Held in conjunction with the region’s annual Holmes Safety Association meeting, the event has been scheduled for November 1-4 at the Gillette College Technical Education Center.

Some guest speakers include Andrew Cecala of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Todd Joqua from MSHA and state inspector Terry Adcock.

Some scheduled presentations include an overview of dust in the mining industry and pre-operational equipment inspections.

On the final day of the gathering, organizers have scheduled a mine tour of Alpha Coal’s Eagle Butte complex in the Powder River Basin.

While there is no charge for the conference, organizers – the Wyoming MSHA State Grant Program and the Wyoming State Mine Inspector with cooperation from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration – have requested pre-registration for all attendees.

For more information, visit the websites of the MSHA or National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

According to the Wyoming Coal Association, the state’s coal operations produced more than 432.4 million tons of low sulfur coal, or 40% of the nation’s total, in 2009, when the industry directly employed more than 6800 people.