Mountaineer Guardian History:

The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training and the West Virginia Coal Association (Mining and Reclamation Association) established the Mountaineer Guardian Safety Awards Program in 1983 as a joint effort to promote safety in the coal fields of West Virginia. This special program gives recognition to mining workplaces where employees have accumulated qualifying amounts of production without experiencing a fatal accident. Mining Operations are divided into categories, based on the number of employees.

In 1997, the Mountaineer Guardian Safety program was extensively revised. The most important change was to include the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training inspection personnel in the selection process. Each inspector may nominate mines/facilities for consideration. Representatives of the sponsoring agencies review those regional nominations and selections for the awards are made from that list.

Selection Criteria:

• Mine/facility must be fatal free for the award period.

• Safety Program (initiatives by the company)

• Co-operative efforts (company works with inspectors—abates violations—good faith)

• Violation History

One mining operation is singled out for each year for special recognition, and receives the  Barton B. Lay, Jr. Milestones of Safety Award.

The 2007 Mountaineer Guardian Awards were presented at the 35th  Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium (sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association Inc.) on January 10, 2008 during a luncheon ceremony.

To view lists of the 2007 Mountaineer Guardian Award Winners click on the links below:

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