Massey Coal CEO of WV mining disaster: "Coal safety rules as silly as AGW"

[Chuck]

"The very idea that they (politicians) care more about coal miner safety than we do is as silly as global warming."

THEWEEK - Apr 9, 2010

I can think of at least 29 that would disagree. --Ed.

Don Blankenship, the 60-year-old chief executive of Massey Energy, is rapidly becoming the perceived villain in the West Virginia coal mining disaster that killed at least 25 people this week. Massey's 42 coal mines — including Upper Big Branch, where the deadly explosion occured — have received more than 2,000 safety violations this year. An unapologetic free marketeer, Blankenship has been accused by critics of putting the company's bottom line ahead of worker safety. Some commentators are even calling for him to be charged with murder. (Watch the Massey CEO talk about "nonsensical" safety rules.) Here's a look at the "Coal Baron" of Appalachia — and why everyone is blaming him for the disaster:... [Read More]

[booferama]

Blankenship is criminally stupid.

[Tochatihu]

Oddly I agree that AGW and mine-safety rules are equally silly. But by that I mean 'not really'. And Mr. B., I am sure, has a different view.

DAS

[ILAveo]

Speaking of silly, his mom sure dresses him funny.

You can't have qualms about desecrating the flag when you use it in that sort of Rodeo clown outfit...

[WriConsult]

Does seem like improper display of the flag.

[booferama]

Originally Posted by WriConsult

Does seem like improper display of the flag.

You should see his Underoos.

[Chuck]

Four Massey mines had injury rates more than twice the national rate last year...read more

[ILAveo]

The problem with discussing his statements is that however unwise they may be, they aren't entirely stupid. It turns out that some safety rules are pretty silly.

For example, the company I work for was fined once because we weren't certified as "unqualified personnel " in an electrical hazard area when the "qualified" power company operator who was supervising our guys backed into live high voltage. We ended up taking the OSHA course to be certified as unqualified which, other than watching a video of a guy getting electrocuted to death, basically consisted of being told we should stay away from high voltage equipment. It was much weaker electrical safety training than the training we already had from working with railroads and aluminum industry. It satisfied OSHA's requirements enough to reduce (eliminate?) our fine even though it didn't enhance safety.

To me the important points are the two following issues:

1. At least some Massey mines don't appear to be good at sorting out the silly rules from the life saving ones. It would be a good idea if they paid attention to inspectors' recommendations. Usually two heads are better than one. Massey's record and rhetoric makes it seem that company practices do not include routinely accepting inspector recommendations. Recent events have made this issue painfully evident.

2. Companies like Massey make a mockery of safety regulations because parts of safety regulations probably deserve mockery. "By the book" safety compliance becomes impossible when the book gets too big. Once you start picking and choosing sections of the book to enforce/apply rascals like Massey will pick and choose their shortcuts sometimes with profits more in mind than safety.

[Taliesin]

Originally Posted by ILAveo

It turns out that some safety rules are pretty silly...

Kinda like the rule that states that vending machines and computers aren't supposed to be in the same room?