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BS CHE III
5 February
2014
I. Executive Summary
The Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine disaster occurred on April 5, 2010,
roughly 1,000 ft (300 m) underground in Raleigh County, West Virginia at
Massey Energys Upper Big Branch coal mine located in Montcoal. Twentynine out of thirty-one miners at the site were killed. The explosion occurred
at 3:27 pm. In a report to President Obama released on April 27, 2010,
MSHA officials offered the opinion that the UBB explosion was caused by the
combustion of accumulations of methane, combined with combustible coal
dust mixed with air. Investigations lead to a conclusion that the explosion
was mainly caused by the accumulation of methane as well as coal dust.
Aside from that, this disaster could have been prevented if Massey Energy
followed the mining regulations facilitated by Mining Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) and the federal state. Massey Energy is also faulted
for not providing adequate training for their miners and for prioritizing
production over safety. Rock dust, or crushed limestone, has long been
regarded as a vital safety component in underground mines because it
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Workers
have
been
complaining
about
it
since.
The
management takes note of it but do not make any adjustments. The miners
are forced to work till exhaustion. They are not given adequate time for rest.
The level of oxygen in the mine is low, and carbon monoxide as well as
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Recording
Center
outside
the
underground
portions
of
underground mines and away from the working areas of surface mines.
These communications centers would provide instantaneous communication
to MSHA, to state agencies, to company officials and state and county
emergency
management
officials
regarding
safety
and
health.
Mine
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Ernie Ross, J. (1997). United States Department of Labor. Mine Safety and
Health Administration. Nonfatal Methane/Air Explosion (Upper Big Branch
Mine-South). Mount Hope, WV.
Labor, D. o. (April 18, 2010). Briefing by Department of Labor, Mine Safety
and Health Administration on Disaster at Massey Energys Upper Big Branch
Mine-South, at the request of President Barack Obama.
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