Massey mine tragedy could inspire new safety legislation (Say what??)

[The Straight Story]

Massey mine tragedy could inspire new safety legislation


Montcoal — A fatal, underground explosion that shook a huge Massey Energy mine in Raleigh County could inspire new federal and state safety legislation, but lawmakers cautioned Tuesday it was too early say for sure, since the verdict still wasn’t in on West Virginia’s latest brush with the industry’s grim side.

Any new safety laws cannot be considered until an investigation into the cause of the mid-afternoon blast Monday is completed, three key lawmakers emphasized.

“It’s just way too early to determine at this point until we see exactly what happened,” said Delegate Mike Caputo, D-Marion, the vice president of District 31 of the United Mine Workers of America.

If new legislation is needed, he said, Gov. Joe Manchin won’t waste time asking for it, just as he did after the Sago disaster that left a dozen mine workers dead in his first year of office.

“I will certainly take the lead on that in the House,” Caputo said.

“My main objective, when it comes to workplace safety, is real simple — I think every man and woman, when they go into work every day, should be able to come home to their family at the end of their shift.”

http://www.register-herald.com/local/x552033465/Massey-mine-tragedy-could-inspire-new-safety-legislation

How the hell long have we been mining in this country? I had a great uncle die in a mine accident (my brother has spent a lot of time tracing family history, never knew the guy myself) way back in the day (I think it was in Montana). Why do these folks only want to impose more regs AFTER something like this happens? And how do they enforce it? Small fines.

How about...Jail time for people running these companies instead of fines?

Now accidents will happen of course (been in a few at previous jobs myself) but come on - the only reason mines are not safer is $$.

If you own a mine company you should have to work in the mine :)

[Brickbat]

1. Why don't they fucking enforce the laws that are in place? Why don't they make the punishments real

punishments? Blankenship is using blood to line his pockets, working under the assumption that eventually paying fines after long court appeals and blocking death settlements and benefits is cheaper and easier than putting in safety improvements.

And actually, I think he gets off on playing with lives and showing his workers how very much he owns them. He's a sick man.

[Ghost Dog]

7. Probably translates as even less regulation. n/t

[AnArmyVeteran]

2. REGULATION = Conservative Horror Story!

Conservatives ALWAYS fight all forms of regulation. They seem to hate their fellow man because they are always against unions, people wanting safe working environments and so on. Don't conservatives care that without regulations businesses would ALWAYS ignore their safety in pursuit of the almighty dollar? I am always baffled at how completely ignorant conservatives are.

I agree with you. Currently, the heads of corporations are insulated from almost all responsibilities. They make fortunes, yet have no accountability. We need to change corporate laws to allow the heads of corporations to be tried and thrown in prison for life-long sentences if their actions hurt or kill someone. But you can bet that EVERY conservative will fight any measures to make corporate executives accountable. Conservatives are whores to their corporate pimps.

[malaise]

3. I noticed that there were 100 plus violations in 2008

490 plus in 2009 and over 100 this year with over 50 last month. That tells me that the Obama administration is way more serious about violations than Bushco, but that's true in most government agencies.

[cutlassmama]

11. Not true. Obama's appointments were held up by the Repugs. n/t

[theHandpuppet]

4. When the coal barons are rich enough to buy the courts...

...they can file endless appeals and have convictions overturned. That's the way Blankenship and Massey Energy operate.

BTW, Massey was so concerned about its workers that the very morning after this disaster they sent their remaining miners back to work in those sections of the Upper Big Branch Mine that hadn't been blown apart by methane (yet). Can you imagine what that must be like for those miners and their families, many of whom were related to or knew those who died in the adjoining shafts? All business as usual for Massey Energy. They ain't worried -- they OWN THE LAW.

[rfranklin]

5. Blankenship thinks it is okay for schoolkids to breath coal dust...

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) is taking Massey to task for its “disregard for human life and safety“:

“Such arrogance suggests a blatant disregard for the impact of their mining practices on our communities, residents and particularly our children,” Byrd said in a statement. “These are children’s lives we are talking about.” <...>

“If Massey were not operating near Marsh Fork Elementary, we would not be debating what to do about moving these young students someplace safer,” Byrd said. “This is not the taxpayers’ burden to remedy. This is Massey Energy’s responsibility to address.“

Massey has criticized Byrd’s comments, noting that the school district never asked the company for funding. (Regardless, Massey has said it has no interest in donating any money because it already “pays millions of dollars in taxes each year.”) Brad Johnson has more here on what Massey and the coal industry have really given West Virginia

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/09/byrd-rips-massey/

[Hawkeye-X]

6. Millions of dollars in taxes this year?

Reveal thy W-9, Massey!

[MountainLaurel]

8. I just noticed

That Upper Big Branch is just a mile or so from March Fork Elementary and the processing plant/sludge dam. Another interesting coincidence.

[gratuitous]

9. "Too early to determine"

Let me spell it out, then. Gas accumulate, go boom!

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Back in the day, miners used to clean up their dead before calling the undertaker.

My grandfather woke up on the table used for that purpose twice. He lived to about 50.