In honor of the commitment and courage of mine rescuers past and present, the Mine Safety and Health Administration commemorated the Third Annual Mine Rescue Day on Friday, Oct. 30 by showcasing the latest emergency response equipment and technology at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, West Virginia.
"Mine rescue is among the most challenging emergency work that is undertaken in our country," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph Main. "When a mine disaster strikes, mine rescue volunteers, brave men and women, don't hesitate to answer the call, be it day or night. Many times these great volunteers from the mining community travel miles in the dark and under arduous and treacherous conditions, navigating mine workings sometimes filled with debris and explosive gases to find missing miners or recover those who did not survive. That's what they do. They are our heroes."
Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, echoed Main's comments.
"Our coal miners are the best in the world and our safety teams are the best in the world as well," Raney said. "They go where no one else wants to go. They go to the danger and they are our angels, and this event salutes their skill and courage -- and through them it honors every coal miner."
