Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 9, 1993 TAG: 9307090153
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORTON LENGTH: Medium
At a motel six miles from the entrance to Southmountain Coal Co.'s No. 3 mine, a 10-member task force wrapped up its investigation of the fatal explosion with a list of mine safety recommendations.
The task force, appointed by Gov. Douglas Wilder, will forward its suggestions to a General Assembly committee studying revision of the state's mine safety laws, and to the state Division of Mines, whose job it is to enforce mine safety laws.
"I hope there'll never ever have to be another task force like this," Chairman Jim Robinson, a Wise County businessman and former member of the House of Delegates, told the group after its final vote.
Max Kennedy, a United Mine Workers official and task force member, said the legislature and Division of Mines should be urged to take the task force's recommendations seriously.
Kennedy noted that the state did not follow up on the recommendations of a similar panel named to investigate a 1983 explosion that killed seven miners in Dickenson County. "We've wasted a lot of time and energy if none of these things are going to come to pass," Kennedy said.
Tony Oppegard, a lawyer with the Lexington, Ky.-based Mine Safety Project, said the task force's recommendations could make Virginia mines safer if they are followed up. But he also criticized the task force for passing some issues to the legislature for more study.
Oppegard, who represents families of three of the explosion's victims, singled out six key recommendations that he said could make a difference. They call for:
An 800 number miners could use to report mine safety violations to the Division of Mines.
Job protection for miners who complain of safety violations or refuse to work in unsafe conditions.
A requirement that all who work where coal is mined be certified in the use of methane detection devices.
Recording by companies of all levels of methane discovered in a mine.
Posting findings of pre- and post-shift examinations of the workplace for methane and other hazards for all miners to see before they start work.
Mine foremen to be required to show a knowledge of a mine's roof-control and ventilation plans.
Federal and state investigators concluded earlier this year that methane, which had accumulated in the Southmountain mine because of illegal mining practices, exploded and set off a secondary, more powerful, coal dust explosion.
The explosion, officials said, was triggered by the butane lighter of a miner who was illegally smoking inside the mine. Smoking materials are forbidden by law in all mines.
The task force agreed unanimously to many of the recommendations.
Robinson said he would present the task force's recommendations to the General Assembly committee, chaired by Del. Alson Smith, D-Winchester, at its August meeting. Robinson said the meeting might be held in the coalfields.
by CNB