Mining Safety

Wyoming mines take safety very seriously, and mine companies around the state have made safety a top priority for Wyoming’s mining industry. As a result, Wyoming mines are repeatedly recognized as some of the safest mining operations in the nation.

Safety Training & Practices

All mines employ dedicated safety professionals, and employees are trained in proper safety and practices for a safe work environment.

New employees are required to take a three-day Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) course before their first day on the job.
Most mines require further safety training before an employee can start working.
Existing employees are required to take an annual one-day safety training course.
Every shift starts with walk-around safety inspections.

Wyodak Mine Safety Video

Improving Mine Safety

Working in mines is safer than many common occupations. On average, a coal miner can expect to work his or her entire career without a lost-time incident, which is defined as a non-fatal workplace illness or injury resulting in at least one day away from work to recuperate. The U.S. mining industry has made significant strides in improving the health and safety of its workers. It is the result of seven key trends according to the National Mining Association.

A commitment by management, workers, and regulators to a goal of zero fatalities and injuries;
Better equipment design;
Technological advances;
Conscientious safety awareness;
Improved engineering methods;
Advanced and continuous training;
Strong oversight and assistance from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.

NMA CORESafety – Committed to Excellence in Mining Safety

Safety Awards & Recognition

Wyoming Mining Association members take their safety obligations very seriously and work continuously the provide a safe workplace for miners. The following mines received awards from the Wyoming State Mine Inspector in partnership with the Governor’s office during the Annual Wyoming Safety Conference. The awards are granted to those companies who demonstrated leadership in their culture of safety and health in the workplace.

National Safety Award NMA 2025:

Navajo Transitional Energy Company – Antelope Mine

2024 Safe SAM Award:

Navajo Transitional Energy Company – Antelope Mine

2023 Safe SAM Award:

Eagle Specialty Materials

– Eagle Butte Mine

Wyoming NTEC Wins National Safety Award!

Leaders in Mine Safety Honored by NMA

October 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) will today honor outstanding achievements in mine safety with the Sentinels of Safety Awards.

The NMA’s Sentinels of Safety Award recognizes coal and mineral mining operations in 10 categories for recording the most hours in a calendar year without a single lost-time injury. A minimum of 4,000 hours is required for award consideration. The award categories reflect the safety accomplishments of both small and large mines.

Twenty American mining operations – six coal mines and 14 mineral/metal mines – will be honored for their extraordinary safety performance in 2024.

“Every day in mining begins and ends with safety, and it’s top of mind in everything we do—from equipment operation all the way to team meetings,” said Rich Nolan, NMA president and CEO. “As mineral, material and power demand all grow to feed materials and power-hungry manufacturing lines and data centers, safe, modern, domestic mines will ensure our supply chains are secure and the power keeps flowing.”

Initiated in 1923 by then Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover, a former mining engineer, the Sentinels of Safety Award program remains the nation’s most prestigious recognition of mine safety and has helped foster a strong safety commitment on the part of U.S. mines.

Note: all recipients marked with an asterisk* are members of the NMA.

Recipients for 2024 include the following:

Large Group Category

Large Coal Processing, Cumberland Mine, Iron Senergy*, Waynesburg, Penn.
Large Underground Metal, Cortez District-Underground, Nevada Gold Mines LLC*, Crescent Valley, Nev.
Large Surface Coal, Antelope Coal Mine, Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC*, Douglas, Wyo.
Large Metal/Nonmetal Mill, Tilden Mine, Tilden Mining Company, LC, Ishpeming, Mich.
Large Bank or Pit, Atlas 874/115 Mine, Atlas Energy Solutions, Kermit, Texas
Large Dredge, DTM GEN6 Proppants, LLC, DTM Louisiana Gathering, LLC, Mansfield, La.
Large Open Pit, Robinson Operation, Robinson Nevada Mining Company, Ruth, Nev.
Large Quarry, Pennsuco Quarry, Titan America, Medley, Fla.
Large Underground Coal, Skyline Mine #3, Canyon Fuel Company LLC, Scotfield, Utah
Large Underground Nonmetal, Cayuga Mine, Cargill Deicing Solutions, Lansing, N.Y.

Small Group Category

Small Underground Metal, Middle Tennessee Mines, Gordonsville Mine, Nyrstar*, Gordonsville, Tenn.
Small Open Pit, East Ridge Plant & Gieseke Plant, Kyanite Mining Corp*, Dillwyn, Va.
Small Bank or Pit, Northern Portable Plant #12, Martin Marietta Materials, Ft. Collins, Colo.
Small Coal Processing, Huff Preparation Plant, Northstar Operating Company, LLC, Kimper, Ky.
Small Dredge, Portable Sand Plant, River Products Company Inc., Riverside, Iowa
Small Metal/Nonmetal Mill, Stadium West Quarry, Capital Quarries Company INC, Jefferson City, Mo.
Small Quarry, Ogden Plant, Dolomite Group, Ogden, N.Y.
Small Surface Coal, Barrackville Refuse Pile, LP Mineral, LLC, Barrackville, W.Va.
Small Underground Coal, Cherry Tree Mine, Rosebud Mining Company, Cherry Tree, Penn.
Small Underground Nonmetal, Chesney Underground, Carmeuse Lime & Stone, Luttrell, Tenn.