Blaschak Coal enhances on-the-job safety
BY JOHN E. USALIS (STAFF WRITER jusalis@republicanherald.com)
Published: March 11, 2010

Members of Blaschak Coal Corp. safety committee are, from left, Daniel Blaschak, company vice president/treasurer; a representative of Evergreen Insurance; William Slusser, safety coordinator; Dale Lindenmuth; Jack Stauffenberg; Kirby Teter and Charles "Dusty" Dalvet. James Larkin also serves on the committee.

SAINT NICHOLAS - In the coal industry, safety on the job can never be an afterthought.

So even with a good record, Blaschak Coal Corp. has implemented a safety incentive program.

It started with the formation of a safety committee led by William Slusser, the company's safety coordinator. The incentive program was outlined in a letter sent to employees last month by company President Anthony Blaschak Jr. The company employs about 100.

An employee who works for one calendar year without a federal Mine Safety and Health Administration reportable injury will receive a $50 gift certificate to a retail company of his choice. An additional $50 will be added if the worker has no unexcused absences during that same year.

If the group works for one calendar year without a MSHA reportable injury, each employee in the group will receive a $100 savings bond. Each consecutive year without an injury in the group would add $100. At 10 years and for each additional year without an injury in the group, each group employee would receive a $1,000 savings bond.

Slusser worked for the U.S. Department of Labor in its two work safety agencies, the Office of Safety and Health Administration and MSHA before coming to Blaschak Coal. He said the committee was formed in compliance with Pennsylvania's PENNSAFE certification requirements, a program of the state Department of Labor and Industry.

"It's a business with hazards," said Slusser. "You have rock that you're blasting and you're moving it with heavy equipment."

Blaschak said enhancing safety is much more than just complying with regulations or saving money in insurance premiums and other costs.

"It's all about our people. That's what makes a company great," he said. "We don't want to see one of our people hurt."