Most folks know by now of the devastating coal mine disaster in Tallmansville, West Virginia that occured when an explosion trapped 13 miners. This was the worst coal mine disaster in the state since November 1968, when 78 men died in an explosion at a mine in Marion County, an hour’s drive north of Tallmansville.
Families were given encouragement when told that they miners had survived, only to find out today that a mistake had been made in that report and all but one had actually perished.
I learned today of the hundreds of citations the mine has repeatedly (yes, repeatedly) received in violation of safety standards over the past two years, yet the company still required miners to work under unsafe conditions.
This definitely warrants investigation by the Labor Department. To allow workers not only to continue to work – but to require them to work – under unsafe conditions is a crime. Those repsonsibile should be held accountable.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 