Miners dig deep for wins, safety

Staff Writer

Local mine rescue teams were put to the test last week.

Holding its first event ever in Pikeville, Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance (KEMI) sponsored the safety competition at Bob Amos Park for which it enlisted the help of Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) and the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing (KMSL).

Congress created MSHA in 1977, putting a federal focus on mine safety. MSHA's budget has decreased since its start, but has went up and down over the last few years, according to data from the White House Office of Management and Budget. MSHA's budget went above the $300 million mark in 2006 for the first time since the early '80s.

The number of workers - full-time equivalents, or FTEs - has decreased 45 percent to 2, organization's staff has declined over the past three decades and continues to decrease. From its 1979 peak of 3,811 full-time equivalents, or FTEs, the number of workers has decreased 45 percent to 2,161 FTEs.

MSHA officials were available last week to assist KEMI, the state's largest provider of workers compensation insurance, as were employees from KMSL. There were more than 150 representatives present Aug. 13-14 for the event drawing more than 300 competitors representing 30 coal companies in four states - Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Illinois. MSHA officials acted as judges for the four competitions for which coal companies could register free of charge.

"We have a lot of customers (in the area) who have insurance with us, but we invited all who are interested in mine safety," said KEMI safety representative Daven Hoskins. "It was all about mine safety."

All local rescue teams were among the 25 - there are six on each team - participating in the competition which miners must attend twice a year. Although KEMI helps sponsor other events across the state, the one in Pikeville was the first totally sponsored by KEMI, which would like to make the competition an annual event, Hoskins said.

"We had a lot of public interest," Hoskins said about the event which had between 750 and 1,000 attending, including the participants and those who came to watch and find out what the safety challenges are for those working in a coal mine.

The Pre-Shift Mine Examiner Competition tested certified mine foreman, who were required to perform an examination on the field at Bob Amos which was set up to look like an underground mine.

"He's the guy who ensures there are no hazards," Haskins said about the man going down first.

Each foreman conducted the pre-shift exam, checking all areas of the mine where his employees would be working. The mine foreman is responsible for recording and correcting all hazardous conditions found in the mine. Each contestant earned points for each condition found and corrected.

A simulated accident was set up for the Mine Emergency Technician (MET), who had to respond by giving the appropriate first aid for the injuries at hand, earning points for each injury properly handled. Every mine is required to have two METs, or one team, at all times.

Mine rescue has really increase over the last two years, Hoskins said about those in the competition testing their ability to work through a simulated underground mine disaster.

"There's a lot of training necessary for these guys and they are required in the coal mines," Hoskins said about the only crews allowed in a mines at such a time. "No one else can come in and help. It has to be a coal miner."

Also, when the team is rescuing, one of the men must act as benchman, which was the fourth competition. The benchman must be able to properly clean and test a breathing apparatus used during mine rescue work. The object of this event was to locate - and correct if possible - any problems with breathing apparatus as quickly as possible. The competitions were held for all rescue workers who go where the environment won't sustain life to ensure the devices needed will work.

"They tear them down, clean them, put it back together and put it through tests," Hoskins said. "The judge does something to it (the breathing apparatus) and the benchman has to figure out what's wrong."

"Each competition teaches different aspects of safety," Hoskins said, adding the winner is the man or team with the best time and the least amount of mistakes. "In some cases, mistakes mean a life."

"We had a lot of local participation," Hoskins said about the competition aimed at educating the public about mine safety and keeping coal miners on their toes. "These guys are great. Anybody who would be willing to put their life on the line to save a fellow worker is a very special person."

Hoskins worked in the coal mines for 17 years and spent 20 working for MSHA as a member of a mine rescue team before going to work for KEMI three years ago.

"I'm underground about every day," Hoskins said. "I do observation and try to help our customer with their safety."

As the state's largest provider of workers compensation, KEMI has 25,000 members, got an A "Excellent" rating affirmed for the eighth consecutive year, and was recognized by the National Underwriter Magazine as one of the top 50 workers' compensation companies in the nation.

Top Finishers

Pre-Shift Competition (Gold Category)

1st - Jeff Clark, Ken-American Resources

2nd - David Mackey, Advent Mining

3rd - Mark Fitch, Excel Mining

4th - Jude Johnson, Lone Mountain Processing

Pre-Shift Competition (Silver Category)

1st - Robert Newsome, Jet Coal

2nd - Joseph Miniard, Manalapan Mining

3rd - Ross Doyle, Cheyenne Mining

4th - Greg Haywood, Matrix Energy

Mine Rescue Competition (Gold Category)

1st - Bluegrass Team, Patriot Coal

2nd - B Team, Jewell Smokeless Coal Corp.

3rd - Blue Team, James River Coal Co.

4th - Lone Mountain Team, Lone Mountain Processing, Inc.

Mine Rescue Competition (Silver Category)

1st - MCC/KCA West KY Team, MCC/KCA West KY Team

2nd - Mingo Logan, Mingo Logan Coal Co.

3rd - Flint Ridge Blue Team, ICG Hazard LLC

4th - Gold Team, Cumberland River Coal Co.

MET Competition (Gold Category)

1st - TECO Coal

2nd - Lone Mountain Processing

3rd - Nally & Hamilton

MET Competition (Silver Category)

1st - Highland #9

2nd - West Kentucky Coal

3rd - U.S. Coal

Bench - Bio-Pak 240S (Gold Category)

1st - Mark Lloyd, Patriot Coal

2nd - Scott Milligan, Patriot Coal

3rd - Dwight Baker, Patriot Coal

Bench - Bio-Pak 240S (Silver Category)

1st - Brad Carlisle, Patriot Coal

Bench - BG-4 (Gold Category)

1st - Greg Brashers, Lone Mountain Processing, Inc.

2nd - Chris Esterling, TECO Coal