Massey Energy Becomes First Mining Company to Win Three Sentinels of Safety Awards in a Single Year

Massey Energy Becomes First Mining Company to Win Three Sentinels of Safety
Awards in a Single Year
Massey Accepts Awards from the National Mining Association and the U.S. Mine
Safety and Health Administration in Washington

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Massey Energy (NYSE: MEE) today
accepted three Sentinels of Safety Awards in Washington, DC. The annual
Sentinels of Safety award program recognizes achievement of outstanding safety
records in America's mineral extractive industries. The Sentinels of Safety
awards program is co-sponsored by the National Mining Association (NMA) and
the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Massey is the first mining company
ever to receive three of the mining industry's most prestigious safety awards
in one year.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071031/MASSEYENERGYLOGO )

The three Massey facilities to receive the Sentinels of Safety awards include:

-- Chess Processing, of Elk Run Coal Company, in the Large Coal
Processing
Facility Group
-- Chesterfield Preparation Plant, of Omar Mining Company, in the Small
Coal Processing Facility Group

-- North Surface Mine, of Alex Energy, Inc., in the Small Surface Coal
Group

"At Massey Energy, we embrace our commitment to safety at all levels -- from
executive to miner. The Sentinels of Safety awards reflect the Company's
dedication to safety at all of our facilities," said Massey Chairman and CEO
Don L. Blankenship. "No coal company can succeed over the long term without a
total commitment to safety. More importantly, Massey is a family. We care
about protecting our fellow members, which is why we strive to remain an
industry leader in safety," added Mr. Blankenship.

2008 marked the safest year in Massey history, and fifth straight year in
which Massey's safety performance was stronger than the industry average. In
fact, Massey's safety performance has been stronger than the industry average
for 16 of the past 18 years.

The Sentinels of Safety awards recognize facilities with the lowest "no days
lost" injury incidence rate, with the tie breaker being the most employee
hours worked. The bronze-colored trophy remains in the custody of the mining
operation for approximately one year. The operation then receives a replica
trophy and the bronze trophy is transferred to the following year's winning
operation.

Massey Energy Company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with operations in
West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, is the largest coal producer in Central
Appalachia and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

SOURCE Massey Energy Company

Jeff Gillenwater of Massey Energy Company, +1-304-369-8500