The honor represents the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s inaugural award for mine safety and health technology innovations.
Consol was recognized for its commitment and collaboration to improve post-accident communications and for interfacing Lockheed Martin’s “through-the-earth” communication technology – known as TTE– with the company’s primary communications system.
This collaboration potentially expands miners’ options for post-accident communications and expediting the development and commercialization of TTE technology.
Consol outfitted its Robinson Run coal mine in West Virginia with Lockheed’s MagneLink TTE system in November 2011.
The coal miner said initial test results had been encouraging.
Other safety innovation awards went to Lockheed and Arizona-based miner Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.
“It is fitting these companies are the recipients of the inaugural NIOSH mine safety and health technology innovations award,” NIOSH director Jeffrey Kohler said.
“Each has taken actions to employ technology in ways that will significantly improve mineworker safety and health.”
