This Monday, there was an explosion at Massey Energy Co.’s Upper Big Branch mine, in West Virginia. This sprawling coalmine is at the heart of West Virginia coal industry and employs several thousand workers. The explosion on Monday killed at least twenty-five and rescue attempts are not possible due to hazardous amounts of gas still leaking from the mine. Methane build up occurs in many mines, and there is always risk of explosion. Due to these risks, mines take many safety precautions such as creating proper ventilation shafts and making sure that there are clearly marked emergency exit routes out of the mines. The Mine Safety and Health Administration visits mines, such as the Upper Big Branch mine, several times per year, to check that everything is in order and safe. This is understandable to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the miners in the mines.
The Massey Energy Company failed to take many of the precautions necessary. The Mine Safety and Health Administration told them about the flaws, such as unmarked exits and improper ventilation shafts time, and time again. The company is allowed to fight the claims that the violations exist but they did not and the company was charged with $168,000 in uncontested mine violation fines in 2009. But still they did nothing to make the mines safer and by correcting the mines so they were in code. They have had hundreds of violations to safety code and already 9 since the beginning of 2010. Still, they ignored the warnings. Massey Energy Company claims on their website that “Safety is Job One,” but how can they make that claim when they do nothing to make their unsafe mines safer?
Clearly, there is an issue at hand. How can Massey get away with so many violations when peoples’ lives are at stake? How are they allowed to ignore repeated warnings? There needs to be stronger rules set in place to avoid such tragedy.
What do you think should be done to avoid incidents such as this one in the future? Why do you think this was allowed to happen?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFaEP3dn5_c
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100407/ap_on_bi_ge/us_mine_explosion_enforcement
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