WVA miners

[GenuineRisk]

I had family who worked the mines, too, Kev. I know of one great-uncle who died of lung cancer, which I imagine was after a lifetime of mine work. (It might have been blacklung; my aunt's stories get confused sometimes)

Federal inspectors cited the Brooks Run mine 65 times last year and proposed penalties totaling $5,000, according to the MSHA's Web site.

Sixty-five citations and the TOTAL fine is $5,000? Honestly, if I were a businessperson with more greed than humanity in my heart I'd figure it's cheaper to pay the fines and keep breaking the law. Admittedly, there's no information yet on whether this tragedy could have been avoided, and maybe it couldn't have been- bad things do happen in dangerous jobs, and mining is VERY dangerous. But if it's due to negligence on behalf of the mining company then I hope the families can sue, and for enough money that will make the company wish they'd complied with regulations.

Which, of course, will not bring back the miners to their families. So sad.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I had family who worked the mines, too, Kev. I know of one great-uncle who died of lung cancer, which I imagine was after a lifetime of mine work. (It might have been blacklung; my aunt's stories get confused sometimes)

Federal inspectors cited the Brooks Run mine 65 times last year and proposed penalties totaling $5,000, according to the MSHA's Web site.

Sixty-five citations and the TOTAL fine is $5,000? Honestly, if I were a businessperson with more greed than humanity in my heart I'd figure it's cheaper to pay the fines and keep breaking the law. Admittedly, there's no information yet on whether this tragedy could have been avoided, and maybe it couldn't have been- bad things do happen in dangerous jobs, and mining is VERY dangerous. But if it's due to negligence on behalf of the mining company then I hope the families can sue, and for enough money that will make the company wish they'd complied with regulations.

Which, of course, will not bring back the miners to their families. So sad.

Nicole, in what reading and looking into this I have done, I understand that the mapping for the underground that was given to the miners was way off. When your oxygen is in short supply and your vision limited, you better make damn sure that the maps are correct to a T.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by T3B

Nicole, in what reading and looking into this I have done, I understand that the mapping for the underground that was given to the miners was way off. When your oxygen is in short supply and your vision limited, you better make damn sure that the maps are correct to a T.

Oh God. Who did the maps? Would that have been company fault or one of those awful things that happen sometimes? For all that members of my family were mine workers, I don't know much about the nuts and bolts of it.