September 07, 2008

Massey mine cited for 2007 fatal accident

AP reported that Massey Energy Co is facing fines for safety violations that state inspectors say contributed to a fatal accident at a West Virginia coal mine. The office of Miners' Health Safety and Training cited the Richmond company for violations investigators say contributed to Dixie in West Virginia resident Mr David Neal's death.

Mr Neal suffered critical injuries after falling about 39 feet from a conveyer belt at Massey's Stockton mine in Kanawha County on December 4th 2007. He died 10 days later.

Inspector Clarence Dishmon said that Massey was cited because an alarm designed to sound when the belt starts was broken and Mr Neal wasn't using a safety harness. Massey also was cited because the power to the belt wasn't turned off and because there was no way for a non electrician to shut it off.

State regulations require miners to make that impossible whenever a person is repairing a conveyer. But investigators found that Neal and his co-worker didn't take any of several steps to make sure the power was off and the belt was locked in place.

Massey had no immediate comment.