U.S. mine safety regulators failed to conduct inspections...
By John Amato Friday Nov 16, 2007 5:30pm
Will Bob Murray blame Global Warming once again?
Download (2452) | Play (2054) 
Download (1405) | Play (600) (from the incredible C&L archives 08/08/07)
U.S. mine safety regulators failed to conduct inspections required by federal law at more than one in seven of the country's 731 underground coal mines last year, a year in which the number of worker deaths in mining accidents more than doubled to 47, a government report says.
Budget constraints and a lack of management emphasis on worker safety by the Bush administration are responsible for the lapses, the Labor Department inspector general said in a report released yesterday. The report details the department's failure to meet inspection mandates of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977...read on
Murray said in the above video that when his mine disaster was over, he'd invite everyone to go down under with him to check out what they do. I don't think many people will take him up on his offer anytime soon...
Login or Register to post comments.
Send him down with a video camera.
I'll watch....
For as long as he lasts.
Curious is it not that this guy is still walking around, rich, arrogant...free as a bird.
America! Fuck Yeah!
I wonder if they ever inspect our nuclear power facilities? Wait, I just figured it out! The market will take care of itself and self-regulate! Wow, I feel so much better....
fwacbar @ 2:
Or inspect ANY facitlities?? Don't want to dampen profits. (Humans replicate-- plenty more to choose from if a few "go missing".)
Don't miss the Grist debate on climate change and energy policy! On now (Kucinich done, Hillary is up, Edwards next):
http://www2.grist.org/webcast.html
And who's surprised by this revelation?
The "free market" Republicans are hostile to government regulations of any kind....so when you deaths from the coal mines to tainted meat and date rape drugs found in children's toys, call your nearest Republican elected official whom are enraged at any thought of "government regulation."
Perhaps, it will take the children of a Republican, oops, Joe Scarborough was crying the other morning that he and his wife would have to throw out all their children's toys because they have been made in China.....Scarborough opposed like his fellow Republica's any government regulation related to safety standards all the way to emissions testing.
When I hear idiots like Joe Scarborough be now so concerned with toys made in China and "how can the government allow this type of thing," I just want to remind people that the Republica party is against government regulations, tort law, or corporations and big money people being held accountable.
Not to be partisan, but I must in this case---this is a case of government regulations in which the Republicans are opposed to. The Republicans love their famous label of being the party that favors more and more dergulation.
The Republicans are to blame here for their deregulation and privatization schemes which limits the scope of democracy and the oversight of government by the American citizenry.
So, yes, the blame here lies with the Republicans of Trent Lott and Mitch McConnell and former leaders like Bob Dole, Tom DeLay and Newt Gingrich, who have fought really hard to undermine democracy and the safety of all Americans.
Look who is the Assistant Secretary of Labor in charge of the Mine Safety and Health Act:
Richard Stickler (info from Sen. Ted Kennedy)
As always, it is another Bush appointee who comes from industry rather than labor. Imagine that the person responsible for mine safety and the best interests of the workers is a white collar guy looking out for the best interests of his fellow execs. Not to mention the fact that his own record of oversight on mine safety on the state level is appalling.
The stench doesn't begin or end with Bob Murray, it goes right through the entire industry through the Department of Labor right up to Bush Administration.
Rotten to the core.
Heck of a Mine Brownie!
"Mine!"
Marc @ 5:
I used to like to get the Media Matters notices but after awhile it was like learning that the dog had crapped on the living room carpet for the hundredth time and everybody was shocked but nobody got rid of the GD dog.
Anything and everything bush touches turns to shit. He's the anti-Midas.
Oh yes, privatization and deregulation will protect us from the evil/incompetent government ownership of our natural resources. Of course, considering the elitists we elect to our government and union leaderships, it's a lose-lose situation, especially for the miners. If the sheeple would get off their asses and away from the sitcoms long enough to educate themselves and hold these officials accountable, maybe we would have a decent society. But I digress...obviously.
Mr. XXXX,
I think it crosses party lines. It's more of a plutocratic phenomenon. And it is up to those of us who vote from our brainstems to change it.
well, add this to the growing list of bush failures.
he does not care about the troops
he does not care about the health of our children
he does not care about product safety for the American public
he does not care to obey the Constitution or any US law
he does not care that the govt is actually 3 branches, not one he can dictate from
he does not care how deep cheney's hand is up his butt
He should be raked over hot coals... then doused over a cool waterboard. You know he supports it!
I wish the posting had included the hundreds of thousands that the mine owners contributed to
the Chimp's relection.
Anyone have that handy?
regards,
a
This guy makes a good neocon. He does the scare BS great. What a jack ass. And I ditto the above remark....yup...this assbucket is still walking around free. Give him a helmet and send his ass down.
I would like to see a large glass prison built somewhere in the central united states that would house the neo con criminals. Tourists could come from around the world to watch them. For a extra few dollars, you could personally apply small electrical shocks to the neo criminal of your choice.
All proceeds could go to help retire the national debt.
Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everlasting stream.
We need public financing of campaigns so robber barons can't buy off politicians like Bob Murray did
Looks to me like Murray has given all the evidence needed to condemn himself and the industry. He asserts that coal has such a competitive advantage over other energy sources that he undermines any argument that they can not afford to operate safely, operate cleanly and pay good wages. The only reason therefore for doing things the way he does is to cut corners on safety, the environment and worker wages so as to further his own greed. Great American! Bush must have a suitable appointment or award for this American hero. Perhaps he will be Ghoulynanny’s running mate.
And who says China's mine safety record is that much worse than the US?
Shocking!!
They have really high air quality standards in China and the water quality is outstanding.
And Starbucks is there so there will be jobs for people with college degrees, just like America.
Me and my robot wife will build a house in Cancer town and work at the Walmart work is freedom factory.
Of course U.S. mine safety regulators 'failed to inspect'.
They know the conditions of those mines, you think they're crazy enough to risk their lives going down into them!?
fwacbar @ 2:
Now that one is really scary! Aside from that, I wonder how Jay Rockefeller and his kow-towing to the Republicans on the intelligence committee fits into the picture. Inspections might cost the companies a lot of money.
Is the shortfall in inspections conducted because of:
1. Lax enforcement of inspections by the administration?
2. A lack of qualified inspectors available to inspect the mines be inspected?
3. Or, a combination of the two above?
Regardless, this issue needs to be addressed. Likewise, there are many OSHA occupational safety hazards that need to be addressed with more honesty and integrity than what corporate America is choosing to do at this point.
I was a union steward for about two years. At least 25 - 30% of grievances that were filed had to do with workplace safety. Management had the philosophy that:
1. All accidents are avoidable.
2. Just because its enforceable in the Joint Bargaining Agreement -- agreed to by management and labor -- doesn't mean we have to take it seriously. Grieve it if you don't like it.
This philosophy is arrogant, counter-productive, and detrimental to the public at large.
Funny thing is way back in 1938, Jerry Siegal and Joe Schuster were pitting their character Superman against arrogant partying mine owners who cared not a whit for the safety of their miners.
John L. Lewis, leader of the United Mine Workers -- April, 1947: "Is it any wonder that there is lamentation in the mining towns of this country? Is it any wonder that there is a spirit of rebellion against this condition manifested now by the memorial services and the prayers to high heaven that's going up from every mining community? Is it any wonder that women in the mining camps now are reluctant to see their men go to the mines next week when the memorial period is over? Consider the families.Who knows whose mine [it] will be tomorrow, or tonight? These are the imponderables. If we must grind up human flesh and bone in the industrial machine that we call modern America, then before God, I assert that those who consume the coal, and you and I who benefit from that service because we live in comfort, we owe protection to those men first, and we owe the security for their family if they die. I say it, I voice it, I proclaim it, and I care not who in heaven or hell opposes it!That's what I believe about that." A sense of priorities! Refreshing -- too bad we have to go back 60 years to find it.
Login or Register to post comments.