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| Two workers killed at West Virginia mine with history of safety violations | Two workers killed at West Virginia mine with history of safety violations |
| (4 months later) | |
| Two West Virginia miners became trapped and died late on Monday evening at a mine with a history of safety violations. | Two West Virginia miners became trapped and died late on Monday evening at a mine with a history of safety violations. |
| Eric Legg, 48, and Gary Hensley, 46, died as a result of a collapse in the Brody No 1 mine near Wharton, which occurred at about 8.45pm on Monday. | Eric Legg, 48, and Gary Hensley, 46, died as a result of a collapse in the Brody No 1 mine near Wharton, which occurred at about 8.45pm on Monday. |
| The mine, which is owned by Patriot Coal Corporation, has a history of worker safety violations according to Mine Safety and Health Administration records. In October, MSHA flagged Brody as having a “pattern of violations.” | The mine, which is owned by Patriot Coal Corporation, has a history of worker safety violations according to Mine Safety and Health Administration records. In October, MSHA flagged Brody as having a “pattern of violations.” |
| In 2013, the mine was cited with 192 “serious and substantial” safety violations, which MSHA deems as conditions that could lead to miner injury. Thirty-three of the 192 violations the administration cited were of “high or reckless disregard” for miner’s health or safety. | In 2013, the mine was cited with 192 “serious and substantial” safety violations, which MSHA deems as conditions that could lead to miner injury. Thirty-three of the 192 violations the administration cited were of “high or reckless disregard” for miner’s health or safety. |
| Patriot Coal is contesting that finding according to its 2013 annual report, where it says health and safety violations existed before one of the company’s subsidiaries purchased Brody in December 2012. | Patriot Coal is contesting that finding according to its 2013 annual report, where it says health and safety violations existed before one of the company’s subsidiaries purchased Brody in December 2012. |
| "We express our deepest sympathies to Eric's and Gary's families, friends and co-workers," Mike Day, Patriot’s executive vice-president, said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with state and federal mine regulatory agencies to investigate this incident." | |
| However, MSHA records reflect that health and safety violations continued after Patriot took over the mine. In 2013, the mine’s injury rate, known as “non-fatal days lost,” was three times the national average despite less overall work hours. | However, MSHA records reflect that health and safety violations continued after Patriot took over the mine. In 2013, the mine’s injury rate, known as “non-fatal days lost,” was three times the national average despite less overall work hours. |
| The Brody No 1 mine is part of the Wells Mining Complex in Boone County, West Virginia, about 50 miles south of the state capital, Charleston. | The Brody No 1 mine is part of the Wells Mining Complex in Boone County, West Virginia, about 50 miles south of the state capital, Charleston. |
| At the time of the collapse, miners were retreat mining, a process that removes coal from pillars that brace the mine’s roof and floor. Officials believe a coal burst or “bump” is responsible for the collapse. | At the time of the collapse, miners were retreat mining, a process that removes coal from pillars that brace the mine’s roof and floor. Officials believe a coal burst or “bump” is responsible for the collapse. |
| A “bump” occurs in underground mines when pillars are no longer strong enough to support the roof and floor of a mine. Coal bursts can produce such violent, spontaneous bursts of energy that they register on the Richter scale, an instrument typically used to measure the strength of earthquakes. | A “bump” occurs in underground mines when pillars are no longer strong enough to support the roof and floor of a mine. Coal bursts can produce such violent, spontaneous bursts of energy that they register on the Richter scale, an instrument typically used to measure the strength of earthquakes. |
| Leslie Smithson a spokesman for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training , said that no other injuries have been reported and investigators were on the scene. Smithson said reports that the mine collapsed because of a “coal burst” are preliminary. | Leslie Smithson a spokesman for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training , said that no other injuries have been reported and investigators were on the scene. Smithson said reports that the mine collapsed because of a “coal burst” are preliminary. |
| According to retired Pennsylvania State University professor of mineral and energy engineering Larry Grayson, coal bursts are a long-running engineering challenge. “There's no very very effective ways to control destressing of the pillars, we've tried to do that for years,” said Grayson, saying there are however ways to manage retreat mining. | According to retired Pennsylvania State University professor of mineral and energy engineering Larry Grayson, coal bursts are a long-running engineering challenge. “There's no very very effective ways to control destressing of the pillars, we've tried to do that for years,” said Grayson, saying there are however ways to manage retreat mining. |
| Patriot Coal Corporation owns 15 mines in Appalachia and four in the Illinois Basin. Most of the company’s Appalachian mines are in southern West Virginia, only one is in the north of the state. | Patriot Coal Corporation owns 15 mines in Appalachia and four in the Illinois Basin. Most of the company’s Appalachian mines are in southern West Virginia, only one is in the north of the state. |
| According to MSHA records, 209,419 tons of coal were produced at Brody in 2014 and around 300 miners have worked at Brody annually, since 2012. Five accidents were reported to MSHA in 2014, one of which resulted in a worker having part of a finger amputated. The other four were relatively minor, such as back strains. | According to MSHA records, 209,419 tons of coal were produced at Brody in 2014 and around 300 miners have worked at Brody annually, since 2012. Five accidents were reported to MSHA in 2014, one of which resulted in a worker having part of a finger amputated. The other four were relatively minor, such as back strains. |