Published: March 28, 2008 11:05 am         

Editorial: A miner’s mission

Consol COO seeks ‘safety at absolute zero’

Has Bart Hyita been sniffing too much coal dust?

We don’t think so.

But we admit he has certainly set some high safety standards in what long has been recognized as one of the nation’s most dangerous professions: Coal mining.

Hyita is chief operating officer of Consol Energy of suburban Pittsburgh and is helping spearhead the company’s nationwide campaign for “safety at absolute zero.”

Now, we in this region are not oblivious to what can happen underground. We are, after all, home to one of the most famous mining mishaps of the past decade – the 2002 Quecreek Mine accident near Jennerstown in Somerset County.

But while we’re skeptical, we’re also impressed with the boldness of Consol Energy and Hyita.

We hope others, including companies outside of mining, are listening and setting their safety goals just as high.

Speaking last week at a mining institute event in West Virginia, Hyita, according to an Associated Press report, said, “We have no tolerance for accidents.”

Consol’s goal for zero reportable accidents or accidents that require professional medical treatment, as well as those which cause any time away from the job, may seem unrealistic. But Hyita said the goal is obtainable.

He points to the fact that neighboring Kentucky had only two fatalities in 2007, both from surface-mining accidents. Kentucky did not have a fatality underground, he said.

“Safety trumps everything, including production and profit,” he said. “Studies have shown safer mines are the more productive mines.”

Amen. Those words probably wouldn’t have come from the lips of too many mining executives in the early to mid-20th century.

Consol has around 19 mining complexes and employs close to 8,000 people. It is currently building a huge headquarters complex in Washington County.

In 2005, Consol Energy was named one of America’s most admired companies by Fortune magazine.

It’s not hard to see why.

With coal mining making a much-anticipated comeback in our region, we hope every operator and owner has the same mind-set as Hyita, who says he was “born and bred a coal miner.”

As part of his company’s safety campaign, individuals and teams are being rewarded with cash and paid vacation days.

Hyita said Consol was working hard toward absolute zero, but “still had work to do.” He said over the past 30 years, the year 2005 was the company’s best year, with 22 deaths nationwide.

The worst year during that time frame was 1978, when 116 lives were lost.

He wants to see that number fall to “absolute zero.”

“We want the whole industry to get there,” Hyita said.

We do, too. Let the work begin.