The problem with this ruling is not the training of the rescue teams, but with the actual inspection of the mines.
The rescue teams are the best that money can buy, look at the incident in Pennsylvania a few years back. These miners in PA, KY, WV and VA are a tough breed and will do anything within their power to rescue fellow workers.
As I stated, the inspections are the problem. An inspector will go to a mine, find various hazards and write the ine up and impose fines. The mine owners will then appeal the fines. Then a negoiatition will happen. This is utter BS. Can you do this with a traffic citation. NO!
A fine should be placed for a hazard and then forced payment or shutdown, no ifs, ands, or but about it. Once this happens a few times, the mines would be a lot safer place to work. As there are enough mines around, this division should be self-supporting for at least five years with the fines as there are always going to be mines that try to slip by the noose.
My personal feeling is that a mine that has a hazard that cost a miner his life should be fined no less thatn $1,000,000. The the owner, if it was a flagrant violation, should be jailed no less than 90 days and not at a resort, but say at Leavenworth, busting rocks. The mine and owner should also pay the estate of the miner no less that 10 times what the miner would have made in his remaining years on the job to retirement.
If you want to improve mine rescue its not the training thats the problem. Its MSHA restrictive rules which wont allow them to do their job when needed. I have been in mining for over 20 years. on a mine rescue team for 15 years. and around mining my entire life, Im a third generation miner. MSHA needs to quit trying to cover their *** and actually do more for miners. The only thing they care about now is wrighting legally defendable citations and covering their ***’s.
I totally agree with you. But this CYA routine is everywhere. When an inspector comes to a mine, it should be un-announced, and if problems are found, the shift should be shut down, the company fined and no work allowed except to do corrective measures, no ifs, ands and ‘Their Butts’
The problem with this ruling is not the training of the rescue teams, but with the actual inspection of the mines.
The rescue teams are the best that money can buy, look at the incident in Pennsylvania a few years back. These miners in PA, KY, WV and VA are a tough breed and will do anything within their power to rescue fellow workers.
As I stated, the inspections are the problem. An inspector will go to a mine, find various hazards and write the ine up and impose fines. The mine owners will then appeal the fines. Then a negoiatition will happen. This is utter BS. Can you do this with a traffic citation. NO!
A fine should be placed for a hazard and then forced payment or shutdown, no ifs, ands, or but about it. Once this happens a few times, the mines would be a lot safer place to work. As there are enough mines around, this division should be self-supporting for at least five years with the fines as there are always going to be mines that try to slip by the noose.
My personal feeling is that a mine that has a hazard that cost a miner his life should be fined no less thatn $1,000,000. The the owner, if it was a flagrant violation, should be jailed no less than 90 days and not at a resort, but say at Leavenworth, busting rocks. The mine and owner should also pay the estate of the miner no less that 10 times what the miner would have made in his remaining years on the job to retirement.
That is enough said!
If you want to improve mine rescue its not the training thats the problem. Its MSHA restrictive rules which wont allow them to do their job when needed. I have been in mining for over 20 years. on a mine rescue team for 15 years. and around mining my entire life, Im a third generation miner. MSHA needs to quit trying to cover their *** and actually do more for miners. The only thing they care about now is wrighting legally defendable citations and covering their ***’s.
Gary,
I totally agree with you. But this CYA routine is everywhere. When an inspector comes to a mine, it should be un-announced, and if problems are found, the shift should be shut down, the company fined and no work allowed except to do corrective measures, no ifs, ands and ‘Their Butts’