As we collect information for December’s feature on coal preparation (send editorial contributions to [email protected]) comes news that Patriot Coal’s Wells preparation plant has received the Sentinels of Safety Award for outstanding safety performance in the large coal processing facility group. The Wells preparation plant is located near Wharton, West Virginia, where it processes over 3 Mt/y of high-quality metallurgical coal.

“Maintaining a safe workplace for our employees is Patriot’s top priority. Our comprehensive safety program was designed with the goal of zero accidents,” noted President & Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Whiting. “We are very pleased to have been recognised with this prestigious national award. We commend our Wells employees on their consistent, unwavering attention to safety.”

Sentinels of Safety Awards are cosponsored by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Mining Association (NMA). The Awards recognise achievement of strong safety records in mining operations and are granted based on the highest hours worked in a calendar year without a lost-time injury. Each year, one facility is recognized in each of ten award categories.

Patriot Coal Corp is a leading producer and marketer of coal in the eastern US, with 14 current mining complexes in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin. It ships to domestic and international electric utilities, industrial users and metallurgical coal customers, and controls approximately 1,800 Mt of Proven and Probable coal reserves.