PREAMBLE

Mine safety is a broad term referring to the practice of controlling and managing a wide range of hazards associated with the life cycle of mining-related activities. Mine safety practice involves the implementation of recognized hazard controls and/or reduction of risks associated with mining activities to legally, socially and morally acceptable levels. While the fundamental principle of mine safety is to remove health and safety risks to mine workers, mining safety practice may also focus on the reduction of risks to plant (machinery) together with the structure and orebody of the mine.

INCIDENT

Coal Miner Dies in 4th Mining Fatality of 2018
More Mining Deaths Prompt Calls for Safety Stand-Downs
In 2006, the deaths of two more West Virginia coal miners yesterday which brought the state’s mining death toll which 16 prompted Gov. Joe Manchin to call for a statewide mine safety stand-down.

“This means that starting with the current shift, and each new shift after that, the mine companies, supervisors and the miners themselves are to engage in a thorough review of safety procedures before any work is to continue,” Manchin said. He added that the Mine Safety and Health Administration has agreed to send additional inspectors to West Virginia to respond to what MSHA Administrator David Dye called “the unusually high number of mine fatalities” in the state this year.

Dye asked coal mines across the country to conduct a stand-down for safety on Feb. 6. While 2005 was the safest year for mining on record, so far this year 16 in West Virginia, two in Kentucky and one miner from Utah have died for a total of 19.

“I am asking miners and management at every mine operation to do the right thing: Take 1 hour out for safety’s sake this Monday and stand down for safety, to be proactive in preventing future accidents and saving lives,” Dye said. “This Monday, we urge that extra time be taken, at the beginning of each shift and before the start of any mining activity, to go over the hazards involved with mining and the vital safeguards that need to be taken.”

MSHA said it will send packets of safety information to stakeholders for discussion at coal mines as well as post information regarding the safety stand-down on its Web site.
Manchin said that there were incidents at three separate coal mines yesterday at two underground mines and one surface mine. The two fatalities occurred at Elk Run Coal Co.’s Black Castle Mine and Long Branch Energy’s No. 18 Tunnel Mine, according to MSHA.

In response to yesterday’s mining fatalities, United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts urged union coal mines in West Virginia “to undertake a meticulous inspection of their mines.” Roberts said the Long Branch Energy mine is represented by UMWA.

If operators of union mines fail to cooperate with inspections, Roberts added, “the union will consider taking further action under the authority of the union’s collective bargaining agreements with the operators.”

“We support Gov. Manchin’s call for a stand-down of mines in West Virginia until there is a thorough review of safety procedures,” Roberts said. “At non-union mines, that means the governor will have to rely on the word of the operator that the mine has carried out his directive. The UMWA will be taking that a step further at union mines with the order for a full safety inspection.”
Today, in 2020 Gov Joe Manchin is still in office in West Virginia as a strong advance of the Coal industry. But fatalities in coal mining operations still occur across the USA and elsewhere in the world.

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