While some speakers for the event are still being confirmed, the conference’s sponsors released a tentative agenda earlier this week.
Conference co-sponsors include the State Government of West Virginia, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the National Mining Association, the West Virginia Coal Association and the United Mine Workers of America.
While the presentations throughout the two days will be held in various locations, attendees can visit exhibitors in the WesBanco Arena.
Following guest registration in the Troy Theater lobby of the WJU campus, opening remarks and keynote presentations will be offered by Davitt McAteer, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, State Senator Robert Byrd, state representative Alan Mollohan and Wheeling Mayor Nick Sparachane.
The exhibition area will officially open for visitors at 11am and remain open until 2pm. Welcome remarks in the area will be offered at 11.30am.
That afternoon, the first of a series of panel discussions will be held beginning at 2.30pm at the Troy Theater. Davitt McAteer will serve as moderator for the Mine Safety and Health Past, Present and Future discussion and panellists will include representatives of MSHA, NIOSH and the West Virginia Office of Miner Health Safety and Training as well as an industry individual and a union spokesperson.
Beginning at 4pm, the event offers two “breakout sessions”. The first session option, the MSHA AC&C approval and certification process, will be held at the NTTC Auditorium. Option 2 is scheduled for 5-7pm and includes a reception at the NTTC forum area or the campus’s B-Room; the exhibitor area will also remain open during that time.
The second and final day of the event will begin with an early opening of the exhibition area at 8.30am in conjunction with registration. McAteer will once again offer opening remarks.
The second panel in the series, under the heading Mine Emergency Technologies Part 1, will get underway at 9.15am. Topics for the discussion include SCSR improvement efforts, caches, shelters, lifelines and lights and systems that are currently under development. An open dialogue by five industry representatives, including WV Office of Miner Health Safety and Training director Jim Dean, will also take place.
Panel 3, the second part of the mine emergency technologies discussion, will begin at 10.45am and will include the topics of underground communications and personnel tracking, approved systems, tested systems and demonstration programs. The five panellists for the section will include NIOSH representative Jurgen Brune and MSHA approval and certification chief Steve Luzik.
Attendees will be responsible for their own lunch and will reconvene at 1pm for the fourth panel discussion, titled Mine Safety/Emergency Best Practices: International Practices and Rule Changes. Topics for the presentation include other industry practices and other countries’ practices, and the panellists will once again be moderated by Davitt McAteer.
The fifth panel section, beginning at 1.45pm, will centre on mine disaster response, including mine rescue notification and coordination, mine rescue teams and rescue equipment. Speakers in the panel will include a representative of MSHA and James J Gianato of the WV Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
The exhibition area will officially close at the conclusion of that fifth panel as attendees prepare for the final portion of the event that includes two additional “breakout sessions”
The first option, beginning at 3.15pm, examines overlaying of resource extraction for coal, oil and gas and what mine safety issues exist. The panellists for the presentation are still being confirmed. The second session will look further at MSHA and AC&C.
Just before adjourning, a group of panellists including federal, labour and industry representatives will gather for a wrap-up session to address the next steps for the industry regarding mine safety and health. The event will close at 5pm.
Those wishing to attend the event may register online by visiting http://www.nttc.edu/minesafety/registration.asp. Questions may be directed to the National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003; telephone 800-678-6882 or e-mail at minesafety@nttc.edu.
