Outrage! It costs less to pay fines than to keep the miners safe!

[senseandsensibility]

Jeff Goodell (sp), an author on Keith's show on MSNBC right now, is explaining why these accidents keep happening. He said that the total fines paid by this company were fifty thousand dollars last year. Obviously, it's cheaper for them to just keep violating regulations.

Catch the rerun if you can. Also, I have been surprised that some of the corporate media is actually calling the mine owners out on this. I saw a very critical story on the AOL welcome page. They usually swing very right.

Maybe people have actually had enough?

[DainBramaged]

1. They place NO value on human life, ZERO, NADA

Massey Energy busted the unions and they are prouds of it. They don't give a shit about the miners.


On January 19, 2006 a belt line fire killed miners Don I. Bragg, 33, and Ellery Elvis Hatfield, 47, at Massey's Aracoma Alma Number 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia. Efforts to fight the fire were hampered by inadequate fire extinguishers, fire house couplings which did not match the water line, and a lack of water in the lines.<31> On December 22, 2008 Massey Energy agreed to pay $4.2 million in civil and criminal penalties for the accident.<32> It is the largest financial settlement in the coal industry's history.<33>

On January 15, 2009 the Charleston (WV) Gazette reported that Aracoma widows Delorice Bragg and Freda Hatfield urged U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver to reject Massey's plea bargain and fine for the accident.<34>

Widow Bragg stated that it was clear "that Massey executives much farther up the line expected the Alma Mine to emphasize production over the safety of the coal miners inside."

On February 1, 2006, bulldozer operator Paul K. Moss, 58, of Sissonville West Virginia died when his machine ruptured a 16-inch (410 mm) natural gas line at Elk Run Coal Co.'s Black Castle surface mine.<35> The bulldozer was immediately engulfed in flames. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration report, operator Moss exited the cab but his body was found behind the blade.

On October 8, 2008 Steven Cain, 32, of Comfort, West Virginia was killed at Massey Energy's Independence Coal Justice No. 1 Mine when he was crushed by a railcar. A Mine Safety and Health Administration report <36> concludes Cain was killed because Massey managers assigned him a dangerous job, although he had “little mining experience and minimal training.”<37>

Massey's Safety Policy as stated on its website: "Safety is the top priority for every Massey member. No coal company can succeed over the long term without a total commitment to safety and a significant investment in the necessary training, equipment and personnel. We strive to remain an industry leader in safety by developing new technologies and employing effective training programs to reduce accidents and improve safety for all of the hard-working men and women of Massey Energy."<38>

On April 5, 2010, 25 miners were killed in a mine explosion at the Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine at Montcoal in West Virginia. Safety officials claimed that the mine had previous violations for not properly ventilating methane gas. In the previous year, federal inspectors had fined the company more than $382,000 for violations involving ventilation and equipment at the plant.<39>


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massey_Energy

[senseandsensibility]

2. You should post this as an OP

I really think many people have no idea.