Reno, Nev. – The Nevada Mining Association (NVMA) has released the winners of its 2012 Safety Awards as part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to fostering safety in mine operations throughout the state and honoring those who go above and beyond expectations to ensure workers return home safely after every shift.
“I can’t say enough good things about the commitment to safety we are seeing across the entire mining industry in Nevada,” said Tim Crowley, NVMA president. “Nevada’s mine operations fully embrace placing their workers’ safety as the top priority. I’m very proud of this year’s winners and encourage everyone in the industry to follow their lead.”
The NVMA Safety Awards are given annually to both mine operators and individual mining employees in several categories, and data for the 2012 awards is based on performance in the 2011 calendar year.
Operator awards are given to the top three mines in designated categories based on their safety rate, which is calculated by a formula that factors number of employees on site, number of man hours for that year and penalties for lost-time accidents, number of reportable incidents and lost-time days. Individual awards are selected based on nominations only, and those nominations are judged on both the personal safety record of the individual and that person’s involvement in advocating safety in the workplace.
This year 20 awards will be given to mine operators and 38 awards will be given to individual employees during an event at NVMA’s annual convention in Lake Tahoe on Saturday, Sept. 8. The full list of NVMA 2012 Safety Awards winners can be found below.
Mine Operators Safety Awards
Surface Operations:
Large – 300+ employees
First: Newmont Mining Corporation – Phoenix Mine
Second: Newmont Mining Corporation – Twin Creeks & Sage Mill
Third: Barrick Gold of North America – Goldstrike Mine, open pit
Medium – 100-299 employees
First (tie): Barrick Gold of North America – Goldstrike Mine, roaster
First (tie): Barrick Gold of North America – Goldstrike Mine, autoclave/Mill
Second: Coeur D’Alene – Rochester Mine
Small – 20- 99 employees
First: Newmont Mining Corporation – Lone Tree Mine
Second: Great Basin Gold – Esmeralda Mill
Underground Operations:
Large – 300+ employees
First: Barrick Gold of North America – Turquoise Ridge Mine
Second: Newmont Mining Corporation – Leeville Mine
Third: Barrick Gold of North America – Goldstrike Mine, Meikle/Rodeo
Medium – 100-299 employees
First: Newmont Mining Corporation – Midas Mine
Second: Barrick Gold of North America – Cortez Underground
Third: Great Basin Gold – Hollister Mine
Small – 20-99 employees
First: Newmont Mining Corporation – Exodus Mine
Non-Metal Mining Category
First (tie): Baker Hughes – Argenta Mine and Mill
First (tie): Graymont Western – Pilot Peak Plant
First (tie): EP Minerals – Colado Mine
Contractors Category
First: J.S. Redpath – Nevada Operations
Second: Ames Construction – Nevada Operations
Individual Safety Awards
General Manager:
Randy Burggraff, Round Mountain Gold Corporation
Safety Manager:
Lance Steilman, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.
Safety Professional:
Tammy Harding, Goldcorp Inc.
Jason Haynes, Newmont Mining Corporation
Ashley Ott, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.
Mine Manager/Superintendent:
Tige Brown, Newmont Mining Corporation
Walt Holland, Newmont Mining Corporation
Ian McMullen, Newmont Mining Corporation
General Supervisor/Middle Management:
Graden Colby, Newmont Mining Corporation
Don Schumacher, Barrick Cortez
Dale Thompson, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.
Trainer:
Wendy Anderson, Coeur Rochester
Ray Finley, Newmont Mining Corporation
Jeromy McKinnon, Great Basin Gold
Supervisor:
Jason Edgar, Newmont Mining Corporation
Eric Endy, Barrick Bald Mountain
Ken Hutchings, Great Basin Gold
Steve Kontny, Newmont Mining Corporation
Rodney Sample, Goldcorp Inc.
Steve Veesart, Barrick Cortez
Non-Supervisory Trainer:
Dale Hornickel, Barrick Bald Mountain
Stephen McGowen, Round Mountain Gold Corporation
Jeff Myers, Barrick Cortez
Non-Supervisory Emergency Response:
James Davis, Newmont Mining Corporation
James Jensen, Newmont Mining Corporation
Lonna Lupercio, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.
Randy Miller, Newmont Mining Corporation
Jeremy Rice, Barrick Bald Mountain
Dan Vance, Barrick Cortez
Non-Supervisory:
Mike Abrams, Newmont Mining Corporation
Ernesto Manzo, Newmont Mining Corporation
Michael Peacher, Newmont Mining Corporation
Doug Ruehl, Newmont Mining Corporation
Todd Samuelson, Newmont Mining Corporation
Duane Skelton, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.
Scott Torrence, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.
Special Awards:
Darrel Gerstner, Outstanding Career in Safety
Sandvik Mining and Construction, 5 Years Underground with No Lost Time