Posted on 01/20/2006 5:57:03 PM PST by se_ohio_young_conservative
Reported by: Kennie Bass Videographer: Unknown Web Producer: Dick Canter January 20, 2006
Authorities say a conveyer belt caught fire deep inside the Aracoma Mine in Melville, Logan County.
The two miners got separated from a 12-member crew in the smoke-filled mine shaft.
Rescue crews say their efforts to put out the fire and increase visibility in the mine are working.
The wait gets tougher by the minute for family and friends.
Ann Hill, concerned relative: "I'm very relieved, but I'm still very concerned that the two are still in there."
Mine safety officials and Governor Manchin work hard to keep them updated on the search. Some of the news is good.
Doug Conaway, WV Mine Safety Director: ""We've been pretty successful with our firefighting efforts."
And the carbon monoxide levels are coming down.
Doug Conaway: "They're gradually decreasing. It's slight, but they're decreasing."
Still, between their gear and the air pockets, everyone in this extended family hopes the miners have found a safe place to wait.
Mike Chafin, Aracoma miner: "Hope they're alright and found them in a safe place to get and everything."
earlier thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1561407/posts
I do believe that this article is more "up to date"
Who has the stats on mine injuries over the last 50 years?
Joining the families in the hopes the miners have found a safe place to wait.
"...heavy smoke that cut visibility to 2 to 3 feet...four tunnels, each about four miles long. The mine extends as much as 900 feet below ground... very hot - up to 400 degrees - and smoky inside the shafts...a carbon monoxide monitor about 10,000 feet from the entrance set off an alarm...Rescuers had hoped to use special phones that emit sensors to try to locate the missing men, but the terrain was too rough...Air samples from a hole near the fire showed elevated levels of carbon monoxide, although not as severe as the levels at the Sago Mine...ventilation system continued to work...no methane was detected...the line where the fire broke out had problems before, but nothing as serious as this...belt fires can occur when belt rollers get stuck or out of alignment and rub against the structure supporting them. Another possible cause is the accumulation of coal or coal dust...has not had a fatal accident since at least 1995..."
That would be the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
"MSHA"
Check under the federal Department of Labor.
Many more miners were hurt and died only ten years ago than today. You just didn't hear about it because it wasn't cool then.
Just for a chuckle, put "Fratersville" in your search engine.
I appreciate the link, but I had one to both places years before ALGORE invented the internet.
I'm a coal miner's son. You can tell by the slack in my drawers.
I knew about it before Al too :>} It's local history for me. My grandfather worked at the first dam they built on the Clinch. Coal Creek comes in a few miles down stream from it. There's a lot of history up in those mountains.
Thanks for the updates. Getting very little info here in Upshur. I can't hang out today, but I'll be checking in on and off.
More interest in that stupid whale,these are men that may be still alive!!!
Just heard, they're gone. Found near origin of belt fire.
Trying to buy others some time maybe? we'll likely never know. A lot of stuff being said about rethinking emergency oxygen. Looking at what they have for emergency I think it's a miracle any got out. They need better face protection especially for the eyes. Natural instinct is to stop moving if your eyes are irritated. The breathing apparatus should have a full face mask covering mouth, eyes, and nose. That type of system can be used with one. I've heard storing 02 tanks may be an option also. Put if one popped off in an explosion you have a missile powered by about 1200-1500PSI coming out of the neck to deal with.
The big problem, IMO, is going to be avoiding kneejerk reactions and legislation by grand-standing politicians. The Sago disaster started political types flapping their gums and this will only add fuel to the fire. Any new safety procedures and/or equipment must be kept as far as possible from the influence of politicians. Just wait 'till the talking heads enjoin the usual suspects Sunday morning.
I'm not trying to by any means devalue the seriousness of these mens deaths. But if you take the combined total mine workers in the U.S. and the deaths per year many more likely die driving to & from work. There is no way you can make a mine 100% safe it's like a ship there's no way you can make it 100% safe. You train and hope for the best outcome doing your job. Sometimes the outcome isn't good.
But it needs to be miners both Union and Non who get the first and most say in the matter. They have the most to loose and know the problems , limitations, and practicality of it best.
I agree. Mining will never be 100% safe, but it always takes accidents in one endeavor or another to lead to more safety. I agree that the only people that should determine what these measures will be are those that "know." I just don't see it happening this time what with all the political jawing going on already.
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