Saturday, May 22, 2010
Three Testify On Mine Safety
WEST VIRGINIA...
On Capitol Hill Friday a Senate subcommittee exploring whether to spend more money on mine safety heard from three key players. Senator Robert Byrd called for the hearing before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, Joe Main, told the subcommittee that money will help, but not solve the problem. Main said it’s the responsibility of mine operators to comply with the mine act. Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship repeated what he’s said since the April 5 explosion at the Raleigh County mine, that Massey’s primary concern is safety. He went on to says MSHA should not be able to investigate the accident behind closed doors. United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts discussed his concern that miners don’t feel they can report safety violations for fear of losing their jobs. And he talked about miners he knew who were concerned about safety problems in Massey Mines. Blankenship and Roberts agree on one thing though: that MSHA should open its investigation of the Upper Big Branch accident to the public.
On Capitol Hill Friday a Senate subcommittee exploring whether to spend more money on mine safety heard from three key players. Senator Robert Byrd called for the hearing before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, Joe Main, told the subcommittee that money will help, but not solve the problem. Main said it’s the responsibility of mine operators to comply with the mine act. Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship repeated what he’s said since the April 5 explosion at the Raleigh County mine, that Massey’s primary concern is safety. He went on to says MSHA should not be able to investigate the accident behind closed doors. United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts discussed his concern that miners don’t feel they can report safety violations for fear of losing their jobs. And he talked about miners he knew who were concerned about safety problems in Massey Mines. Blankenship and Roberts agree on one thing though: that MSHA should open its investigation of the Upper Big Branch accident to the public.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:31 AM 
