The Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Award created and conferred by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recognizes mines and companies who have made an extraordinary effort, above and beyond the mandatory requirements, to apply technologies in ways that will improve mine worker safety or health. The goal of this award is to promote the identification, adoption, and dissemination of safety and health technologies throughout the mining industry.

The award winners in 2011 are:

Metal/Nonmetal Award to Freeport McMoRan Americas - Fatigue Monitoring System

Fatigue is a well-known cause of lost-time injuries and fatalities among truck drivers. Freeport McMoRan Americas (FMI) conducted trials on systems used throughout the world in over-the-road applications to determine their relevance for off-road applications. FMI's adaptation of an Australian over-the-road systems for use in mine haul trucks and implementation of practices to utilize the information provided by their fatigue monitoring system is preventing accidents. FMI's leadership in this area will serve as a model to accelerate the diffusion of technology throughout the surface mining industry.

Coal Award to Lockheed Martin - Through-the-Earth Communications

The ultimate goal for post-accident communications is a two-way, through-the-earth (TTE), voice communication system. Realization of this goal is limited by significant technical and practical barriers, and especially the ability to transmit from the underground coal mine. Lockheed Martin adapted technology created for defense applications to develop through-the-earth voice communications for application in the underground mines. Despite significant technical challenges and without focus on the "bottom line," Lockheed Martin succeeded in commercializing a first-generation TTE voice communication system to aid in the rescue of miners in a post-accident environment.

Coal Award to CONSOL - Through-the-Earth Communications

CONSOL Energy is recognized for their commitment and collaboration to improve post-accident communications in the event of a mine emergency. As an early adopter of safety technologies CONSOL has demonstrated a willingness to go "above and beyond" the statutory requirements to ensure that miners will have the best tools to function in a post-accident environment. Their practice of evaluating and adopting backup post-accident communication systems is well illustrated by their commitment to two-way, through-the-earth (TTE) communication technology. By interfacing Lockheed Martin's TTE technology with their primary communication system CONSOL's actions will significantly expand miner's options for post-accident communication and may expediate the development and commercialization of second-generation TTE technology.