Breaking news from CNN:
“CHARLESTON, West Virginia (AP) – 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.”
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/01/mine.close.ap/index.html
Dave
Sounds like what we call in the military as a “Safety Standdown.”
Next thing we know the whole country’s Rail System will be shut down so they can do this.
Obvious who isn’t a Class 1 or Class 2 railroader.[V][V][V]
Yeah last I looked we werent losing mass amounts of people days apart to similar incidents. But hey it sells papers and keep congresmen in office.
I suggest the state suspend taxation until the state’s spending is reduced 25%.
Do the mines have stockpiled coal for the RR’s to keep running. Or will the coal trains also shut down as well.
Unless he declares a state of emergency, the governor doesn’t have the power to enforce this…note the story states he “asked”, not ordered the mines to shut down.
Have any of the mines complied?
Ed
It still sounds like a real good idea to take a small break, look at what is going on and see if something can be done to make coal mining safer. Yesterday my son informed me he was moving to West Virginia as he got a job offer to work at a coal mine. No he will not be working underground, it is a strip mine. He was offered a job as a blaster. He is eminently qualified for this job as he spent 12 months as a combat engineer in Iraq destroying Iraqi ordnance with demolitions. It is tough on the ears, hear.
Call it a safety stand down or whatever, it just makes common sense to try and make coal mining safer. I’ve got a real personal interest in it!
Essayons,
Ed
"CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia coal producers said they would comply with Gov. Joe Manchin’s call for safety check shutdown after two more mine workers were killed yesterday in separate accidents.
“While Manchin’s call was voluntary, an industry group that represents most of the state’s coal producers said its members would conducted the self-reviews.”
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06033/648571.stm
Dave
The coal company’s should tell the govenor where to go. If he is that concerned, send some inspectors for a safety assessment-don’t need to screw up the economy of West Virginia to ensure safety.
So you value dollars more than lives, eh?
Dave
there was a serious fire in a potash mine in Saskatchewan
several weeks ago. I believe 26 miners were trapped. a mile
underground. They made their way to a safety chamber where
there was plenty of air. food and water. After several days
rescuers were able to extingui***he fires and all miners were
saved
From today’s Post Gazette:
"CHARLESTON, W.Va. – All 70 of West Virginia’s mine inspectors and
more than 200 federal counterparts will be in the field Monday,
attempting to inspect every coal mine in the Mountain State.
"The unprecedented move will cover each of the state’s 350 deep mines
and 200 surface mines. The aggressive round of inspections was
ordered after Gov. Joe Manchin III called for operators to delay each
shift yesterday for an hour-long review of safety regulations.
“Federal mining officials also have asked all mine operators around
the country to conduct similar reviews of procedures, equipment and
compliance with standards in a “Stand Down for Safety” initiative on
Monday.”
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06034/649274.stm
Implicitly, this should limit production on Monday.
Dave
Morseman, I think you will find it was only one day, not several days until they were rescued.
No its just that it isn’t necessary to go to such extremes without a preliminary inspection first; not to mention, an investigation.
After reading the last two paragraphs of the linked article, it sounds like the Fedreal Inspectors need some sort of enforcement authority. Especially after reading:
"Federal inspectors issued 50 citations against the mine last year, 19 of which were considered “significant and substantial.”