June 14, 2017 - Nine different mine safety teams are competing in an event that not only serves as a competition but is an example of how the mining industry is changing.

"Mine industry in the past has had a reputation of a dangerous industry and today it's not that way" said Lewis Mills, Alden Resources Director of Safety.

Mills and his team were the national winners in the 2015 mining safety event. His team believes that the future of mining safety is bright for both his team and all mining safety teams nationally.

"We're getting stronger" said Fred Shannon, the captain of the Alden Resources team. "If this continues in a year or so we'll be in decent shape again."

The three day event is put on by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Division of Mine Safety. The Hazard, Kentucky High School band receives all the proceeds from teams registering for the event and in return provides awards and food for the teams.

According to Shannon, there has been an increase in attendance and they expect that trend to continue.

"This year it's seems there's a little more perk in it."

Although the event is a competition the goal is to keep miners safe.

"We wanna make sure that every coal miner that goes in the mine, to earn a living goes back home" said Ricky Johnson, Mine Rescue coordinator.