MSHA orders 'stand down' at all US coal mines Monday for reviews

Washington (Platts)--3Feb2006

On Monday, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is asking all US coal
mines to conduct safety training at the beginning of each shift, following two
deaths and three accidents in West Virginia coal mines on Wednesday.

Late Thursday evening, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and
Health David G. Dye called for the "Stand Down for Safety," and MSHA posted
talking points and information on mine ventilation practices, bleeders and
seals, and preventing fires and explosions on its Web site.

The two deaths Wednesday brought the number of coal-mine deaths in West
Virginia to 16 in less than 30 days and the number to 19 in the US.

Massey Energy identified the miner who died Wednesday at subsidiary Elk Run
Coal's Black Castle surface mine near Uneeda in Boone County, W.Va., as Paul
Moss. He was killed when the bulldozer he was operating stuck a gas line,
causing a fire.

Another miner was killed at Long Branch Energy's No. 18 Tunnel mine near
Wharton, also in Boone County, during a rib roll, when a support popped loose,
Lara Ramsburg, a spokeswoman for West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, told Platts
Coal Trader Thursday. His name had not been released by press time, pending
notification of relatives.

A third accident occurred at Newtown Energy's Eagle underground mine near
Winifrede in Kanawha County. Ramsburg said it was also a rib roll, but the
miner only received a minor leg injury. An unidentified employee who answered
the phone at the mine Thursday said no company official was available but told
Platts Coal Trader it was a non-life threatening accident that was only
reported under the state's new law passed last week requiring accidents to be
reported to a state hotline.

On Thursday, MSHA reported a Jan. 23 fatal accident at Sassy Coal Co.'s No. 4
mine near Briggs in Pike County, Ky. 

According to MSHA's preliminary accident report, James Thomsbury, 72, was
driving a tandem-axle coal truck at 10:30 a.m. on a haulage road when he
overran an embankment near the bottom of the mine haul road. Thomsbury was
found in the roadway and had apparently been run over by the rear wheels, MSHA
said. Thomsbury worked for TBK Haulage Inc. of Hurley, Va.

Shifts to start with safety review 
"I am asking miners and management at every mine operation to do the right
thing: take one hour out for safety's sake this Monday and 'Stand Down for
Safety,' to be proactive in preventing future accidents and saving lives," Dye
said. "This Monday, we urge that extra time be taken, at the beginning of each
shift and before the start of any mining activity, to go over the hazards
involved with mining and the vital safeguards that need to be taken." 

Dye said he was concerned about the recent upsurge in fatal accidents in West
Virginia after the nation witnessed the safest year on record in 2005. There
were 22 coal mine fatalities in 2005; none had occurred by Feb. 1 last year.

West Virginia stand down goes smoothly 

On Wednesday, Manchin ordered all West Virginia mines to cease operation
immediately, then to hold safety reviews with each shift thereafter until all
shifts had the review.

"It's all been very positive," Dan Miller, West Virginia Coal Assn. vice
president, told Platts Coal Trader Thursday afternoon. "[The mines] have all
cooperated. We haven't had any negative response."

The safety reviews varied from mine to mine depending on safety procedures,
Miller said, but he estimated they would average one to two hours.

The stand down "will have some impact on that day's production, but long term,
at year's end, it won't have any impact," Miller said. 

West Virginia produces about 150 million tons of coal each year, about 15% of
U.S. production in 2005, and about 435,000 tons/day, according to Platts
Energy Advantage/COALdat. 

Consol Energy's mines in West Virginia went through a 30- to 60-minute
pre-shift safety briefing Thursday, then inspections for safety conditions.

"I haven't heard of any anomalies or unusual circumstances, and all the mines
are producing coal," Consol spokesman Joe Cerenzia told Platts Coal Trader.
"We took this a step further and installed [Manchin's stepped up safety]
procedures at all of our mines, not just in West Virginia."

He also said briefings and site checks are regular policy before each shift at
company mines.

"As we grieve with the Moss family and the members of Black Castle [mine],
Massey Energy continues to emphasize the importance of safety at each and
every one of our mine sites throughout Appalachia," Massey said in a
statement. "Massey continues to conduct meetings to re-emphasize safety
procedures, including escape ways, firefighting and the use of self-rescuers.
Miners have also been asked to conduct safety checks in their work area and on
their equipment. We are addressing any safety concerns from our members at
that time as well."

Massey said its safety group and management are developing a meaningful,
comprehensive safety review to reinforce its safety program. "This review will
be conducted with each shift on Monday, Feb. 6, as requested by MSHA's 'Stand
Down for Safety' initiative."

-- Mark E. Heckathorn, mark_heckathorn@platts.com

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