WVA miners
 

always touches close to home for me when this kind of tragedy occurs.

RIP gentleman and prayers to your families.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/13/min...ion=cnn_latest

Seems like we just keep waiting for another one to happen!

24 deaths last year in the state of WV alone...but in a great majority of the state, unless you have a college degree....mining is the way of life.

College isn't the way for alot of folks...maybe a trade learned and a move out of the state!

One of the most dangerous jobs in America. Scary.

Indeed Rand. My grandfather died in the mines less than 10 miles from where this tragedy happened.

As I said though, for many in these tiny towns, their options are incredibly limited.

I didn't know that,Kev...I'm sorry for your loss and the grim reminders!

Its okay...it happened before I was born, but to hear my Mother talk about her dad, makes me realized I missed a great man. She said I remind her of him in many ways (never met a stranger).

Wanna hear something scary....he died on May 15th, 1960. He was one of 12 kids. 2 of his 11 siblings also died on May 15th, just a different year:eek:

So your Grandfather probably went thru the Depression? Wow! Quite a life....that IS pretty eerie that some died on same date!

You know it's one of those things where that's all they know. Even the mention of moving away to find a different life is laughed at. That's all they know and all they know is all they need. Not only does something like this impact a family, but it devistates a community. Prayers go out....

The mining industry was one of the catalysts for the formation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or as it's better known as OSHA.I'm not sure it might of been 1971.

I had family who worked the mines, too, Kev. I know of one great-uncle who died of lung cancer, which I imagine was after a lifetime of mine work. (It might have been blacklung; my aunt's stories get confused sometimes)

Federal inspectors cited the Brooks Run mine 65 times last year and proposed penalties totaling $5,000, according to the MSHA's Web site.

Sixty-five citations and the TOTAL fine is $5,000? Honestly, if I were a businessperson with more greed than humanity in my heart I'd figure it's cheaper to pay the fines and keep breaking the law. Admittedly, there's no information yet on whether this tragedy could have been avoided, and maybe it couldn't have been- bad things do happen in dangerous jobs, and mining is VERY dangerous. But if it's due to negligence on behalf of the mining company then I hope the families can sue, and for enough money that will make the company wish they'd complied with regulations.

Which, of course, will not bring back the miners to their families. So sad.

Nicole, in what reading and looking into this I have done, I understand that the mapping for the underground that was given to the miners was way off. When your oxygen is in short supply and your vision limited, you better make damn sure that the maps are correct to a T.

Oh God. Who did the maps? Would that have been company fault or one of those awful things that happen sometimes? For all that members of my family were mine workers, I don't know much about the nuts and bolts of it.