Massey Energy Co. ‘s Big executive in the mine, where 29 people were killed in an explosion on April 5, violations were more numerous and more serious than the national average, the U.S. Department Labour said in a report to President Barack Obama today. The department had observed Massey and Upper Big Branch close because of its history of violations. Massey totaled $ 515 violations of the mine in 2009 and 124 so far this year with fines of $ 1.1 million, the report shows.
“In short, it was a mine with an important story about safety, a mine operated by a company with a history of violations and a mine company and MSHA watched closely,” stated Department.
The ministry also proposed the reform of mine safety laws, giving MSHA the power to subpoena information, ensuring that minors do not lose pay when mines are closed by the federal government ordered the withdrawal and requiring mine operators to the penalties in escrow.
Obama met at the White House today with the Secretary of Labor Joe and Hilda Solis, chief of MSHA, to get the preliminary report on the explosion near Montcoal, West Virginia, which was the worst disaster coal mining since 1970.
“Location of violation”
The agency said it has increased the number of citations given to the executive in Big in 2006 and that next year, he told Massey that he could be placed on a “model” violation list, allows greater control. Massey then reduced the level of serious violations to avoid being placed on the list, MSHA said.
The 515 citations in Upper Big Branch in 2009 were 76 percent higher than the national average 292, according to MSHA data. About 39 percent of offenses were deemed significant and substantial, compared to a national average of 33.6 percent.
In “perhaps the most worrying statistics,” MSHA issued 48 orders to withdraw to the Upper Big Branch for “repeated violations significant and substantial” in 2009.
“Massey failed to address these violations and over again until an inspector of mines in the federal government ordered him to do,” the ministry said in the report. “The rate of the mine for these types of offenses is almost 19 times the national rate. ”
No cause determined
MSHA said the cause of the disaster is still unknown. carbon monoxide detectors sounded at 3:02 pm local time, the report said. The agency said the most mine explosions are caused by the accumulation of methane and coal dust fuel and air.
“Because these combinations are so dangerous, MSHA requires that each mine to ensure (through ventilation and dusting) methane and coal dust levels are below the point where they become fuel,” the report said.
Having been informed today, Obama said: “offenders such as Massey have always been able to find ways to put their bottom line before the safety of their workers.”
After Obama spoke, Massey issued a statement calling Obama’s statements “regrettable” and saying “we fear that the President was misinformed” on the company’s balance sheet and the coal mining industry in general .
“Unfortunately, some rushed to stop for political purposes or to avoid blame,” said Massey.
U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, said the investigation into the explosion may take as long as 10 months to produce “conclusive answers” on the issue.
MSHA think they “know what some of causes” explosion “could,” he told reporters after meeting with Rockefeller MSHA officials on Capitol Hill.
“It will take a considerable number of months” for them to come to their final conclusion, perhaps six to 10 months, “he said. Rockefeller may propose new legislation on safety in mines by MSHA’s investigation is complete.
source:bloomerg
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