Montcoal West Virginia Mine Explosion
April 7, 2010 by Jerry Reth · 2 Comments
Montcoal West Virginia Mine Explosion – Days before the explosion in West Virginia, mine inspectors were cited for training problems. The report said that the top mine safety agency in the country was not properly re-training veteran mine inspectors. Changing rules and regulations in the industry make it so mine inspectors are forced to be retrained regularly. It has been reported that the company was in the process of hiring hundreds of new inspectors. The huge explosion killed 25 coal miners that worked in the West Virginian mine.
The report stated that over half (56%) of all veteran Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors had not been retrained in the last five years. Some of the inspectors included individuals who had never been trained after regulations went into practice nearly a decade ago requiring training and re-training on a regular basis for all coal mine inspectors. It was also found that other employees who did not work as inspectors for the company did not have the proper documentation showing that they had been properly trained for their various duties either.
In the report, it stated that individuals who did not attend their scheduled retraining courses experienced “no consequences” for not attending. The report also stated that it was believed that the lack of training would lead to more hazardous conditions for not only the trainers, but coal miners as well. The report stated that the current training policy “could increase the risk of accidents, injuries, fatalities.”
The cause of the explosion has not been determined, and it is unclear if the training problems that were outlined in the report had anything to do with the explosion. Safety standards were ammended in recent years after a methane leak caused an explosion in another West Virginian mine in 2006. The company has been fined nearly $400,000 for repeated violations dealing with ventilation plans and equipment.
Those of us who live on the left (west) coast sometimes forget what kind of people live in places like West Virginia. These are hard working proud americans. They go into danger even tho they know the risks. There are not many places to work in rural West Virginia that pay as well as the mines. A little trivia, the next time you hear someone complain about our country, think about this. In time of war West Virginia sends more people into the military percentage wise than any other state. They are Americans.
Bill Wilfong
Washington State
Thank you Bill, for your thoughtful words. I am a member of the US Army Reserve, the daughter and grand-daughter of a coal miner, the sister of 4 coal miners, the mother of a coal miner, and the wife of a coal miner. I am college educated in nuclear medicine. I have a degree in physics. I work for a local hospital and also the local public health department as Threat Preparedness Coordinator. I am a chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear specialist with the Army.
I am proud to say that I have lived in WV most of my life, except for time I spent abroad with the military. Mining is a way of life for us here–it is our heritage. Mining is not an easy life, it is very dangerous and very demanding of our men, and a few women here and there who operate heavy equipment.
And you better believe we are among the first to serve when Uncle Sam comes calling. West Virginia is the home of the BRAVE!
Let us never forget the miners who have lost their lives in the “line of duty,” so to speak, the duty of providing for their families.
“Places like West Virginia”….I can only speculate what you mean by that, but I will assume no disrespect for the sake of argument
We are who we are here, no more and no less. Let me say that I have spent time in every beautiful state in the union, and several other countries. There are no finer people to be found anywhere. If there were, I would have found them.
At any rate, I do appreciate the kind words. And please take a moment to reflect on the lives of our miners…..they do, after all, keep our lights on. And maybe during the next election, consider those who throw the safety of our loved ones to the wind in exchance for increased coal production and the almighty dollar….it is truly negligence that caused this at the Upper Big Branch Mine and Mr. Blankenship should spend some time in jail!!
Cathy
West Virginia