The two mines recorded the best safety performance for Peabody’s US underground and surface operations last year. It was the best year in safety performance in the company’s 130-year history.

Twentymile employees were recognised for achieving a 0.96 incident rate, a record for Peabody underground operations. This year’s award marks the third time since 2005 that the Colorado mine has received the President’s award.

Illinois’ Cottage Grove Mine achieved more than 17 months without a reportable injury and was honoured by the US Department of the Interior for restoration of prime farmland this past year.

Twentymile and Cottage Grove have about 500 and 150 workers respectively.

Peabody Energy Americas President Kemal Williamson said every worker deserved to go home safely every day.

“Twentymile and Cottage Grove set a high standard for excellence in safety,” he said.

“I’m proud of our employees for working toward our safety vision of zero incidents of any kind.”