MSHA specialists will hold the first seminar on retreat mining at the Hazard Community College in Hazard, Kentucky on November 9 and the second seminar at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy near Beckley, West Virginia on November 10.

MSHA are encouraging mining industry personnel to attend the free seminars, which will cover mobile roof supports, geology, roof support issues and global stability, and other issues. Pre-registration for the free seminars is preferred, though walk-in participants will be welcome.

Retreat mining is the practice of mining the coal pillars that hold up the roof of an underground mine after all coal has been taken from an area of the mine and allowing the roof to collapse.

"Recent incidents have shown that there needs to be some discussion among mining industry personnel about the safer methods to conduct retreat mining," MSHA assistant secretary Dave Lauriski said.

"There are safe and efficient ways of doing retreat mining, and we want to be sure operators of underground coal mines are aware of the hazards involved and how to avoid those hazards."