Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Feb. 1, 2006, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of Meredith College Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
FEATURES February 1,2006 S Second West Virginia Mine Accident Kills Two JACKIE BULLOCK Staff Writer In less than three weeks, West Virginia experienced another fatal coal mine ac cident, bringing the num ber of West Virginia miners killed in January to fourteen. Aracoma Coal’s Alma No. 1 Mine, located in Melville, West Virginia, was the site of the latest accident, which was the result of a conveyor belt fire on Thursday, Janu ary 19. Killed were Don I. Bragg, 33, and Ellery Hat field, 47. Twenty-one miners were inside the mine at the time of the fire. Bragg and Hatfield reportedly became separated from their twelve- member crew while trying to escape the blaze. The rest of their crew—along with nine other miners who were working in a different sec tion of the mine—escaped unharmed. Although the two miners both had oxy gen devices, current devices only contain enough oxygen for one hour. Braggs’s and Hatfield’s bodies were found on Saturday, January 21 near where the fire broke out. Rescue teams from four states responded to the ac cident; they could not enter the mine until the fire had been mostly extinguished and the tunnels had cooled down. Their rescue efforts also were impeded by the collapse of the mine’s roof, blocked entryways, and smoke which significantly reduced visibility. A report on CNN.com stat ed that the fire broke out on Thursday around 5:45 pm. but that firefighters were not notified until around 8:00 pm. Firefighters arrived within four minutes of being notified but, according to Lo gan County Fire Chief Scott Beckett, whose crew was the first to arrive, they were not allowed to enter the mine until rescue teams arrived, which was around 11:30 pm. Beckett was told that his crew could be arrested if they entered the mine. Of ficials with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) state that federal regulations prohibit those without mine safety train ing fi-om entering a mine in an emergency situation. Re sponders to mine accidents are required to take a forty- hour course, followed by pe riodic twenty-hour refresher courses. They also must have one to five years min ing experience. Fire Chief Beckett noted that at least six of his men are miners and had the proper training. He referred to the situation as being “fhistrating.” Of ficials with Aracoma Coal, which’ is owned by Massey Energy of Richmond, Vir ginia, had no comment. Current mine safety laws have not changed for nearly thirty years; labor leaders and regulators are calling for reformations. The original mine safety laws were en acted in 1969 after seventy- eight miners were killed in a West Virginia mine explo sion. The last major chang es occurred in 1977—a few years after ninety-one miners were killed in a fire in Idaho. The MSHA wants to impose $220,000 fines for serious violations; the current maxi mum fine is $60,000. The first congressional hearing regarding mine safety was held on January 23 with sub sequent meetings being held January 31 and in March. Dennis O’Dell, United Mine Workers head of Safety and Health, said that the union is asking the government to require: • Sturdier communications equipment that will with stand an explosion • Rescue teams stationed at every mine • Breathing apparatus that will give miners hours of oxygen West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin proposed leg islation on Monday, January 23 that he said he hopes will improve miners’ chances for survival in case of an acci dent. His legislation pro posed: • Use of electronic tracking devices on miners • Oxygen stations through out mines • Fining mine companies $100,000 if they don’t call an emergency hotline within fifteen minutes of certain ac cidents “There is not a miner that works underground that should ever suffocate,” Man chin said. “Time, hours, days go by—that’s unacceptable. West Virginia.. .will begin to be one of the safest states in the nation for miners.” West Virginia lawmakers passed the bill the same day. Mock Interviews Employers tell us, “Students need to be prepared for the interview process”. Practice your interviewing skills and get valuable feedback from a human resource professional from local business or industry. There is limited space available. Call the Career Center to reserve your 1-hour appointment for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, February 21 -23 from 9am-4pm. The deadline to sign up is Tuesday, February 14. Room For More! Jiiiii us'lui^sdays (« 7|)in Itrown Rixiin,Talley SiiKieiii Cciilcr. W Sliili; I’niversiiy Fonrain; iiiforniaiion cill')19.S21.982.' iMJia-ncsuxom ne MEMm HEMhm// Editor in Chief. Maria Santore herald@meredith.edu Managing Editor. Amber Littesy Layout Editor Megan Rice Copy Editors Amy Kay Nickerson Rita Hendrick Staff Photographers Laura MarshiiH Terri Richards Business Manager. Stephanie Harrington Advertising Manager. Kristi Arthur Faculty Adviser. Di-. Rebecca Duncan Staff Writers. Melinda Bowling Rachel McElwain Stephanie Justice Emelia Dunston Jackie Bullock Joy Strickland Lauren Stanfield The Meredith Herald is published by the College throughout the academic year The paper is funded by the college and tluough independent advenising. All advertisements should be sent to herald@meredith.edu, attention Natalie Braswell. The opinions expressed in the editorial coluirms do not necessarily reflect those of the college administration, faculty, or student body. Published by Hinton Press
Meredith College Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 1, 2006, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75