Preventing another mine disaster: Will this help?
May 12, 2010 by Fred HosierPosted in: Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, What do you think?, whistleblower, Workers' attitudes about safety
PDF West Virginia has announced a step its governor hopes will improve workplace safety for miners and employees in all industries.
In the wake of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster that killed 29 workers, Gov. Joe Manchin announced the launch of the Mine and Industrial Accident Safety Hotline/Tip Line.
“I want all miners and workers from any other industry in West Virginia to feel empowered to report problems in the workplace without fear of retribution,” Manchin is quoted in a state press release. The governor says he wants more workers to become involved in strengthening workplace safety.
The West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will staff the hotline 24 hours a day. Callers can remain anonymous.
Manchin wanted an agency not affiliated with a regulatory body to receive the calls. The Homeland Security workers who will answer the hotline are trained to handle calls involving safety. Tips will be forwarded to the proper agency for investigation.
Do you think this hotline can help avoid future disasters like the one at the Upper Big Branch Mine? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
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Tags: safety hotline, Upper Big Branch mine, West Virginia, workers killed
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May 12th, 2010 at 8:32 am
[...] more: Preventing another mine disaster: Will this help … Posted in industrial safety | Tags: accident, announced-the-launch, feel-empowered, hotline, [...]
May 12th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Sure, this program looks good, but if MSHA can’t get a mine to comply after being there dozens of times then what good is one more visit? Especially when a tip has to go through a middle-man first.
More accountability is needed.
May 21st, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Employees have always been able to contact MSHA directly - why is adding a middleman going to help? As the Massey incident proved, MSHA is no more capable of recognizing hazards than anyone else, and almost certainly less.