
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 20, 1994                   TAG: 9405200051
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SURPRISE SPRUNG ON MINERS

Inspectors from the federal Mines Safety and Health Administration and mine safety agencies in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky conducted a surprise sweep of coal mines in those three states Thursday. They were checking on compliance with federal law that prevents miners from smoking or having smoking materials underground.

Results from the inspections are not expected to be available until today or Monday, said Rodney Brown, a MSHA spokesman.

"It's time that smoking in underground coal mines becomes a thing of the past," said U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who oversees the mine safety agency. "The consequences of smoking in an underground mine can be devastating."

Methane gas liberated by the mining process collects in underground coal mines unless mines are properly ventilated. Methane can be highly explosive in concentrations of 5 to 10 percent of air volume. Smoking underground can provide the spark to ignite a methane explosion.

That's what happened in December 1992, when the Southmountain Coal Co. No. 3 mine in Wise County exploded killing eight miners and injuring a ninth. Investigators found that a failure of the ventilation system caused methane to gather in the mine and it was ignited by a miner's cigarette lighter.

Miners caught with smoking materials Thursday will face civil fines and - in Virginia, at least - possible criminal prosecution. Mine operators who have allowed smoking articles into mines can face charges, too.

J. Davitt McAteer, assistant U.S. secretary of labor for mine safety and health, said operations similar to the one conducted Thursday will be carried out again. "This initiative is part of our continuing effort to prevent accidents before they occur," McAteer said.

Federal inspectors involved in the sweep distributed telephone numbers to miners so they can call and report anonymously any smoking violations.

by CNB