Labor Secretary Hilda Solis promises MSHA action on Massey mine explosion

by: heath_harrison

Tue Apr 06, 2010 at 03:53:43 AM EDT

"As we hear of more heartbreak from Whitesville, our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, loved ones, neighbors and coworkers.  Twenty-five hardworking men died needlessly in a mine yesterday.  I pledge that their deaths will not be in vain.

"The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration will investigate this tragedy, and take action.  Miners should never have to sacrifice their lives for their livelihood."

The cause of the explosion has yet to be determined, but here's some of what we know so far:

- Massey has been fined over $382,000 for "serious" violations with equipment and the methane gas ventilation plan at Upper Big Branch

- The seam of coal at the site can release up to  2 million cubic feet of methane gas into the mine in a day. If the gas becomes too concentrated, a simple static charge can ignite it

- The violations against Massey also included allowing the accumulation of combustible coal dust

- As Jeff Biggers noted on Facebook:

"Performance mine in West Virginia...458 Violations in 2009 with a total of $897,325 in mine safety fines penalties assessed against it last year and paid $168,393 in mine safety penalties."

- The Daily Mail points out that of the $1.5 million fines against Massey, the company has paid less than $300,000

- Since 1995, there have been over 3,000 violations at the mine

And on top of all of this, coal company resistance has created a backlog at MSHA, hampering the agency's ability to enforce safety standards