Massey Mine Workers Disabled Safety Monitor

[Dogmudgeon]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128516777&ps=cprs">Massey Mine Workers Disabled Safety Monitor

An NPR News investigation has documented a dangerous and potentially illegal act at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia two months before a massive April explosion killed 29 mine workers.

On Feb. 13, an electrician deliberately disabled a methane gas monitor on a continuous mining machine because the monitor repeatedly shut down the machine.

Three witnesses say the electrician was ordered by a mine supervisor to "bridge" the automatic shutoff mechanism in the monitor.

...

Two other witnesses confirm the bridging incident. Both asked not to be named because they fear for their jobs, their families and their futures. Campbell has already been fired by Upper Big Branch owner Massey Energy. He has a whistle-blower claim pending against the company based on other complaints about safety. Massey Energy has called the claim groundless and says Campbell's dismissal was warranted.

...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128516777&ps=cprs">Read the entire article at NPR online.

--d!

[burnsei sensei]

1. Welcome to the New Gilded Age!

nt

[dkf]

2. When do these decisionmakers start going to jail?

Its becoming obvious that the higher ups are deliberately putting money before peoples lives. We need severe penalties so these jokers stop.