The National Mining Association is launching a new campaign it hopes will help keep underground coal miners safe.

The "Stay Away, Stay Alive" initiative is aimed at reducing accidents and deaths related to continuous miner machinery.

President Hal Quinn said Monday the association worked with industry to develop videos and other new training materials based on analysis of accidents. They highlight specific actions miners should avoid.

Joe Craft, CEO of Alliance Natural Resources Partners, says the program is voluntary, but specifically tailored to meet coal companies' needs.

He says all safety directors at the association's member companies will get the materials.

Russian coal mining company Belon Group said it will operate at full capacity in the first quarter thanks to agreements with domestic steel makers as well as an unnamed producer in south-east Asia.

"Agreements that we have reached allow the company to continue stable work in 2009, despite the unfavourable influence of external factors," the company said in a statement.

Russian coking coal producers have been hard hit by the financial crisis, with steel sector clients delaying payment because of mounting receivables.

Belon and rivals including Raspadskaya and Mechel in November requested government assistance because of the volume of outstanding payments.

That same month Raspadskaya also said fourth-quarter sales would reach only one-third of planned volumes after steel makers slashed orders.

However, Belon said a long-term contract with Novolipetsk Steel as well as agreements with Metalloinvest, Mechel and Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, which owns a 41.3% stake in the Siberain miner, have allowed it to maintain production levels

Belon added that it has signed agreements to supply steam coal to a range of buyers including Glencore International, Cargill Inc and other clients in eastern Europe.