WORKINGS No. 4 Mine Sets Company Production Records

March 2005
No. 4 Mine Sets Company
Production Records

Give an Alabama coal miner safe equipment, good coal, a wining attitude and it's "Katie Bar the Door" for breaking production records. No. 4 Mine had all of these working for them in 2004 and it looks like 2005 could be even better.

No. 4 Mine Manager Keith Shalvey said hard work and dedication to safety is what lead to a record production for 2004. "I want to congratulate all employees at No. 4 for reaching this milestone of 3.1 million tons," Shalvey said. "With our employees 'commitment to excellence' and 'continuous improvement' we anticipate an increase in tonnage to 3.5 million in the near future."

In 2003, No. 4 Mine produced 2.8 million tons and in 2004 mined a JWR record 3.1 million tons. A very significant increase when you consider it was done with the same employees and equipment used in years past. "I have a great team of department heads and employees," explains Shalvey. "These guys are completely unselfish and work so well together. They want to help each other and it shows in our operation."

One of the 2004 records was a new annual continuous miner section footage advancement. The new record of 148,869 feet of advancement beat the old record by over 20,000 feet. Also setting new records was No. 4 Mine's Preparation Plant. They set a new weekly record in December 2004 of 173,916 tons. They broke that record the first week of February 2005 by washing 179,098 tons.

Another feather in No. 4 Mine's cap came recently when No. 4 Mine's Safety Supervisor Ken Russell became the inaugural winner of Walter Industries new Safety Core Value. No. 4 Mine holds the Alabama State Record for the longest run with no lost time accidents (193 days). Just another example of how No. 4 Mine's employees work together as a true team.

A steak dinner was just one of the way No. 4 Mine employees celebrated their record production of 3.1 million tons for 2004.