Three mine supervisors were sentenced Thursday in southeastern Kentucky for endangering underground miners. Ira Sergent, Johnny Osborne and Reggie Raleigh were fined and put on probation for turning off the main fan at Stillhouse Mining No. 1 Mine for six hours while miners were still working. Federal regulations require workers stay in the mine without a fan for no more than 15 minutes.
Tony Oppegard, a mine-safety attorney, said that the mine violations were planned, occurring when no inspectors would be present. Inspectors caught the violation only after receiving a tip. "Foremen have a difficult job, and I understand that," Oppegard told John Middleton of the Harlan Daily Enterprise. "However, if you are told by someone higher up in management to violate the law, which is what probably happened, and you know it will put miners at risk, you have a moral obligation to go by the law."
U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration officials say they hope the case will improve safety at other mines. "We feel like justice has been served,” said Michael Davis, the deputy assistant labor secretary for operations. “Mine operators are reminded that supervisors will be held accountable for violating the nations’ mine safety laws.” (Read more)
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