Posted on 02/01/2006 3:58:28 PM PST by HHKrepublican_2
DRAWDY, W.Va. — Two mine workers were killed in separate accidents in West Virginia on Wednesday, prompting Gov. Joe Manchin to call on all coal companies to cease production until safety checks can be conducted.
"We're going to check for unsafe conditions, and we're going to correct any unsafe conditions before we mine another lump of coal," Manchin said.
A miner was killed at an underground mine when one of the supports along the wall popped loose, said Caryn Gresham, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training.
A bulldozer operator at a surface mine died after the machine struck a gas line and sparked a fire, said Dirk Filpott, a spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The deaths brought to 16 the number of mining-related fatalities in West Virginia since Jan. 2, and the first at a surface operation.
"West Virginia remains committed to putting the safety of every one of our miners first and foremost, far above any production that might come from that mining operation," Manchin said at a news conference.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The west virginia coal association is behind this. I saw their spokesman on tv this evening, and he's applauding it as a good idea.
One thing you folks need to know is this.
There are some very good coal operators in this state. However, there are also some very shady operators, who would cut corners on safety if they thought they could get away with it.
The second problem is, there are a lot of state and federal mine inspectors who are on the take.
How can a mine inspector be objective when he is taking trips and WVU football game tickets from mine superintendants?
once upon a time there was a little boy who would grow up to be a politition. While in a store he found a dime on the floor. He had noticed that the pretty horse just outside the door of the store cost exactly a dime to ride. He couldn't wait to ride the horse and have his picture taken on it.
All the President needs to do it wave his magic wand and everything icky in the world will just go away. He won't though because of the oil companies. Or something.
(Give the unions in WV time and they will manage to solidarity themselves out of their jobs.)
Let me be clear. I think safety stand downs are a good thing. People must think about safety, all of the time.
Stand downs refocus attention on safety.
Please don't confuse my comment about a drop in fatalities over the last few years as callous to those that have occurred. To the contrary, one is too many. I have had best friends killed in mining accidents, and had close blood relatives made quadriplegics in roof falls.
Any WV Inspector or MSHA Inspector who accepts football tickets from a mine operator is treading a very thin line.
I think they should at least be terminated. If the mine operator is receiving favors (tip offs on inspections/overlooked violations) the Inspector should be prosecuted. In my company, offering football tickets to an inspector would be a violation of the code of ethics, and the offending employee would be terminated.
If this is a MSHA Inspector, I am sure the US Attorney would be interested in details.
bump
I have a question. Haven't all the mines where these accidents have occurred been NON-union mines? I hate to ask but is it being considered that perhaps the UMW may have monkeyed with the mines to cause these disasters? Growing up in WV, the UMW was always strong-arming and threatening, thinking they owned the state. Just a thought. I know there is a lot of animosity for Blankenship who now owns Massey Energy, one of the mines that recently had a disaster.
ping
Sounds like S.O.P. for Charleston. I know of ABCC investigators who not only are alcoholics who drink for free at state-regulated bars but get kickbacks from bar owners not to report violations, especially in college towns.
Joe Manchin will ride these dead miners all the way to the 2008 VP nomination, if the lunatic fringe wing of the Democrat party doesn't stop him. As for those who say Joe really ought to be a Republican, that he's conservative, etc., don't be fooled. He's first and foremost a Dem, and that will trump any alleged personal beliefs.
He has never fooled me. He's way too sappy.
AND, I watched him backtrack when he was truly a party to the misinformation at the first mining tragedy.
You think he has national ambitions? Interesting...
I know of one ABCA inspector who got arrested for DUI about two months ago, all the while being in a state car.
I think he's still on the job.
I actually heard it on a radio program the other day, that the Dems are so thrilled with all the good press Joe's been getting that they've started floating his name for national office. Ugh!
He'll not do them any good all.
Thanks for the info!
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