Inspector’s records show management deemed production more important than safety at W.Va. mine

Records: production over safety at W.Va. mine

MONTCOAL, W.Va. — Records show a safety inspector found that management considered production more important than safety twice at a West Virginia mine under scrutiny since an explosion killed 29 people.

In two evacuation orders in 2009, a federal inspector cited the operators of Upper Big Branch mine for skipping mandatory checks of a piece of heavy equipment.

The inspector’s notes say management deemed production more important. The citation says the operator complied with the requirements later that day, Sept. 23, 2009.

The notes are included in 140 pages of documents that federal officials released Friday.

Massey Energy Co., which owns the mine, has defended its record and disputed accusations from miners that coal profits were put ahead of safety.