Unacceptable!
I am sitting at my desk contemplating the tragedy that occurred just two days ago in West Virginia. Twenty-five, maybe more, hard working individuals in the underground coal industry have perished as the result of another catastrophic failure.
This particular company has what seems to be a rather large number of citations for some very severe violations.
To an aboveground aggregate producer half a world away, I have a hard time understanding why my small company should suffer the effects from the fallout of yet another obvious catastrophic failure by this company as well as the federal agency that oversees them, MSHA.
MSHA rolls out new laws and programs every time one of these incidents takes place and then here comes another witch hunt! You know the story, no trash can lids, un-flushed toilets, chock the wheels on your passenger vehicle parked in front of the office on level ground… All the paperwork to write the violation and then more paperwork to terminate the citation, asses fines and collect fines, contest citations and on and on… It seems to me that energy being used on the aboveground aggregate producers in this country to enforce such violations should be redirected and focused on safety. Underground coal producers are far and away from aboveground aggregate producers practice and MSHA’s time, energy and focus should be directed to those areas that, after devastating disasters such as this latest incident, remind us of where the serious safety issues lie.
This is why I must conclude that it is time to call for the resignation of the Heads of each District in the Agency. In addition, a full congressional review of the Agency as to the effectiveness of the Agency to oversee the safety in the industry should be conducted. MSHA’s policies directly affect my company. So, why shouldn’t they also be held responsible for the policies, enforcement, and programs that are constantly being implemented into law after such catastrophic events take place?
In a nutshell what I am saying is these leaders are fiddling while Rome burns.
It is time for the complete separation between underground coal and aboveground aggregate producers. MSHA should be protecting the safety of the miner from serious injury and/or death. Tell me the last time a miner died or was injured from a toilet not being flushed or a lid not being placed on a garbage can. Enough of the madness!
Gary D. Clapshaw
President, Turner Gravel, Inc., Turner, Oregon
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