The National Mining Association and U.S. mining promote health and safety as a core value. We strive to instill the values of safety leadership, accountability and personal involvement in every employee and to provide them with the required training and tools to prevent fatalities, injuries or occupational illnesses.

NMA recently launched the CORESafety initiative, an industry-wide partnership built on a foundation of leadership, culture and health and safety systems. Striving to achieve the "0:50:5 Goal" (0 fatalities and 50 percent injury rate reduction in 5 years) the CORESafety web site and framework offer detailed modules and resources developed by safety experts to help companies improve worker safety and health.

NMA recognizes outstanding achievment in worker safety through the Sentinels of Safety Awards. Sentinels of Safety are awarded annually to the nation's safest mines with a minimum of 4,000 injury-free hours. The awards were initiated in 1925 by then-Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover and remain the nation's most prestigious awards recognizing mining safety.

See our Sentinels of Safety page to see the 2011 award winners.

Also see the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health award for Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations.