Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 10, 1995 TAG: 9505100076
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
J. Davitt McAteer, the assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, said the large Virginia coal producer's agreement with the smaller mines would make small underground mines safer.
``This program is a model for others in the mining industry,'' said McAteer, who oversees the Mine Safety and Health Administration. ``Small mine companies are sometimes undercapitalized and have less effective safety training.''
Under the agreement, the federal agency will provide technical assistance and safety and inspection records of all United's small suppliers. If the suppliers don't meet safety agreements spelled out in the agreement, United may stop doing business with them.
McAteer said statistics show most fatal mine accidents occur in small mines which lack resources larger companies have for safety training and mine inspections.
In 1992, the fatality rate for underground mines with fewer than 20 employees was six times greater than for those with more than 50 employees. The fatality rate for mines with 20 to 49 workers was four times greater than the largest mines.
McAteer said MSHA hopes other partnerships between large coal companies and smaller ones will be formed in the southern Appalachian region this year.
During the past 15 years, large coal companies have relied more and more on small mine operators to dig their coal and truck it to their processing plants, McAteer said.
Bristol-based United has used independent contractors to supply most of its coal since it was formed 25 years ago. Now, the contractors supply all of the approximately 5.5 million tons of coal United sells each year.
The department will provide each coal supplier with comprehensive training required at both the state and federal level, United president W. David Wampler said. United also will help suppliers prepare plans for roof control and ventilation that are required by government regulators. Every three months, United will audit the safety records, violations history and civil penalty compliance records of the contractors.
by CNB