Of orange flames lick in coal mine, the deterioration of visibility and heat resistant construction, smoke began to fill in the roof of the underground passage. Then, push a few buttons on a handheld remote control, fire flashing, the smoke clears, lights. Was replaced by the roar of a trickle of water near the fire.
That's magical run correct leadership academy, $23 million in training complex is committed to teaching how to avoid injuries and deaths of miners in any disaster, in one of the most dangerous work environment. Alpha natural resources, calls it the only of its kind in the world, a place of crisis can be created, but control for miners of reality, they hope that day never come.
Was born in a landmark settlement of $21 billion dollars, the U.S. department of justice in the mine at hkust, college officially open on Thursday. Virginia's alpha exclusive access to the Associated Press, because it increased to open throughout the day.
Cheryl, s&p, alpha's learning and development director, said: "our goal is to prepare each employee crisis", so they don't experience for the first time, when it happened.
"You need to know how to safe operation, but the efficient and effective," she said. "In today's economic challenges, we think that this is what happened, it is necessary to truly drive business forward."
The center has a virtual simulator, welding and how to run a continuous mining machine or driving large dump truck open-pit mine. From a nearby computer monitor and keyboard, instructors throw operators will eventually encounter danger, rain, fog and mud engine caught fire and tire blowout.
In order to help the miners felt comfortable and focus on learning, alpha has used something from underground decoration in the environment. Anchor bolts rust roof plate to the ceiling of the hall, from a coal dryer basket with glass coffee table and industrial plug has been shaped pendant lamp.
Wear wood imitation, so no one worried about scratches. After the classroom, was named the coal seam, and from the device control panel are determined. Coal mine, the examiner write very long charcoal grey wall, when they go - the same way, they sign your check book date, time and their abbreviations.
But pearl on the crown of simulation of coal mine is a 96000 - square - foot, it is slightly smaller than average wal-mart. Teachers can create a fire, flood, roof fall, casualties and more work. It is the wall of the metal, it sat on the ground, but it's imitation of a real mine - one built into the floor drain and fans, surveillance cameras, so people can watch from the class.
Now, 10 acres of building in southern West Virginia is open only to alpha - as many as 200 employees at the end of this year, the day before. But over time, other companies will use the federal prosecutors said factory assembly technology, best in the world in one place.
"Until you see it," U.S. attorney booth goodwin said, "you really can't grasp how important it is."
Desktop drill, simulations are done for the rescue team is already mine two classroom size, or map and use a string in the field of competition open to represent a tunnel. In the lab now, they can rehearse eight and seven horizontal lane, tunnel, mirror work poleaxed 20 - the roof of the "pillars" of 20 feet.
"Dave said:" this is how to return a responsibility, held here, frankly, the best mining rescue practice, you can participate in, green, alpha of hedong coal mine rescue team captain, they will use the facilities, and in practice. "This is very exciting."
Alpha operation performance group, senior vice President of Keith said susquehanna can create alpha scenarios will be limited, only in teachers' imagination.
It can save lives and reduce accidents and injuries, I am very confident, "he said."
But the school is more than a training center. It was a very good business. Illegal behavior and accident less means less production interruption and fat bottom line. It also change an important part of a culture.
"This is a real, outward signs, we thought, we were doing our commitment," said Kevin crutchfield, chief executive of the country's third largest coal suppliers, and company, buy what is considering industry a bad boy for a long time, before the massey energy co., LTD.
Lionel messi has at hkust, scored a huge explosion of its underground corridor in 2010, killed 29 people and in the worst disaster in coal mining in 40 years in the United States.
Explosion can be prevented, the survey found four wear and broken cutting equipment to create a spark, ignites coal dust and gas accumulation. Break, allowing the water sprayer block should have small attacks, become a hell.
The federal mine safety and health administration says the root cause is messi's "systematic, deliberate and aggressive effort", concealing a life-threatening problem. Manager check books - before they even keep two sets of shift for myself, one of accurate and disinfected regulators.
MSHA said miners who dare harm problem shooting threat.
Crutchfield says, alpha has spent tens of thousands of hours to replace fear and respect the culture. Because messi in June 2011 acquisition, the staff has more than 1 million anonymous card to open the report's concern.
"When they see you listen to the voice, you're starting to see delete a culture of fear," he said. "This is for your trust, we want people to know and believe that they have the right to call, if it is not safe, they will do it.
Said, "that was easy," says crutchfield, "to build a culture is another matter."
MSHA chief Joe said, Lord, Numbers tell the story: from 2007 to 2007, MSHA has 14 messi violation of coal as a potential model, label distribution review, due to high chronic pick out safety mines.
In 2010, four massey coal mine on the list. By 2011, only a macy's operation went, last year wasn't up to par.
Alpha run 18 55 coal mine and washing factory, West Virginia, about 45 mines and seven loading facilities, in Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. It still has a problem, and the Lord said, Lionel messi took over, three people were killed.
However, "I think it is a cultural shift, we began to watch



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