Arch Coal subsidiary Cumberland River Coal Company’s Pine Branch No.1 mine has been heralded Virginia’s safest large underground mine during 2012.

The award, presented by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Coal Mine Safety Board, recognized Pine Branch for working more than 168,000 employee hours without a lost-time safety incident.

"We're very proud of our Virginia employees for demonstrating strong leadership in mine safety," Arch president of eastern operations Charles Snavely said.

"Achieving the best mine safety record in the state is a reflection of Arch's unwavering commitment to the safety of our employees and our mines.”

The Cumberland River mining complex operates Pine Branch in Wise County and Trace Fork in Letcher County, Kentucky, which together employ about 240 people.

Cumberland River's top-ranked mine rescue team earned the Grand Championship at the Virginia Mining Institute Contest in 2011 and 2012.

Peabody Energy also had a safety win at an annual awards presentation in Wyoming.

The company’s open cut Rawhide operation won the Small Surface Operation Safety Award from the Wyoming Mining Association and the Wyoming State Inspector of Mines for best safety performance for a mine of its size.

Rawhide Mine employees logged more than 442,000 hours without a lost-time incident and shipped 14.7 million tons of coal in 2012, earning it the top prize.

“This award is a tribute to the more than 200 Rawhide employees who collaborate daily to maintain a safe culture emphasizing teamwork and best practices,” Peabody Energy Americas president Kemal Williamson said.

“I’m proud of Rawhide employees for consistently setting a standard of leadership in safety.”

Rawhide also achieved a safety milestone by working more than 640 consecutive days without a reportable incident from July 2010 to April 2012.