Company chief executive and senior vice-president Chris Adkins said the actions, which focus on fire prevention and response, are largely items that any operator can do: actions that exceed current requirements.

“I think some of [the initiatives] are just plain commonsense moves that should have been put in place years ago in the industry,” he said, referring to the group of changes that include enhanced automatic fire suppression measures, new mine rescue technologies, enhanced firefighting measures and new mine evacuation preparation protocol.

Adkins elaborated with some specific examples of implemented changes. “We have laws that say you have to keep fire hose at the belthead.”

While the company could have simply continued to ensure the hose was housed there as required, he said it went beyond the law.

“We took it a step further than that. We’ve put it…to where if you have an instance that you need to use a fire hose, then it’s there – it’s already connected, it’s easily pulled out – turn the valve and you have water.”

Adkins elaborated with some specific examples of implemented changes. “We have laws that say you have to keep fire hose at the belthead.”

While the company could have made the move to have that hose closer than the required distance, he said it went even further than that.

“We took it a step further than that. We’ve put it at our beltheads to where if you have an instance that you need to use a fire hose, then it’s there – it’s already connected, it’s easily pulled out, it’s already connected – turn the valve and you have water.”

Adkins also said they have significantly upgraded their fire suppression systems to units that provide increased coverage.

“We went with a specially designed fire suppression system. It’s just the right thing to put on and to do,” he said, noting also that the company’s cost for that change was minimal.

Another important change was to fit out its mines rescue teams with the most current technologies possible. That, like Massey’s other initiatives, has already begun at the company’s mines, he said.

Massey noted in a statement earlier this week that the efforts are due in part to its decision to concentrate on fire prevention and mine evacuation and rescue following the incidents at its Aracoma Coal operation and International Coal Group’s Sago mine earlier this year. Chairman Don Blankenship noted it found re-evaluation of newly available technology, as well as the company’s procedures, necessary because of its previous record.

“Until this year, Massey Energy had not had a serious mine fire or mine explosion during my 24 years with the company,” Blankenship reported.

Adkins is looking ahead: “We haven’t had one [fire emergency] for the last 25 years, and we hope we don’t have one for the next 25 years, but you have to always be prepared.”

The changes will affect the operations’ production levels indirectly, but more importantly, Adkins said, worker confidence with the new initiatives in place speaks volumes.

“I think, as far as safety, it’ll make [us] feel better about working at the coal mine, and I think that it’ll make you feel better about the place that you work.”

Workers have also taken the opportunity to speak out since the changes have begun, he said, by offering more ideas for the company to potentially implement going forward.

“It’s opened up the avenues for … communication. They’re seeing that we’re putting in changes, so they’re volunteering information.”

Blankenship said that Massey’s mission with regards to the topic has always been to share information with the industry, something that is vitally important in this case as well.

“We have always sought to improve the safety of all miners, not just those at Massey Energy,” he said.

Adkins is confident that this is something other operators will quickly opt to take on: “I think it will be something the industry will follow, because it’s just a no-brainer to do.”

He also sees is as an opportunity for operators to come together for their most important asset: the worker. “We would hope that other companies have ideas on safety that would benefit the industry the same way.

“If you can help somebody be a safer worker, then, to me ... you should just share your information [and] knowledge. It’s something I would encourage all the mine companies to do.”