[Old School]

However, statements have been made by the media that based on inspections one particular mining company in which we not mention names on here at one mine alone had multiple violations which were not corrected thus resulting in serious injuries. That same mine has had multiple incidents and are still under operation. Am I saying that all companies or operations do this no, nor do oil companies however, some do cut corners and if you believe other wise then you are naive. It happens in all businesses food industry, motor, etc etc. Our systems are flawed because we see no wrong in these situations untill a cotastrophy happens plain and simple. Companies are meant to make as much money at any cost, set record profits etc. etc. Based on that we produce flawed materials in part is why recall rates in the united states have almost tripled in the last two decades.

I learned many years ago that the media can will do what ever they can to sensationalize any and all stories. I remember watching the media covering the Quecreek (the Pa. mine that was flooded) those reporters were clueless, but the inexperienced person believed every word.

Your post shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the coal mining industry. As Old School said, most violations of mining regulations are "abated" before mine inspectors leave the mine because most violations are not serious breaches of safety. Some violations pose no immediate danger but require time and labor to resolve. Any unabated violations would have fallen into this category and work would have been underway when the explosion occurred.

Coal operators cannot delay mitigating the conditions that lead to a citation. They do have a right to appeal an inspector's ruling on the level of threat that a condition leading to a citation posed to the safety of the miners. These decisions are subjective and have a direct bearing on the size of the fines paid by the mine operator. The mine operator has the same right to due process that all US citizens have if they think that they have been unfairly penalized.


As for the number of violations by some of these mining companies, the media accounts also distort reality. The reality is that mining laws are very complex and it is really not possible for the owner of a mine to prevent all violations of law. What owner can do is diligently train their employees to follow the law with a "safety first" attitude. The federal regulators should, and usually do, focus on serious violations of laws that present a real threat to miner safety.

For example, I once worked in a mine that operated in a 20 foot thick seam of coal (very unusual even in the early 80s). Because of the great working conditions and efforts by the company, the mine received few citations. However, during almost every inspection, it received a citation for the same thing. Mine operators were required to keep a fire extinguisher on all mobile equipment such as front end loaders. They were also prohibited from locking up the fire extinguisher by chaining it to the loader. In this particular case, the end loader was located in a very remote area of WWV and thieves would steal expensive fire extinguishers that were not secured.

Almost every time that MSHA inspected the mine, the mine was cited for failure to keep a fire extinguisher on the end loader. The missing fire extinguisher was always promptly replaced with a new one and then promptly stolen. The mine kept a fire extinguisher locked up near the end loader but the law dictated that it must be unlocked and on board the end loader. Following the letter of the law is not always the safest thing to do.

When inspectors write a citation they have to determine if it is a low, moderate or high risk and how many people it affects. Recently inspectors are reporting more violations as high risk which places them in the S&S catagory and raises the price of the fine and more importantly counts toward the pattern of violation list.

This is why so many of the violations are being contested today, companies are not saying they not guilty, but are challenging that the violation was low risk instead of high risk.

Once again I find it hard to believe that all mining operations follow the proper guidelines that are presented by law. I make this claim from talking with several in the mining industry who have stated their paricular mines do no. Once again I'm no speaking out against either the oil or coal industry. While your mine may have only been issues small violations repeatedly and it was because of people stealing equipment I do not oppose that. However, I have heard from higher ups in the industry who have stated before pay offs to inspectors have occured, that I do oppose because I have a respect for the industry and the challenging work enviorments miners under go. Once again it's a general statement and not speaking of all mines. I appreciate your in put and you are correct I do not know all there is to know. But the media is not my only source.

Just so you know IF I was to be caught on and DUI or speeding in an school zone I would not fight the fine. I'm the type of person to man up to my wrong doings and pay my fine as I have before for speeding.

I don't believe neither Hoot or myself ever said that all coal companies follow the rules and guidelines, if that were true the there would be no violations written and we would not be having this discussion.