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), recognized outstanding achievements in mine safety, environmental stewardship and technology at an awards ceremonies on Oct. 21, in Washington, D.C.

NMA’s Sentinels of Safety Award recognizes coal and mineral mining operations in 10 categories for recording the most hours in a calendar year without a single lost-time injury. A minimum of 4,000 hours is required for award consideration. The award categories reflect the safety accomplishments of both small and large mines.

Twenty American mining operations – six coal mines and 14 mineral/metal mines – were be honored with the award recognizing performance in 2018.

“Safety is not just a top priority – it is the foundation that supports everything else in our industry,” said Rich Nolan, NMA president and CEO. “The Sentinels of Safety Award acknowledges outstanding achievements in safety and serves as a reminder that even the best safety programs require constant attention and awareness.”

Initiated in 1925 by then Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover, a former mining engineer, the Sentinels of Safety Award program remains the nation’s most prestigious recognition of mine safety and has helped foster a strong safety commitment on the part of U.S. mines.

Large group category

• Large coal processing: Navajo Mine, Bisti Fuels Company, (North American Coal Corp.).
• Large metal/nonmetal mill: Kinross Fort Knox, Kinross Fort Knox, (Kinross Gold USA).
• Large surface coal: Cordero Rojo Mine, Cordero Mining LLC, Cloud Peak Energy.
• Large underground coal: Cedar Grove #2 Mine, Aracoma Coal Company, LLC (Contura Energy).
• Large underground metal: Resolution Mine, Resolution Copper Mining LLC.
• Large bank or pit, sand processing plant: Shale Support Holdings LLC.
• Large dredge: Brazos Plant, Hanson Aggregates LLC.
• Large openpit: Wingate Creek Mine, Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC.
• Large quarry: Clinchfield Plant, CEMEX Southeast LLC.
• Large underground nonmetal: Cayuga Mine, Cargill Salt.

Small group category
• Small coal processing: Rawhide Mine, Peabody North Complex, Peabody.
• Small underground metal: Lucky Friday Mine, Hecla Mining.
• Small bank or pit: Plant #31, Milestone Materials.
• Small dredge: Hill Road Pit, Westfall Aggregate & Materials, Inc.
• Small metal/nonmetal mill: Cumberland River Quarry, Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Company.
• Small openpit: Livingston Plant #1672, Arcosa LW BR, LLC.
• Small quarry: Roff Plant, Covia Corp.
• Small surface coal: Upper Second Creek Mine, Locust Grove, Inc.
• Small underground coal: Meridian #2 Mine, Calico Coal, Inc.
• Small underground nonmetal: St. Clair Mine, U.S. Lime Company – St. Clair.

Photo: Kinross Gold's Fort Knox Mine. Credit, Kinross Gold