Massey Energy's Empire Surface Mine Achieves Safety Milestone

JULIAN, W.Va., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Massey Energy Company (NYSE: MEE) announced today that its Empire Surface Mine has achieved a major safety milestone by working more than 1,000 days without incurring a single lost-time accident.

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"I commend the members at Empire Surface for their unwavering commitment to working safely everyday," said Don L. Blankenship, Massey Energy's Chairman and CEO.  "Their focus on safety excellence helped make 2009 the safest year in Massey history."  

Located in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Empire Surface has operated nearly three years – or 310,000 man-hours – without incurring a single lost-time accident.  During this period, they have moved 26 million tons of material to produce 1.6 million tons of coal with a workforce of 45 members.  

Last year, Massey Energy achieved the safest year in Company history by posting a 2.33 non-fatal days lost incidence rate beating the industry average of 2.77.  

Massey Energy Company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, is the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia and is included in the S&P 500 Index.  

SOURCE Massey Energy Company