Coal Education and Training News and Trends

Keep current on the latest in coal education and training news and trends

By Mary Spencer-Huber
Coal mine classes remain relevant today, since coal is still a major source of fuel for the generation of electricity around the world. Countries that rely on coal for more than 75% of their electricity include Poland, South Africa, Australia and China. In 2006, 50% of electricity in the United States was fueled by coal. Consequently, the coal industry remains viable and may even grow as Americans seek alternative fuel sources to foreign oil.

As the coal industry grows, so will the demand for coal miner training. Companies looking to train their workers should find coal industry training that integrates the latest news and trends into its programming. When searching for the latest trends in coal education and training, there are a few things to keep in mind, including:

1. Coal mining education classes offer coal mine industry leaders opportunities to get the latest news and trends first hand.

2. Several organizations offer mining publications, which provide excellent insight into coal industry education trends.

3. Coal mining blogs provide regular coal industry updates pertinent to coal mining courses.

 

Take some coal mine courses designed for leaders in the industry

Courses designed for industry leaders, including inspectors, provide important insight into the latest strategies and techniques in the coal industry. People who take these courses also get a better idea of news and trends that should be taught in coal miner classes.
Try: The United States Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration offers several courses that cover a wide range of current topics, including safety and inspection procedures, accident prevention, mining technology and industrial hygiene. Vincennes University offers several courses, including underground miner classes, surface classes and safety classes.

Peruse various mining publications for the latest news and trends relevant to coal mining training

Mining publications offer the latest news emerging from the coal mining industry.
Try: The National Mining Association offers numerous publications devoted to the coal mining industry, including, Mining Week, which covers current legislation and business developments relevant to the mining industry. Coal International offers online publications, including Mining and Quarry World and Coal International. Another good source of information is, Coal News, which is a publication of the Coal Institute. Finally, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health offers links to numerous downloadable mining publications.

Learn about possible trends in coal mine training by tuning in to coal mining industry forums

News coming from the coal mining industry is often a good indicator of what topics will emerge in coal mining classes. You don't need to wait for a newspaper or magazine to report on coal news; instead, you can keep up with the industry by reading coal mining blogs.
Try: The American Coal Council maintains a blog devoted to various aspects of the coal industry. The Kentucky Coal Blog covers various coal related topics that affect the state of Kentucky. The blog also provides good links to recent media pertaining to the mining industry.