'Coal' TV: MSHA Cites West Virginia Mine After Watching Reality Show

[RamboLiberal]

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- The first episode of a reality show filmed in a southern West Virginia coal mine had real-world results: Federal inspectors who watched the Spike TV series have cited Cobalt Coal Corp. for activities they say endangered the miners.

In the debut of "Coal," a worker at the Westchester mine in McDowell County used the wrong tool – a 12-inch pick hammer – to pull down loose roof rock for a dramatic collapse that was caught on camera. The Mine Safety and Health Administration said the tool was too small for the job and put workers at risk of being struck by falling rock.

MSHA also cited Cobalt for moving the continuous mining machine when it wasn't cutting coal and allowing a worker to walk alongside, creating the potential for a crushing injury.

It's the first time MSHA has written a violation based on TV footage, spokeswoman Amy Louviere told The Associated Press.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/08/coal-msha-cobalt-tv_n_846537.html