fatal work accidents
West Virginia Coal Mine Explosion Kills at Least 25
According to Oklahoma City’s koco.com, an underground explosion took the lives of at least 25 miners working in West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine. The explosion may have likely been caused by a buildup of methane gases. This accumulation may have resulted from improper ventilation. It is suspected that the explosion was ignited by a spark of some kind. Reportedly, the mining company who operates the coal mine, Massey Energy, has a less than stellar track record when it comes to employee safety.
Massey Energy is one of the largest coal producers in the country, owning 2.2 billion tons of coal reserves throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. However, in the past year, the coal company has been hit with federal inspector fines totaling more than $382,000 for multiple repeat infractions pertaining to improper venting techniques and venting equipment at the Upper Big Branch location. If methane gas is not allowed to properly vent, a buildup of the combustible can be ignited with the slightest spark of electricity.
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