The award, from the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, was first awarded in 1941, and has separate categories for coal, metalliferous and select mines. This year Western Canadian Coal shared the award with two Alberta strip mines.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the Brule mine has earned a safety award.

Western Canadian Coal chief executive John Hogg said the award recognised the focus that contractor Pelly Construction and the mine's employees have on safe work practices.

“We are extremely proud of the safety record at our Brule mine," he said.

“We have increased production at the mine each year since the Dillon mine started in 2004, thereby indicating that a safe workplace is also a productive workplace."