Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association
Awards Programs

The Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association (JAHSA) presents a wide variety of awards to recognize individuals and organizations who have made a difference in safety and health.

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Heroism

Acts of heroism and issuing awards were one of the original purposes of the Association, and used to constitute the major activity of the organization. The Hero awards have been awarded on an annual basis since 1919. In a number of instances, the persons performing these heroic acts have lost their lives in attempting to save the life of a fellow miner.

Type A-1 awards for acts of heroism

These awards for personal heroism and for distinguished services in the saving of a life are given regardless of whether the act was performed in the line of duty or elsewhere by an active or inactive employee of any branch of mining, quarrying, and mineral industries. The awards are medals, with Medal of Honor Certificates and Certificates of Honor.

The committee may also recommend awards for individuals who commit heroic acts while temporarily associated with the mineral extractive industries. Applications must be submitted within two years of the date the incident occurred.

Individuals involved in a group action who displayed extraordinary courage may be singled out for a Medal of Honor Award with the others receiving Certificates of Honor. 

Medal of Honor Awards are given for any one or combination of the following actions:

1. In the performance of an act to save life, the individual loses his or her own life.
2. In the performance of an act, the individual seriously risks his or her own life, but saves the lives of one or more persons.
3. Attempting at serious risk of his or her own life to save the life of one or more persons without success.

Certificates of Honor are given for any one or combination of the following actions:

1. Assisting in saving a life, at some personal risk, while working under the direction of another person.
2. Removing or assisting in removing the subject from an electrified circuit at some personal risk.
3. Exhibiting skill in modern lifesaving methods and practices in an effort to save life while also taking some personal risk.
4. Giving warning at personal risk of impending danger to others.
5. Directing individuals to a place of safety while exposed to some personal danger.
6. Staying at his or her post of duty in presence of impending danger to self and others.
7. Assisting with others collectively at personal risk to save the lives of one or more persons.

The work of trained mine rescue teams does not normally constitute eligibility for Type A awards. Extraordinary cases will receive consideration.

The following information is required on applications and must be submitted in time to reach the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association by February 15:

1. Name and occupation of each person recommended for an award.
2. Name and address of employer.
3. MSHA mine identification number.
4. Place and date of the incident.
5. Name of other person or persons involved.
6. Complete details of the occurrence and the degree of risk involved.

Click here to download an A-1 Hero award application
(Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Type "A-2" Awards--for Life Savers

This award is given for saving or attempting to save a life using modern life saving techniques and/or quick and appropriate action in an attempt to save a life. No risk to the rescuer's own life is required. The recipient of this award receives a Life Savers Certificate.

The act may occur in the line of duty or elsewhere by an active or inactive employee of any branch of the mining or related industries. Individuals who are temporarily associated with the mining and related industries may also be eligible.

1. The act would have to be documented and submitted to the Association’s National Council within two years after the occurrence.
2. The act would consist of one or more of the following actions:
3. Performing mouth to mouth or some other type of artificial ventilation.
4. Performing CPR.
5. Performing an anti choking maneuver.
6. Performing other life saving first aid techniques.
7. The performance of an act involving quick thinking and decision making that prevents others from being seriously injured or prevents the loss of additional life.

The work of trained mine rescue teams, ambulance attendants, or professional health personnel would not normally be eligible for this award. Extraordinary cases will receive consideration.

The Hero Awards Committee must review and approve each case. The Secretary/Treasurer will forward applications to the members of the committee for their review and comment prior to the national meeting each year. The following information must reach the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association by March 1:

1. Name and occupation of each person recommended for an award.
2. Name and address of the person’s employer.
3. MSHA mine or contractor identification number, if applicable.
4. Place and date of the incident.
5. Name of other person or persons involved.
6. Complete details of occurrence, including the actions of the individual(s) involved.

Click here to download an A-2 Life Saver award application
(Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Type "B-1" Awards--for Individual Workers

Eligibility for this award requires a minimum of 40 years of cumulative work experience in the mining and related industries without incurring an injury that resulted in lost workdays. This experience does not include clerical or office work. Applications for retired persons are also accepted within two years after their retirement date.

Past recipients are eligible for a subsequent award when they have added five or more years to their previous work record without incurring an injury with lost workdays.

The recipient of this award receives a Certificate of Honor, a pin and a decal bearing the insignia of the Association containing the number 40. Applications for this type of award must be reviewed and approved by the Safety Awards Committee. This committee meets each year prior to the national meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer will forward all applications to the committee members for their review and comment prior to the meeting.

The Secretary/Treasurer of the Association should receive the following information by February 1:

1. Name and occupation of the person recommended.
2. Name and location of the mine or plant where the person is employed.
3. Name and address of employer(s) and MSHA mine identification number.
4. Type of industry in which the person has worked, such as copper smelter, cement plant, petroleum refinery, coal or metal mine.
5. Principal product.
6. Beginning and ending dates (month, day, year) of the record period.
7. Any other information which might help in considering the case. State whether work experience was underground, surface, or both.
8. Signature of responsible official on the application.

Click here to download a B-1 Individual Worker award application
(Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Other Awards (10/20/30 Years Individual)

Workers who complete 10, 20, and 30 years without a lost workday injury are eligible to receive Pocket Card Certificates and the following:

30 years -Silver pin and decal bearing the insignia of the Association

20 years -Bronze pin and decal bearing the insignia of the Association

10 years -Decal bearing the insignia of the Association

Clerical or office work time cannot be counted for the 10 , 20 , and 30-year awards.

The Association will provide order forms for the purchase of the pins and decals. A copy of the approval letter must accompany the order form. Employers or individuals are responsible for the cost of the pins and decals. The Association approves only one award of each type (10 , 20 , and 30 year awards) for an individual. The Pocket Card Certificates are forwarded to the employer for presentation.

The accuracy of the information is the employer's responsibility. Employers may want to contact other employers, mining institutes, State departments of mines, local or district unions, or other reliable sources if the employee's work time includes other operations.

The employer may submit applications for the 10 , 20 , and 30 year awards anytime during the year to the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association. Applications are reviewed and approved by the Secretary/ Treasurer who will supply the Pocket Card Certificates and the order forms for the pins and decals.

Click here to download a 10/20/30 Year Individual award application
(24K Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Buckle-Up Program

The Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association (JAHSA) Buckle-Up Program is dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries through promoting the acceptance and use of seat belts throughout the mining industry. The Buckle-Up Program recognizes those working in the mineral extractive industries who have escaped more serious injury because they were wearing a seat belt at the time of a vehicle accident on or off mine property.

Recognition

Qualified individuals (and family members) of any Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association will receive a Certificate of Recognition and a special sticker identifying them as a participant in the Buckle-Up Program. Where possible, certificates and stickers should be presented at local Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association meetings by an officer of the local Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association organization or a national Association representative. Additionally, individual experiences, including photographs if available of escapes from injury due to the use of seat belts, may be published in the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association Bulletin.

Nomination Criteria

1. Employee (or family members) must have been wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
2. The accident could have occurred on or off mine property.
3. Nomination must have been submitted to the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association in accordance with the following procedures.

Nomination Procedure

Nominations for recognition in the Buckle-Up Program should be submitted directly to:

Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association
Attn: Jon Montgomery
24 Burning Pines
Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Nominations will be accepted directly from the employee involved in the accident, the employing company, the local MSHA office, from a local Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association Chapter or Council, or from a State agency responsible for mine safety.

Nominations must include the following information:

1. Name of employee (or family members) nominated for recognition
2. Date of accident (Application must be within two years of accident)
3. Place of Accident 4. Mine/contractor ID Number (Employer)
4. Company name
5. Company address
6. Full description of accident (copy of MSHA accident report is acceptable) and a statement of the estimated seriousness of the injury had a seat belt not been in use at the time of the accident
7. Name and title, if applicable, of nominating individual
8. Company name, MSHA office, Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association Council (whichever is applicable), address, and telephone number
9. Signature of employee ( or family member) or nominating individual (whichever is applicable)
10. Any photographs of the accident (if available)
11. Date nomination submitted to Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association

Nominations will be reviewed by the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association, which reserves the sole right to determine the qualification of all nominees. In instances where questions concerning a nomination arise, the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association will use local MSHA personnel to determine the specific circumstances related to the nomination and to provide this information to the National Secretary, Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association, for appropriate action.

Click here to download a Buckle-Up Program award application
(8K Adobe Acrobat PDF file)