The 120-worker Francisco mine in Gibson County achieved the company’s best underground safety record last year, marking a 2.52 safety rate – 44% better than the US national average for mines of the same type. It is the third year in a row the mine, which produced 1.5 million tons last year, has earned the award.

The 260-worker Farmersburg operation in Pimento finished 2008 with a record of zero reportable incidents, compared to last year’s surface mine national average of 1.33 per 200,000 hours worked. The mine produced 3Mt last year.

“Farmersburg has a long tradition of safety excellence and was recognised by the US Department of Labor in 2007 for operating the nation's safest large coal mine,” the company said.

Peabody president Rick Navarre noted that both mines had set a nationally recognised safety standard.

"These mines show what we can do when employees believe in themselves and make a personal commitment to safety," he said.

Peabody marked the best safety performance in its 125-year history last year. Globally in 2008, its safety rate jumped 20% and its mines marked a record incidence rate of 1.7 per 200,000 hours worked, 60% higher than the national average.