EKB News

Coal mines would be inspected more often under a measure approved today by a House committee. Among other provisions, the legislation would require inspectors to visit each mine six times per year. A provision that would have required companies to provide methane detectors to each miner was deleted. Tony Oppegard, an attorney who represents coal miners, said the bill was gutted of several other provisions that would have made the underground workplace safer. Under the revisions, the additional inspections wouldn't be mandatory until 2009, after the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing has added the personnel necessary to carry them out. The legislation follows one of the deadliest years in recent history for coal miners in Kentucky. In all, 16 miners were killed on the job in 2006. Five of the deaths were from a single Harlan County underground mine explosion in May. State law now requires more oxygen supplies to be stored along underground escape routes in case of emergency, better communications between the surface and underground work areas, and a directional cord or lifeline to make it easier for miners to find their way to exits.