Sunday, October 03, 2010
Overtime Hours In UBB Investigation Top 5,000
WEST VIRGINIA....
According to figures released last week, West Virginia's state mine office has run up nearly $200,000 in overtime pay tied to the deadly April 5th Upper Big Branch mine explosion. Overtime hours have topped 5,000 at the Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training, bringing overtime pay to more than $197,202. The agency's payroll averages $500,000 a month. All the extra cost is tied directly or indirectly to Upper Big Branch. Four safety inspections are required at each West Virginia mine every year. The state currently has about 85 inspectors to cover about 90 active surface and 170 underground mines. Likewise, state law requires investigations of all mining fatalities. State mine safety chief Ron Wooten says, "These are legislative mandates, you can't mess around with them.'' The agency's overtime costs are being paid from Governor Joe Manchin's contingency funds.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 2:58 PM 
