Another thing, safety (and environmental) regulations aren't just about "buy this expensive thing" a lot of accident prevention is proper trtaining and work practices. It is "do it exactly like this every time" People are lazy and they get a false sense of security after doing a task 1000 times so they cut corners.
One of the things that the mine was cited for last year was failure to properly dilute dust, which can lead to explosions. That is a work practice and the blame falls primarily on the workers that shortcut and the managers that facilitate it.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/02/min....ap/index.html
Quote:
CHARLESTON, West Virginia (AP) -- A coal mine where 13 miners were trapped after an explosion Monday was cited 208 times over alleged safety violations in 2005, up from just 68 citations the year before.
Federal regulators' allegations against the Sago Mine included failure to dilute coal dust, which can lead to explosions, and failure to properly operate and maintain machinery, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
Ninety-six of the citations were considered "significant and substantial" by inspectors.
An official with the International Coal Group, which has owned the mine since March, said the Labor Department could have closed the mine if it were deemed unsafe.
"We think that we were operating a safe mine. We have no real clue about what triggered this explosion or whatever happened today," ICG Senior Vice President Gene Kitts said.
Records from the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration also show that Sago Mine has had 42 injuries since 2000 that resulted in lost work time.
Its injury rate per hours worked in 2004, the most recent year for such data, was nearly three times the national rate for a mine of its type. Eight injuries were reported that year.
The state Office of Miners' Health Safety & Training, which inspects underground mines four times each year, issued 144 notices of violation at Sago last year, compared to 74 in 2004, officials said.
The miners were trapped 260 feet below ground after an explosion that may have been sparked by lightning. Rescuers went in to find them Monday after waiting almost 12 agonizing hours for dangerous gases to clear. (Full story)
Gov. Joe Manchin, when asked about the mine's safety record, said he had not been thoroughly briefed about it.
"We will do a total and thorough evaluation. And whatever has happened, or whatever caused this to happen, will be remedied," he said. "Right now, our main concern is getting these miners out safe."
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I like how the exec passes the blame to the state, saying they could have shut them down. As if it is the state's responsibility to run a safe workplace.
I put the other part in italics because that pissed me off. It was shoddy reporting to claim that their injury rate was 3x the average but then reveal that they only had 8 injuries in 2004.