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