Massey Energy (NYSE: MEE) announced that two of its subsidiaries have received the Mountaineer Guardian Award from the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training and the West Virginia Coal Association.  Established in 1983, the award is presented annually to companies and mines that exemplify safety throughout West Virginia.

Aracoma’s Hernshaw Mine and Elk Run’s Logan’s Fork Mine received the Mountaineer Guardian Award at a luncheon in conjunction with the annual West Virginia Mining Symposium in Charleston.

Aracoma Coal Company president John Jones said, “The members at our Hernshaw Mine have earned and deserve this recognition.  We thank the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training as well as the West Virginia Coal Association for promoting safety in our mines and recognizing outstanding work when it is demonstrated; that’s what our members have done, outstanding work, very safely.”

The two Massey subsidiaries were nominated by state mine inspectors and the West Virginia Coal Association for their outstanding safety performances and mine safety initiatives during 2008. The Aracoma Hernshaw mine, located in Logan County, has been recognized by both state and federal agencies over the past two years as a safety leader in the industry. Aracoma Hernshaw members have worked more than 230,000 exposure hours and reported no lost time injuries.

Similarly, Elk Run’s Logan’s Fork Mine takes a proactive approach to safety and exceeds safety training requirements. As a result, miners worked a total of 443,462 exposure hours, reporting only one minor injury during that period.

Craig Boggs, president of Elk Run Coal Company in Boone County said, “It is no surprise that Logan’s Fork Mine has been recognized for its safety. The members at the mine have done outstanding work over the past several years, exceeding safety training requirements as they strive to make Elk Run Coal Company one of the safest mines in West Virginia.”