Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020174
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORTON LENGTH: Medium
"They feel they have an important role to play in helping to prevent future mine disasters," said Tony Oppegard, an attorney with the Mine Safety Project who represents the families of three of the eight victims.
The recommendations are included in a letter to Jim Robinson, chairman of the governor's task force named to study the Dec. 7 accident at Southmountain's No. 3 mine.
The task force plans to vote on recommendations next week before issuing its report to a joint legislative committee reviewing Virginia's mine safety laws and to the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.
State and federal mine investigators concluded the explosion was caused when methane gas that had built up because of improper ventilation was ignited by a miner's butane cigarette lighter. The explosion was intensified by the presence of airborne coal dust in the mine because of the inadequate application of rock dust to mine surfaces.
One of 20 recommendations made by the families is to require the state to create a 24-hour, toll-free telephone number solely for receiving miners' complaints. Complaints about unsafe working conditions and mining violations could be made anonymously.
The state Division of Mines would be required to investigate alleged unsafe conditions and violations within 24 hours and to conduct immediate inspections when imminent danger is alleged.
The recommendations also propose changing state law to require that all new miners receive two hours of training on their federal statutory safety rights, including the right to refuse to perform unsafe work.
"The No. 3 mine really was not an aberration," Oppegard said. "It's not a lot different than the way a lot of mines are operated - not rock-dusted properly, not hanging ventilation curtains, not conducting preshift exams thoroughly or at all, not testing for methane. Those practices are not that uncommon in small mines."
by CNB