Organised by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration, the three-day seminar will be held at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beckley, West Virginia.

Approximately 60-70 workshops will be offered, from which attendees can pick the most relevant to them and their current needs, and all of the classes will be held in a small group format to encourage a high level of interaction. Topics, which cover both coal and metal/non-metal, include:

SCSR training;

New miner training issues;

Electrical and powered haulage safety;

Regulatory and supervisory issues; and

The new Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) developed by MSHA.

Exhibits will also be set up at the seminar location.

While a training materials competition has always been part of the TRAM event, the agency said this year’s rules have been expanded to include more detailed evaluation criteria for all types of media (categories include mixed media, videos and CDs/DVDs/printed media). Members of government, industry and academia are eligible to take part in the annual contests held to bring innovation and new ideas to the development of training documents.

While the seminar is free, there is a $42 per day fee for lodging in a single room and $55/day for a double room ($27.50 per person) at the academy. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also offered for a nominal cost. MSHA noted that anyone under a program that is MSHA state grant supported will receive room and board at no charge.