Miners describe safety violations before mine explosion

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Witnesses described bad ventilation, heavy methane, safety violations and threats of firing for slowing production by Massey Energy in the weeks leading up to the deadly explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine near here.

A group of witnesses appeared before a House subcommittee hearing that got underway this morning.

One of the dead miners, Dean Jones, was a section foreman, and a family member today told investigators that he expressed fears about inadequate ventilation inside Upper Big Branch but was forced to continue working despite clear dangers.

"He also told me that, at least seven times, he was told by Massey supervisors that, if he shut down production because of the ventilation problems, he would lose his job," said Alice Peters, Mr. Jones' mother-in-law.

Mr. Jones had one son, Kyle, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and requires constant medical care, a situation that she said made her son-in-law especially fearful of being fired.






Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10144/1060433-455.stm

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There needs to be criminal charges against Blankenship and any other Massey officials who allowed these dangerous conditions to up production!

[Bluzmann57]

1. MSHA regs call for jail time

in the case of negligence. Now we'll see whether they follow through on the threat. Agreed, Blankenship should be locked up for life. 29 counts of first degree murder.

[Doremus]

2. K&R

[Jefferson23]

3. Let us see how voters recall this unnecessary risk to the coal miners, after all

"accidents happen"

[Brickbat]

4. It illustrates just how broken a man is that he will knowingly go into a dangerous mine and risk

death rather than blow the whistle and risk getting fired.

When people tell me the time for unions has passed, I want to kick them.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Also shows how having health care provided by employer

Keeps people locked in to jobs afraid to buck the employer for fear of losing those benefits.

For most of us it just keeps us locked into jobs when we'd rather have the opportunity to move on, in this case it kept employees locked into a dangerous job fearful of reporting the danger.

[ensho]

5. Massey barons should have been arrested by now

who will have the courage to do it?

US govt., W.Va. govt., other?

anybody?

[RamboLiberal]

7. I fear the WV government is owned by Massey

and the other big coal employers.

[RamboLiberal]

8. More from CBS

Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine was a ticking time bomb before 29 men died in a massive explosion, relatives and co-workers of the victims told a congressional committee Monday.

They described illegal ventilation changes, methane gas fireballs, thick accumulations of combustible coal dust and lack of concern from Massey subsidiary Performance Coal management during testimony to the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee in Beckley. The committee is investigating the April 5 explosion, the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in 40 years.

Witnesses also accused Massey of interfering with government safety inspectors at all its mines.

Miner Stanley "Goose" Stewart, who was about 300 feet inside Upper Big Branch when the explosion occurred, said he's been under a doctor's care and unable to work since.

"We never had proper air on that longwall," Stewart said. The result was accumulations of methane gas - and large quantities of dust. "You couldn't see your hand in front of your face."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/24/national/main6514543.shtml?tag=stack