The Greater Bluefield Area is a beautiful, mountainous community, which crosses state lines along the border of southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia. Located in the mountains along the foothills of one of the most picturesque mountain valley settings to be found anywhere, the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Bluefield Coal Symposium with the theme coal Mine Safety: The Road to Zero Harm. For two days, August 26 and 27, the Bluefield Coal Symposium will address providing greater safety and increased productivity.
There are four main reasons to attend:
- Hear four coal operator CEOs, as well as the heads of MSHA and NIOSH, all in one location
- Attend four educational sessions on the most timely and pressing issues affecting day-to-day coal mining safety
- See state-of-the-art displays of mining equipment and supplies designed for greater safety
- Network with peers, as well as with leading manufacturers and suppliers.
Register today by calling 304-327-7184.
Bluefield Coal Symposium 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
1:30 Exhibitors Set-Up
Golf Tee Times Available
5:00 Registration Opens
6:00 Informal Reception by the Pool
6:30 Welcome
7:00 Dinner on your Own
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
7:00 Speakers Breakfast (Conference Room)
8:00 Session 1: Mine Safety – The Road to Zero
11:30 Adjourn for Lunch and Visit with Exhibitors
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Welcome by Randy Deason, Chairman of the Board and Introduction of Luncheon Speaker, Richard E. Stickler, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, MSHA, who will speak on “Progress with the MINER Act of 2006”.
2:00 Session 2: Mine Safety – New Technology and the Manufacturer
5:00 Adjourn
6:00 Reception (David’s at the Club)
7:00 Dinner (David’s at the Club)
8:00 Address by Pete Lilly, President, CONSOL Coal Group who will speak on “The Science and Culture of Safety”
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
8:00 Session 3: Mining Legislation and Training Session
11:35 Adjourn for Lunch
1:00 Visit with Exhibitors
2:00 Session 4: Practical Progress in Mine Safety
5:00 Adjourn (Exhibitors Dismantle)
6:00 Reception (David’s at the Club)
7:00 Dinner (David’s at the Club)
8:00 Address by Richard M. Whiting, President and CEO, Patriot Coal Corporation, “Only in Appalachia”
9:30 Adjourn
Session 1 – Mine Safety – The Road to Zero, Tuesday Morning, August 26
8:00 Keynote Address: “The Road to Zero Harm” by Dr. Jeffery Kohler, Director, Office of Mine Safety & Health Research, NIOSH
Discussion
8:30 “A Statistical Analysis of Coal Mining Accidents” by Jeffrey Welsh, Deputy Director, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, NIOSH
Discussion
9:00 “Eliminating Mining Accidents” by John M. Gallick, Vice President Safety and Health, Foundation Coal Corporation
Discussion
9:30 Break and Visit with Exhibitors
10:00 “Communication and Tracking Initiatives” by David Snyder MS, PE, Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, NIOSH
Discussion
10:30 “Coal Mine Sealing Strategies” by John Feddock, PE, Senior Vice President, Marshall Miller & Associates, Inc.
Discussion
11:00 “Emergency Underground Mine Shelters” by Ron Wooten, Director, State of West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training
11:35 Adjourn for Lunch
Session 2 – Mine Safety – New Technology and the Manufacturer, Tuesday Afternoon, August 26
2:00 “An Update on Mine Emergency Operations” by John Urosek, Chief, Mine Emergency Operations, MSHA
Discussion
2:30 “Progress in Mine Safety at Bucyrus” by Lou Stojack, Vice President & General Manager, United States and Mexico Regions, Bucyrus International, Inc.
Discussion
3:00 “Safety Progress at Joy Global” by Joe Zimmerman, Director, Global Product Development, Joy Mining Machinery
Discussion
3:30 Break and Visit with Exhibitors
4:00 “Safety Solutions Through Mining Equipment Design and Development” by Bart Ferrero, Safety & Sustainable Project Manager, Caterpillar Global Mining
Discussion
4:30 “Safety the Komatsu Way – Designing Safety into Mining Trucks” by Kevin Casey,
General Manager – Continuous Improvement, and Ron Crawford, Manager Vehicle
Maintenance, Komatsu America Corp. – Mining Division
Discussion
5:00 Adjourn
6:00 Reception and Dinner
Session 3 – Mining Legislation and Training, Wednesday Morning, August 27
8:00 Keynote Address: “Coal: Safe, Secure and Sensible” by James W. Roberts, Chairman, National Mining Association and Chairman and CEO, Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc.
Discussion
8:30 “Pennsylvania Mine Safety Legislation” by John Gallick, Vice President Safety and Health, Foundation Coal Corporation
Discussion
9:00 “Coal Counts in Kentucky” by Bill K. Caylor, President, Kentucky Coal Association
Discussion
9:30 Break and Visit with Exhibitors
10.00 Keynote Address: “Behavior-Based Safety Programs Work” by Michael J. Quillen,
Chairman and CEO, Alpha Natural Resources
10:30 “West Virginia Coal – We’re Getting Better” by Bill Raney, President, West Virginia Coal Association
Discussion
11:00 “Safety Training That Works” by Jim Dean, Director, West Virginia University, Extension & Outreach
Discussion
11:35 Adjourn for Lunch and Visit with Exhibitors
Session 4 – Practical Progress in Mine Safety, Wednesday Afternoon, August 27
2:00 “Progress in Reducing Ground Control Accidents” by Dr. Christopher Mark, Senior Mining Engineer, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, NIOSH
Discussion
2:30 “Proximity Protection Progress” by David C. Chirdon, Program Manager, New Technology Development, MSHA
3:00 “Safety with a Double T” by Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, Vice President of Safety and
Training, Massey Energy Co.
Discussion
3:30 Break and Visit with Exhibitors
4:00 “Safety Observations at Alpha Natural Resources” by Allen Dupree, Vice President – Health and Safety, Alpha Natural Resources
Discussion
4:30 “Making Absolute Zero Safety Happen” by Lou Barletta, Jr., Vice President – Safety, CONSOL Energy
Discussion
5:00 Adjourn
6:00 Reception and Dinner