Business, Government Legal News from throughout WVUBB reports show systemic failures everywhere

UBB reports show systemic failures everywhere

This week's report from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration points to some stunning failures on the part of Massey Energy and its subsidiary, Performance Coal, in connection with explosion that killed 29 men at Upper Big Branch Mine in April 2010. 

According to the report, the explosion was "entirely preventable." Company officials used fear and intimidation to create "a pervasive culture that valued production over safety," the report also said. If these accusations are accurate, then Massey Energy failed. The company failed the men who were killed. It failed the victims' families. It failed the community.

"Massey routinely ignored obvious safety hazards and let conditions develop that allowed a small methane ignition to propagate into a massive coal dust explosion," the MSHA report said. "The tragic deaths of 29 miners and serious injuries to two others at Upper Big Branch were entirely preventable."

If we're going to ensure that this kind of disaster never happens again, then we need to have a forthright, honest discussion, and we must recognize that blame must be shared. Where were federal inspectors in the months and days leading up to this horrendous event? Were they merely taking the company's word that everything was above board and then going on about their business? If Massey was so brazenly flouting the laws in regard to mine ventilation, roof support and control and coal dust suppression, why were federal regulators so in the dark? 

Mine inspectors have tremendous authority. They can shut down a mine if something isn't right. We give them this power to make certain that tragedies like the one at UBB do not happen. They clearly failed, as well. Massey seemingly did all it could to fool inspectors, but trained professionals can and must do their job, no matter the obstacles.

But this is about more than a report, and it's about more than fines. This is about making certain that a tragedy of this scale never happens again. Coal mining will always be a dangerous job, but rogue operators and inspectors who seem unwilling to ask the hard questions must not be tolerated. Every miner who goes underground should be able to walk back out at the end of the shift. 

It's really that simple. Miners should be able to work in the safest possible conditions. Companies should see to that, and federal authorities should hold companies to their commitment. 

A paycheck is not worth a life.