Safety is one of the most important issues in today’s mining sector. That’s why Alexander Proudfoot participated in last week’s National Coal Mine Rescue, First Aid, Bench and Pre-Shift Competition. The competition, sponsored by the National Mining Association and administered by the US Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, put the industry’s safety skills on center stage in Columbus, OH.
For 101 years, the competition has showcased the latest in mine safety and rescue technology and training. This year, 87 teams represented 12 states and the Proudfoot team was there to see the competition in action as the official host of the First Aid Competition’s first place trophy.
“I applaud the National Mining Association for invigorating the industry’s competitive spirit. I personally want to congratulate all the participants for showing the importance of safety and how seriously safety efforts are being taken in mines around the world,” says Paul Hébert, Senior Vice President Natural Resources North America. “A safety program is not just a booklet or a set of procedures; it has to be part of the mine’s culture to be sustainable.”
“Everyone knows safety is a key concern for today’s mining executives. In our experience, we’ve found that mine safety programs often fall short when addressing the hardest issue—changing behaviors,” comments Ken Kirk, Proudfoot's Executive Vice President Natural Resources North America. “Events such as this prove that the industry continues to address this critical issue and has made tremendous strides during the last few decades.”
The entire Proudfoot team extends a big congratulations to Walter Energy and its Jim Walter Resources Blue Creek Team, captained by Joe Tingle, the winner of the 2013 First Aid Competition!
1st place First Aid: Alexander Proudfoot's Ken Kirk and Paul Hebert with the winning team from Walter Energy's Jim Walter Resources Blue Creek
National Mining Association site
