The Nevada Mining Association (NVMA) announced the recipients of its 2020 Mine Operator Safety Awards. The awards celebrate Nevada’s mining operations that make an extraordinary commitment to workplace safety.
“Workplace safety is more than a talking point in Nevada mining,” NVMA President Tyre Gray said. “Mine operators have instilled a safety-first culture among their workforce where nothing is more important than ensuring every miner goes home safely after every shift. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients on this well-deserved honor.”
The NVMA Safety Awards are based on performance in the previous calendar year. Awards are given to the top mines in designated categories based on their safety rate, which is calculated through a formula that factors the number of employees on site, number of hours worked in 2019, penalties for lost-time accidents, number of reportable incidents, and lost-time days. Many recipients recorded the impressive “triple zero” — no reportable injuries, lost time incidents or restrictive days.
In 2019, Nevada mines recorded a total of 28.5 million work hours at 227 mine sites across the state. This year, 30 mine operators in total received an award.
In addition to the operator awards, the NVMA also recognized 35 individuals for their commitment to workplace safety. The recipients of the Individual Safety Awards were announced in June.
First place for large metal mines went to Nevada Gold Mines’ Cortez District, second to the company’s Phoenix mine, and third went to the company’s Goldstrike mine.
For the medium metal category, first place went to Arturo mine, second to Mill 6, and third place to Genesis, all operated by Nevada Gold Mines.
GRP Pan’s Pan mine, Nevada Gold Mines’ Lone Tree mine and Emigrant mine tied for first place in the small metal mine category.
First place for large underground mines went to Nevada Gold Mines’ Cortez District-Underground, second place to the company’s Leeville mine and third went to Turquoise Ridge.
For medium underground mines, first place went to Small Mine Development’s SSX Mine and second went to the Exodus mine, operated by Nevada Gold Mines.
Small underground mine winners were Small Mine Development’s Lee Smith mine, Nevada Gold Mines’ Chukar mine, Jerrit Canyon Gold’s Saval 4, and Nevada Gold Mines’ Twin Underground.
In the contractor category, Ames Construction’s Nevada Operations and Small Mine Development’s Leeville tied for first place.