Dr. Doug Myers, Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences will be the Epidemiologist and Research Lead for United Steelworkers in a study funded by the Alpha Foundation.
United Steelworkers will use the $600,000 grant to fund a two-year study titled "Characteristics of and Barriers to Effective Hazard Identification and Control Programs in U.S. Metal and Non-metal mines." The P.I. on the project is Michael J. Wright, Director of Health, Safety, and Environment for United Steelworkers.
The two-year study will identify mine hazards and practices that may deter workers from reporting unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.
The funding is part of Alpha Natural Resources' $48 million investment in a mine-safety research trust, formed after Alpha purchased the former Massey Energy Co., which owned the Upper Big Branch Mine at the time of the 2010 disaster in southern West Virginia.
