Some coal mining companies are forced to answer for mine safety

U.S. coal mines continue to violate safety laws despite an increase in enforcement following the April explosion that killed 29 West Virginia miners at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine. Recent surprise inspections from the Mine Safety and Health Administration revealed "miners had worked under an unsupported roof at a Tennessee mine, and sections of a West Virginia mine were closed after inspectors found numerous serious violations," Tim Huber of The Associated Press reports. "Serious violations turned up at two Kentucky mines, including an International Coal Group operation that was ordered to stop production last week until its ventilation plan was rewritten."

"It is appalling that our inspectors continue to find such egregious violations, especially with the explosion at Upper Big Branch still fresh in everyone's minds," MSHA director Joe Main said in a statement. "MSHA will continue to target mines with enhanced inspections where conditions merit such actions, particularly at mines that display a disregard to miners' safety and health." No Massey mines were included in the last blitz of inspections. ICG received 43 citations at it's Classic Mine in Eastern Kentucky. ICG said it had fixed the mine's ventilation plan and production resumed Monday. (Read more)

A coal company in Letcher County, Ky., was found at fault for disciplining a miner who had photographed the mine's unsafe practices, reports Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader. Charles Scott Howard used a video camera to document leaking seals at Cumberland River Coal Co. Band Mill No. 2 mine. After Howard showed the video to federal inspectors, the mine was closed. Soon after that, the company placed a disciplinary letter in Howard's file saying he had created unsafe conditions by bringing a camera into the mine. But Administrative Law Judge T. Todd Hodgdon said the letter was a pretext to discipline Howard because company managers were displeased that he had videotaped the seals causing the mine to be closed.
Howard told Estep that coal miners should work hard and help their employers be profitable, but that profit can't come at the expense of safety, "You gotta stand up for your rights," he said to Estep. "To lose a life over ignorance or fear of spending a little money is uncalled for." (Read more)