Arch Coal wins National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health award

Arch Coal Inc. recently received a 2016 Technology Innovation Award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for an innovative stockpile safety system implemented at Arch’s Tygart Valley Leer mining complex in Taylor County, West Virginia.

“The safety of workers that operate dozers on surface stockpiles at mine sites depends on knowing where feeder locations are, and if material is feeding properly,” Arch Vice President of Safety Doug Conaway said. “To reduce the potential for stockpile incidents, Leer mine developed a stockpile safety system that provides the dozer operator and the plant operator with video of the dozer location on the coal stockpile in relation to the feeders. …This system represents a big step forward in dozer operator awareness; a step that we believe will help eliminate future incidents.”

The system also provides an audible warning when dozers enter an unsafe zone and allows operators to ensure they coal is pulled from the surface of stockpiles via the video feed.

“Operating safely is one of Arch Coal’s long-standing core values,” Arch CEO John Eaves said. “I am very proud of all of our employees who actively seek ways to improve our safety performance. Using technology as a tool to aid in reducing potential incidents is a new frontier in coal mining, and we want to be on the forefront of that exploration. Congratulations to everyone who participated in developing this innovative system.”