Mining
The Pump Handle
Category archives for Mining
Asbestos victims demand North American ban on use and export of asbestos
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 13, 2011 [Update 12/15/11 below] It’s been 3 1/2 years since Leah Nielsen lost her father from mesothelioma. “I took care of my father as he died an excruciating death. He died too young.” This Utah resident wants to protect others from suffering the same kind of horrible death by banning the use and export of asbestos.…
$10.8 million penalty by Labor Dept for 29 dead at Upper Big Branch mine
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 6, 2011 The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released today the findings of its 20 month-long investigation into the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion. The April 5, 2010 disaster killed 29 workers, seriously injured another worker, and left hundreds of grieving family members and friends. MSHA identified 12 violations of safety…
MSHA poised to issue investigation report on Upper Big Branch disaster
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 1, 2011 The US Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is preparing to issue next week its investigation report on the April 5, 2010 coal mine disaster at the Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 workers. Ken Ward, Jr. at Coal Tattoo reports that MSHA will hold a media briefing at 3:00 pm…
MSHA should scrap any plan to wait for OSHA action on respirable crystalline silica
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on November 25, 2011 Before too long the US Department of Labor (DOL) and other federal agencies should be issuing their annual regulatory plans and semi-annual agendas. These documents serve as official public notice of agencies’ regulatory (and deregulatory) priorities. The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order (EO) 12866 direct agency heads to release these documents in April (agenda)…
Billion dollar company and a broom handle implicated in death of two workers
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on November 11, 2011 [Updated 11/14/11 below] Barrick Goldstrike is the largest gold producer in the world, with a stock market value of $51.0 Billion. With that kind of wealth, one has to ask why workers at the company’s Meikle mine near Elko, Nevada were compelled to use a broom handle to keep a reset button depressed, so tons…
Upper Big Branch disaster called industrial homicide by United Mine Workers
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on October 26, 2011 In big bold orange letters, the cover of the United Mine Workers of America’s (UMWA) report on the Upper Big Branch mine disaster reads “Industrial Homicide.” The union’s 154-page report says: “Massey Energy must be held accountable for the death of each of the 29 miners. Theirs is not a guilt of omission but rather,…
Coal mining industry insisted on new dust sampling technology, now they don’t want MSHA to use it
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on October 19, 2011 It’s too late for Ronald Martin of Dema, Kentucky. “I’m in last stage of black lung,” he wrote in shaky script, “please help the miners so they won’t suffer like I suffer. I can’t breathe but a little.” Mr. Martin sent his note to the Labor Department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to comment…
House Republican Appropriators don’t think coal miners need protection from black lung disease
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on September 30, 2011 Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) and his Republican members of the House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Labor Department don’t think coal miner deserve better protection from black lung disease. In their FY 2012 appopriations bill they would prohibit the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) from using any funds to develop, promulgate, enforce or…
Beware of Congressmen who claim they are cutting red tape, health and safety protections are on the chopping block
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on September 26, 2011 Funny how a bill touted by Members of Congress as one that will “cut red tape” will actually add a dozen new steps before a rule to protect people’s health or safety is put in place. Last week, several Republican and Democratic Senators and Representatives did just that when they introduced the “Regulatory Accountability Act”…
A peek at health and safety for temporary workers
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on September 13, 2011 March 2, 2011 may have seemed like any other workday for David Clark Jr., 51, when he arrived at the Lee Creek potash mine in Aurora, NC at 5:50 am to start his shift. Clark and a small crew would be excavating a large ditch near the R9 roadway and burying a 22-inch diameter polyethylene…