Personal Injury Law

Are Safety Violations to Blame for W. VA. Miner Deaths?

By LaBovick Law

The Safety Record of mine owner, Massey Energy Company is coming under fire after the recent tragic coal miner deaths at Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. Authorities are checking into whether the explosion on Monday could have been prevented, considering several recent evacuations from the mine because of high methane levels  and the mine owner's prior safety record, Rescue workers are currently removing explosive methane gas from the coal mine.

The Massey Energy Company, the biggest coal mining business in central Appalachia and the owner of the Upper Big Branch mine, is no stranger to scrutiny over its environmental and safety record. In 2008, Massey Energy Company paid a $20 million fine for clean water violations. This was the largest fine of its kind levied by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Also in 2008, A Massey  subsidiary paid what federal prosecutors called the largest settlement in the history of the coal industry after pleading guilty to safety violations that contributed to the deaths of two miners in a fire in one of its mines.

In March 2010, the Mine Safety and Health Administration cited the Upper Big Branch mine for 53 safety violations. The number of citations from 2009, more than doubled, to over 500, from 2008, and the penalties proposed against the mine more than tripled, to $897,325.

The cause of Monday's blast is under investigation. However, many ask the question how could a tragedy of this magnitude occur after such stricter Federal laws were put in effect after the 2006 mining disaster?  Massey Energy and its chief executive, Don L. Blankenship, is under the spotlight.  Could the company have prevented this recent tragedy with more safety precautions in place for employee safety? Investigations are underway and all eyes are on Massey Energy and the Virginia Upper Big Branch mine. Time will tell what was the cause of this tragedy and if it could have been prevented. 

Click on the following links to read more on the

Deaths at Virginia Mine Raise Eyes on Safety - NYT
Safety violations posted at Massey mine - Richmond Dispatch
 Mine Rescue Continues as Owner Faces Questions - NYT
Deadly West Virginia Mine Blast Stuns Experts - NPR
 

Full post as published by LaBovick Injury Law Blog on April 07, 2010 (boomark / email).