The Mine Safety and Health Administration unveiled improvements in emergency training and rescue technology on Tuesday at the Mine Academy in Beaver, West Virginia.
More than 50 miners from across the country came to the mine academy to participate in emergency training and also compete in teams in simulated training exercises.
"This training is absolutely important to the teams and the nation," said Joe Main with MSHA.
The rescue teams spent Tuesday perfecting their skills on actual fire fighting, simulated smoke rescues, CPR, and equipment.
MSHA also unveiled its new emergency command vehicle to better share information and communication between underground crews and teams on the ground in the event of a mine emergency.
Main said workers involved in this line of work a special people, "They do need the best we can give them for training preparedness and the best technologies to make their job safe."
The all day event is said to unite miners, "It gives them an opportunity to not only learn these important skills they would need to use underground but also an opportunity to get to know each other," said Kenny Murry the Vice President of operations at Alliance Coal.
Getting familiar with one another is important for many who said what they do can cost many their lives. "In the event you are all called upon its not the first time you've ever had to shake the guys hand that's going to be looking to save your life," said Murry.
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