The producer said its Dugout Canyon complex was bestowed the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute's 2012 Safety Award among large underground mines during the group’s recent 100th annual meeting.

Those eligible for the award among the RMCMI’s eight-state area must have produced substantial volumes in 2011 without a reportable safety incident.

“Dugout Canyon's zero total incident rate puts them at the head of the industry,” RMCMI executive director Judy Colgan said.

“The mine’s continued safety performance is truly remarkable and deserves this recognition.”

Dugout Canyon employees worked 449,797 hours with a lost-time incident rate of zero in 2011, versus a 2.44 national average per 200,000 employee-hours.

It has also operated since May 2010 without a single reportable safety incident, and the Castle Valley preparation plant was also honored for running incident-free for more than five consecutive years.

Arch Western Bituminous Group president Gene DiClaudio, which oversees the company’s western coalfields mines and facilities, said that safety is foremost at all operations.

“This is a significant award that recognizes the professionalism and dedication of all Dugout Canyon mine employees,” he said.

Dugout Canyon also was named 2011 Safe Operator of the Year for underground coal mines, and the Castle Valley preparation plant received Safe Coal Processing Facility for last year by the Utah State Labor Commission and Office of Coal Mine Safety.

“Your safety record of zero incidents for the year 2011 is a great achievement in the coal industry and reflects on your company's fine safety programs and training,” Utah Coal Mine Safety director David Houghton said.

“The men and women who work at Dugout have shown a great commitment to the culture of safety, and these awards reflect highly on their personal commitment.”

Arch's Canyon Fuel Company, with a staff of 700, is Utah's largest coal producer and operates the Dugout Canyon, Skyline and Sufco mines.