Washington — Four organizations just lately earned recognition from NIOSH for his or her use of know-how and creativity to advance miner security and well being.

The 2023 NIOSH Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Awards had been offered for the next classes:

Industrial minerals: Imerys was honored for redesigning a packing station and putting in carry gadgets to mitigate repetitive-motion accidents associated to lifting, in addition to shoulder, arm and wrist twisting. NIOSH says the enhancements “made a genuine difference in the working experience” whereas rising the effectivity of the packing course of.

Coal: Innovative Wireless Technologies and Arch Resources Inc. shared the award after collaborating on a next-generation wi-fi fuel monitor that makes use of a multi-sensor platform. The software produced real-time situational consciousness and visibility of atmospheric situations.

Metal: Hecla Mining lowered the all-injury frequency fee at its Lucky Friday Mine by greater than half by way of the “underhand closed bench” mining technique. The innovation, NIOSH stated, improved proactive management of fault-slip seismicity in deep, high-stress, narrow-vein mining.

“Whenever private companies address health and safety issues with innovative approaches, everyone wins,” Steve Sawyer, director of the NIOSH Mining Program’s Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, stated in a press launch. “In mining, each operation has its own unique challenges, and solutions to these challenges need to be tailored to each mine.”

NIOSH offered the awards together with the Essential Minerals Association and the National Mining Association.