West Virginia mine had history of safety problems

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

WHARTON, W.Va. (AP) — Two miners who were killed on the job Monday night worked in a coalfield that had so many safety problems federal officials deemed it a "pattern violator," a rare designation reserved for the industry's worst offenders.

Brody Mine No. 1 was one of only three mines last year to earn the label that regulators have put greater emphasis on since the 2010 Upper Big Branch explosion killed 29 miners about 10 miles away.

The designation subjects the mine to greater scrutiny from regulators, and it's the strongest tool the Mine Safety and Health Administration has, said Kevin Stricklin, the agency's administrator of coal mine safety and health.

"We just do not have the ability or authority to shut a mine just because it has so many violations," Stricklin told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140513/mine_accident-west_virginia-c9aa65eebd.html

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Map locates site of a mine accident in Wharton, West Virginia; 1c x 1 3/4 inches; 46.5 mm x 44 mm;

[DeSwiss]

1. Am I the only one wondering why......

...these assholes actually created the term: "pattern violator?" I thought the whole point of having federal ''regulators'' is so you don't have any pattern violators.

- I see coal mine owners are like cops. They can get away with murder.

[Tribalceltic]

2. Arrest the owners and throw them in the mine, seal the door

I'm getting so tired of hearing about people being murdered by "corporations", people run those corps, those are the ones who should be in jail, not running them.




For all workers

[pinboy3niner]

3. What does Stricklin mean, no ability or authority to shut a mine?

The Department of Labor stated in its October 2013 Pattern of Violations notice:

If upon any inspection within 90 days after issuance of this Notice, MSHA finds any violation of a mandatory health or safety standard that could significantly and substantially contribute to the cause and effect of a coal or other mine safety or health hazard, MSHA shall issue an order requiring the operator to cause all persons in the area affected by such violation, except those persons referred to in Section 1 04( c) of the Mine Act, to be withdrawn from, and to be prohibited from entering such area until an Authorized Representative of the Secretary determines that such violation has been abated. This POV notice will terminate if, upon an inspection of the entire mine, MSHA finds no S&S violations of mandatory safety and health standards. The enclosed Notice of Pattern of Violations shall remain posted at Brody Mine No. 1 until it is terminated by an Authorized Representative of the Secretary in accordance with 30 C.F.R. § 104.4. You may request an inspection of the entire mine or portion of the mine in order to satisfy the requirements for terminating this Notice at any time.

http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/BrodyMiningLLC.pdf

[IkeRepublican]

4. Give it a couple days and RW world will...

...twist the story around where "regulations" caused the deaths.

RW'ers love that word - regulations. Highly doubt they know what it actually means. Only "regulation" they probably know is having to call the gas company before dicking around the front yard with a backhoe.

Which, of course, using the phone prior to digging is undoubtedly communist. (sarcasm)

[putitinD]

5. they will figure a way to make it Obama's fault