Coal Education and Training Key Terms

Improve your knowledge of the coal industry

By Laurie Edwards

Coal education and training is key for anyone connected with the mining industry. Workers and mine supervisors need to keep their skills and training current. It is also vital for anyone considering working in the field, because safety is paramount. This is true not only for the miners themselves, but also to their families. Knowledge about coal is also important to the general public who depend on coal to fuel their homes or produce electricity.

No coal education and training would be complete without knowledge about future coal technologies. All mine owners, miners and the general public should be aware of the advances in the field.

Material handling safety

A large part of coal education and training involves material handling safety. Material handling safety has three key components: manual material handling , mechanical material handling, and material storage. Safety is crucial in each of these areas, so it's important for mine workers to be trained in these areas.
Try: The National Mine Health and Safety Academy offers a free online course on material handling safety. You can click through the documents to learn more about the subject.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

An important part of coal education and training is knowledge of the rules and regulations governing mines. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act was enacted in 1977, but has been amended several times since then. The act mandates that abandoned mine sites be reclaimed to prevent landslides and fires. It also requires permits, inspects mines, and restricts surface mining to certain areas.
Try: The University of New Mexico provides a copy of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act regulations.

Kentucky Coal and Energy Education Project

Kentucky Coal and Energy Education Project offers coal education for teachers, students and the general public. The project website offers a variety of information on mine safety and the future direction of the coal industry.
Try: The Kentucky Foundation hosts the Kentucky Coal and Energy Education Project on its website. Click on the various links to learn more about coal and the coal industry.

The World Coal Institute

The World Coal Institute provides a wealth of knowledge about coal. This non-profit organization is open to CEOs worldwide. In addition to working for favorable policies, the group also seeks to educate both those inside the industry as well as the general public about coal.
Try: The World Coal Institute offers information on the coal industry and important advances in coal technology.

Clean Coal Power Initiative

The goal of the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) is to develop new technology for commercial power that allows coal to burn more cleanly and efficiently. It aims to provide an affordable, reliable and sustainable energy supply, while at the same time decreasing environmental problems.
Try: The National Energy Technology Laboratory discusses the Clean Coal Power Initiative.

Carbon capture and storage technology

To stay current with ongoing innovations in the coal industry, both citizens and miners should educate themselves on carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. CCS technology is a global initiative to capture the carbon dioxiode that is emitted when fossil fuels are burned and to separate that for use. FutureGen is a program that was begun to work on carbon capture.
Try: The University of Edinburgh explains CCS technology, and the U.S. Department of Energy describes the FutureGen initiative.