Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Feature: Jack Trackemas Wins Health and Safety Excellence Award
Keywords: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
A photograph of Jack D. Trackemas standing and holding the SME Health and Safety Individual Excellence Award.Jack D. Trackemas with the SME Health and Safety Individual Excellence Award.
Jack D. Trackemas, the chief of NIOSH Mining's ground control branch in Pittsburgh, was honored with the Health and Safety Individual Excellence Award at the MineXchange 2020 SME Annual Conference & Expo in Phoenix in February.
The award acknowledges Mr. Trackemas' decades of commitment to the industry, as well as his numerous contributions to improving the health and safety of mining for workers.
Long before Mr. Trackemas earned a bachelor's degree in mining engineering and mine maintenance degree from Penn State University and a master's degree from West Virginia University, he was well versed in the challenges of mining. As the son, grandson, and nephew of coal miners, young Jack first visited one of his father's work sites at age 4.
And through his family, he also knew the hazards of the occupation. His grandfather died of black lung disease (coal workers' pneumoconiosis) before Mr. Trackemas was born, and his own father lost a leg in a roof fall accident and then died about 20 years later from the same illness that claimed his father's life.
Between his undergraduate and graduate work, Mr. Trackemas spent years working in coal mines to gain first-hand knowledge of mining, earning various certification papers to work as a miner, machine runner, and foreman. All of that on-the-job training bolstered his academic knowledge and helped prepare him for his current role in safety and health research.
During his career, Mr. Trackemas implemented the use of bleeder fans for enhanced mine gob ventilation at multiple coal mines, tested the initial designs of a dry system diesel scrubber technology to reduce diesel emissions and worker exposure, and introduced the practice of cable bolting for supplemental support in underground mines—considered a major roof control support safety enhancement in the U.S.
He is credited with engineering and working with equipment manufacturers to widen longwall faces in the U.S. At most mines, this new standard reduced continuous miner gateroad development up to 25 percent. As operating a longwall system is statistically safer to operate than continuous miner machines, extending longwall faces produced a measurable increase in safety for miners.
He is also a lifetime member of the National Mine Rescue Association.
See Also
Coal Mine Safety Achievements in the USA and the Contribution of NIOSH Research
NIOSH Hazard ID 4 - Ignition Hazard from Drilling into Sealed Frames of Agricultural Equipment
NIOSH Mining Update - New Publications 1995-96
Noise Source Identification on a Horizontal Vibrating Screen
Origin of Mining-Induced Fractures Through Macroscale Distortion
Performance of a Light-scattering Dust Monitor in Underground Mines
Proceedings: New Technology for Ground Control in Retreat Mining
A Summary of U.S. Mine Fire Research
Technology News 473 - The Explosion Hazard From Hydrogen Gas Generation Inside Sealed Frames
USBM Health and Safety Legacy Continues Under NIOSH
Page last reviewed: March 16, 2020
Page last updated: March 13, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue