Released Wednesday, Sept. 16

WINTER ALERT REMINDS COAL MINERS:
"DON'T LET UP ON SAFETY" IN COLD WEATHER MONTHS.

Davitt McAteer, head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, today announced the annual "Winter Alert" campaign aimed at preventing explosions in underground coal mines. Speaking by video link to the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in West Virginia, McAteer told teams taking part in a mine rescue contest that this year's theme will be "Don't Let Up On Safety!"

The slogan will be emblazoned on posters, hard hat stickers and pocket calendars and distributed to coal miners nationwide.

Winter Alert is the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA's) annual safety campaign that emphasizes increased hazards -- primarily explosions -- in underground coal mines during the colder months. Historically, the nation's most devastating mine disasters have occurred between October and March, the worst in December 1907, when an explosion in Monongah, W.Va., killed 362 miners.

"During Winter Alert, we strongly urge miners and mine operators to remember the four lines of defense," said McAteer, who spoke from MSHA headquarters in Arlington, Va. "Consistently follow the mine's approved ventilation plan; conduct thorough pre-shift, on-shift and weekly checks for methane and other hazards; keep potential ignition sources out of working areas; and complete rock dusting in all areas of the mine."

In the winter months, large drops in barometric pressure can allow potentially explosive methane to migrate from inactive parts of an underground coal mine into travelways and work areas. This increases the risk than an explosive mixture of air and methane may come into contact with an ignition source, causing an explosion.

Cold weather also allows cool, dry air entering underground coal mines to become warm, drawing moisture from the workings. As coal dust dries out, it becomes harder to control, and may contribute to explosion hazards.

Addressing the rescue teams competing against each other, McAteer added, "Should an emergency situation occur underground, miners can be confident that mine rescue teams will put forth their very best efforts to recover their colleagues who may be trapped or injured."

Mine rescue contests are designed to sharpen skills and test the knowledge of miners who may one day be called upon to respond to a real mine emergency, such as a fire, roof collapse or explosion. The contest requires teams to solve a hypothetical problem while being timed and observed by judges according to precise rules.

Also attending the competition were members of Russia's para-military mine rescue unit, visiting the Academy for training and to observe mine rescue techniques used in the U.S. coal industry. There have been at least four methane explosions in Russian mines this year.

The winners in the two-day competition will be announced at an awards banquet Thursday evening, 6:30 p.m., at the Raleigh Co. Armory.