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Tag archives for Massey Energy
Remembering the 29 men who were killed 3 years ago today at WV coal mine
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on April 5, 2013 Three years ago today, 29 miners died at the Upper Big Branch coal mine.
Repeat violators of mine safety rules targeted in new Labor Dept regulation
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on January 23, 2013 The Labor Department’s MSHA issued a new regulation this week targeting employers that have an egregious pattern of violating mine safety and health standards.
On memorializing miners
Posted by The Pump Handle on August 21, 2012 The newly unveiled granite memorial in Whitesville, WV is a visible reminder of the 29 miners who were killed in the Upper Big Branch mine, but the truest measure of our recognition of their sacrifice is what we do in their memory to protect the living.
“We were in shock. We only wanted to bury our son.”
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on July 18, 2012 The Washington Post’s article “Meaningless millions” captures some of the heartbreak experienced when your loved one is killed on the job, but like most things, there’s more to the story.
If former Massey Energy is now “Running Right,” why keep secret its safety progress report?
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on July 3, 2012 Family members of the April 2010 Upper Big Branch mine disaster say they are still in the dark. The latest example is Alpha Natural Resources failure to make public a progress report required in its non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
House Republicans say ‘nay’ to new mine safety reforms, no questions left about which side they’re on
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on June 28, 2012 Not a single Republican member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee voted in support of a resolution calling for the Committee to “consider and report legislation to improve safety and whistleblower protections for miners, and increase accountability for dangerous mine operators.” The 29 families of the Upper Big Branch miners now know who is standing with them and who is against them.
You’ve heard of ‘green-washing,’ what about fur-washing?
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on June 1, 2012 Alpha Natural Resources, which purchased Massey Energy in 2011, is publicizing it very cool mine-rescue dog name Ginny, the first of its kind in the U.S.. I can’t help but wonder though whether the promo-campaign about Ginny isn’t meant to distract us from the serious safety violations discovered in the company’s coal mines.
Two years ago today, 29 men died in a West Virginia coal mine
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on April 5, 2012 “When the world came to an end” is how Joshua Williams described being inside the Upper Big Branch coal mine at 3:02 pm on April 5, 2010. He knew several crews of coal miners were much deeper inside the dark tunnels than he. An ominous feeling. Coal dust explosions are powerful and deadly. Eight days…
$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…