The company’s Dora 8 underground mine in Jefferson County and the Clymer plant in Indiana County, both in western Pennsylvania north of Pittsburgh, both had zero lost-time accidents throughout the 2009 calendar year.
This achievement gives the mines, which operate under Alpha’s Amfire affiliate, final rates of 0.00 based on 77,654 hours worked at Dora and 29,350 hours worked at Clymer.
"Receiving recognition from the Joseph A Holmes Safety Association is a high honor, coveted by all of us who work in the mining industry,” Amfire president Pete Merritts said, noting the entire Alpha staff saluted the work of the facilities.
“Our safety goal is to have zero accidents at each of our facilities, and the employees at Dora 8 and Clymer have proven it can be done."
The award is the second for the Dora 8 mine, after the mine’s workers also earned the distinction in 2006 under Holmes’ small mine category.
In total, Alpha affiliates have earned more than 40 state and federal awards for safety performance in 2009.
Alpha Natural Resources operated more than 60 mines and 14 coal preparation facilities in northern and central Appalachia as well as in the Powder River Basin.
