is the Sentinel of Safety award, co-sponsored annually by NMA and the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Twenty American mining operations – six coal mines and 14 mineral/metal mines – were honored with the award... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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), will gather this week to honor outstanding... Read More

Located in between two former gold mines – the Ridgeway Mine and the Brewer Mine – the Haile Gold Mine has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s. The property has been mined and re-mined for nearly 200 years. Discovered in 1827 by Benjamin Haile in Lancaster County, S.C., the mine was one of... Read More

Komatsu has been providing the mining industry with innovative technologies to enhance safety for the better part of a century. Standard-setting developments include the company’s Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) and personal proximity detection system. Since it became commercially available 10 years... Read More

In 2018, Kinross Gold Corporation received independent certification under NMA’s CORESafety® system. Kinross, one of the leading gold mining companies in the world, is the eighth NMA member company to complete each step of this process and the first company to do so in 2018. “Kinross is very proud... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Kinross Gold Corporation for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. Kinross, one of the leading gold mining companies in the world, is the eighth NMA member company to complete each step of this process. “We... Read More

NMA announced in January that 28 companies participating in its CORESafety® system closed 2017 with zero fatalities. Those companies include: Cloud Peak Energy Resources, LLC Coeur Mining Dyno Nobel Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Hecla Mining Company Newmont Mining Corporation Peabody... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today announced that companies participating in its CORESafety® system closed 2017 with zero fatalities. “The CORESafety® framework is designed to drive continuous improvement in mining safety performance was born out of an industry desire to... Read More

North American Coal believes that the health and safety of all employees directly relates to its business success. As a result, safety is North American Coal’s top priority in everything it does. The company has established itself as an industry leader in mining safety − having consistently achieved... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials of the National Mining Association (NMA), the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the U.S Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), gathered today to honor... Read More

Dyno Nobel recently achieved independent certification under the CORESafety® system. Dyno Nobel Inc., a global manufacturer of explosives, is the first non-mining company to receive independent certification. “Dyno Nobel is proud to achieve this level of safety certification, and reaffirms our core... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Freeport-McMoRan’s achievement of independent certification under its CORESafety® system. Freeport-McMoRan joins six other companies in receiving independent certification under NMA’s signature safety initiative. “We congratulate... Read More

The National Mining Association recently recognized Coeur Mining, Inc. for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. Coeur is the fifth NMA member company to complete the process. “We are committed to the well-being of everyone who sets foot on our mines or projects,” said... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Dyno Nobel’s achievement of independent certification under its CORESafety® system. Dyno Nobel Inc., a global manufacturer of explosives, is the first non-mining company to receive independent certification under NMA’s signature... Read More

The National Mining Association (NMA) recently recognized Newmont Mining Corporation for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. Newmont is the fourth NMA member company to complete each step of this process. Safety is a core value for Newmont, and the company has made excellent... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Coeur Mining, Inc. for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. “NMA congratulates Coeur Mining on this noteworthy achievement,” said Hal Quinn, president and CEO of NMA. “Coeur has proven it is fully... Read More

NMA recognized Peabody  for being the first company to be independently certified under its CORESafety® system in 2016. This past year marked a Peabody company safety record with a global incidence rate of 1.22 incidents per 200,000 hours worked, which is safer than most U.S. industries including construction,... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Newmont Mining Corporation for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. “We congratulate Newmont on this noteworthy achievement and want to recognize and thank Gary Goldberg for his role in the development... Read More

Mining companies are hard at work making sure 2017 is a banner year for mine safety and health. The goal? To ensure every miner returns safely home after every shift. Keeping with this trend, Contura Energy, Inc.’s Running Right Leadership Academy (RRLA) recently received the Health & Safety Operational... Read More

NMA recently recognized Hecla Mining Company for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. Hecla was an early adopter of the program and since implementing CORESafety, it has reduced its injury rate by 30 percent. “We are pleased to be the first hardrock mining company to achieve... Read More

Washington, D.C. – 2016 marks the safest year ever for American miners. Together, coal mines and metal/non-metal mines last year recorded the lowest fatality and injury rates in the history of U.S. mining – a sign of continuous improvement for an industry that saw a record low the previous year. The... Read More

2016 was a great year for Cloud Peak Energy’s safety record. As of the end of November, there were only two recordable or reportable injuries company wide—down 83 percent when compared to 2015. The dedication put forth by every employee has been incredible. “At the beginning of the May we were at... Read More

Washington, D.C.—The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Cloud Peak Energy for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. The CORESafety framework is a mining safety and health program that emphasizes accident prevention using a risk-based management system,... Read More

Washington, D.C.—The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Hecla Mining Company for receiving independent certification under its CORESafety® system. CORESafety’s approach to mining safety and health emphasizes accident prevention using a risk-based management system, the foundation of... Read More

The U.S. government recently announced that FY2016 was the safest year in mining history, with fatality numbers and rates at record lows. This encouraging progress is the result of an industry that is determined to go beyond what is required of it to bring miners home safely at the end of every shift. Part... Read More

LAS VEGAS, NEV.—The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized Peabody for being the first company to be independently certified under its CORESafety® system. “This is a significant accomplishment by Peabody,” said Hal Quinn, president and chief executive officer of NMA. “The company not only... Read More

Twenty Mines Receive NMA’s 2015 "Sentinels of Safety" and NIOSH Technology Awards LAS VEGAS – Nineteen American mining operations – six coal mines and 13 mineral/metal mines – are the recipients of the National Mining Association’s "Sentinels of Safety” awards in recognition of their outstanding mine... Read More

The U.S. mining industry is going beyond what is required by regulation to bring more miners home safely after every shift. The goal? Zero fatalities. Zero injuries. Over the past six years, the people at Barrick Gold’s Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture mine have worked to revolutionize the operation’s... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Twenty American mining operations – six coal mines and fourteen mineral/metal mines – won "Sentinels of Safety Awards" awards today in recognition of their outstanding mine safety achievements during 2014. An American mine also won the annual Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations... Read More

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... Read More

The National Mining Association (NMA) recently released the second interactive toolbox to help member and non-member companies implement the CORESafety® initiative at their facilities. CORESafety is a scalable safety and health management system that provides a comprehensive pathway to achieve within... Read More

“Sentinels of Safety” Awards Honor Outstanding Safety Performance at U.S. Coal, Metal and Nonmetal Mines in 2011 Las Vegas, Nev. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today recognized 21 U.S. coal, metal and nonmetal mining operations for their outstanding safety record in 2011. The “Sentinels... Read More

Las Vegas, Nev. – The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) today honored three companies—Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Lockheed Martin and CONSOL Energy—with the institute’s inaugural award for Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations. The awards were presented... Read More