W.Va. Faults Gear in Deadly Mine Fire (missing walls mismatched and faulty firefighting equipment)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Mine-Fire-Report.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

W.Va. Faults Gear in Deadly Mine Fire

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 2, 2006

Filed at 5:28 p.m. ET

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- State investigators said missing walls and mismatched and faulty firefighting equipment contributed to the deaths of two miners in a fire last January.

The blaze, which broke out in a conveyor belt, filled the Aracoma Alma No. 1 Mine with smoke, and the miners died after becoming separated from their crew. Investigators found the that fire started from the friction of a misaligned belt in a conveyor that carries coal out of the shaft.

The Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training found that the mine lacked ''stoppings'' -- walls typically constructed of blocks to seal off parts of a mine and control air flow -- and that their absence let smoke enter the main escape route.

Also, water lines for firehoses and sprinklers were shut off, and hoses could not be connected because the fittings did not match, the investigators said.

The agency issued 169 violation notices and recommended withdrawal or suspension of seven miners' certificates, the report said.

Massey said in a statement that it is ''deeply saddened'' by the deaths, and it did not dispute the findings. ''At Aracoma, it appears that deficiencies were not fully recognized by mine personnel or by state or federal inspectors,'' Massey said.

The United Mine Workers union said the report shows Massey's mine was ''set up to be a death trap.''

''Everywhere you turn in this report, there is another safety procedure that was supposed to be followed that wasn't or safety equipment that was supposed to be in place that either wasn't there or didn't work,'' said UMW President Cecil Roberts.

The fire remains the subject of an investigation by MSHA and a criminal probe by federal prosecutors.


Note, the United Mine Workers continue to complain about W's appointee to ensure safety in the mines.

[partylessinOhio]

1. Yes, * and Caputo haven't done W.Va and it's miners any favors.

W.Va. was a Democratic state when I grew up there. How could they ever vote Republican? They have been exposed to too much brainwashing by the Fristians.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. you mean capito

arch moore's daughter

caputo is a dem. legislator-mike caputo, who's actually been quite good, especially on protecting the will of the people from electronic voting machine hijinks

[partylessinOhio]

4. Thanks for pointing out my typo. Time has passed and I cannot edit it.

I know Capito is Arch Moore's daughter and I wouldn't want to reflect poorly on another person who is a Democrat. Sorry.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

2. meanwhile, don blankenship, the guy who owned the mine is single-handedly bankrolling the state GOP

runnign ads targeting democrats under the banner of a phony child advocacy group, 'for the sake of the kids'

he's the gop's biggest backer in the state