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MSHA News Release: [03/31/2004]
Contact Name: Suzy
Bohnert
Phone Number: (202) 693-9420
MSHA Tri-State Safety Summit in Beckley, W.Va., on
April 1
ARLINGTON, Va.—The U.S.
Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will
conduct a Tri-State Safety and Health Summit on April 1 at the National Mine
Health and Safety Academy in Beckley, W.Va. The summit will address best
practices in mine safety and health and regulatory solutions to improve the
safety performance of mine operators and miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West
Virginia.
“A majority of the nation’s fatal mining accidents have
occurred in this tri-state area. We need to examine strategies and best
practices that will prevent these occurrences and keep miners safe on the
job,” said John R. Correll, deputy assistant secretary of labor for mine
safety and health. “We want to meet with recognized mining industry
leaders and others to examine the overall safety performance in a region of the
country where a significant amount of mining takes place.”
Four of the seven coal mining fatalities that have occurred in 2004 in
the United States happened in the tri-state region. Of the 30 coal mining
fatalities nationwide last year, 21 occurred in Kentucky, Virginia or West
Virginia. In 2002, 19 of the 27 coal mining fatalities that year occurred in
the tri-state region.
The summit agenda includes presentations by state officials, mining
company representatives and MSHA staff. Topics include lessons learned from
boom-truck fatalities, supervisor responsibilities and incidence rate reduction
programs.
State mining agency personnel, mine operators, miners and other mining
industry representatives are encouraged to attend the daylong event, which
begins at 8 a.m. No registration is needed.
“The idea is to look at a variety of best practices for managing
and eliminating mining hazards, with the ultimate result of preventing future
accidents,” Correll added. “Our goal is to send every miner home safe
and healthy after each shift.”
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