Heard someone on the Bill Press show make

[tabatha]

an incorrect statement - that the mine was state-owned.

The plight of thirty three Chilean miners, trapped 700 metres underground after a cave-in at the San Esteban copper pit, has mesmerised the international media.

But there's more to the tragedy than meets the eye.

Chile's safety record at its huge copper mines (state-owned Codelco is the world's biggest single copper producer) is relatively good.

But the accident rate at smaller, private, operations is unacceptably high. The San Esteban mine itself is reported to have accumulated 42 fines for safety violations during the last six years.

And, according to one expert, the overall accident rate has increased of late, in line with higher copper prices.

http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10352