Miner: Massey Energy alerted workers at W.Va. mine when safety inspectors arrived
By Tim Huber, APMonday, May 24, 2010
Miner: Massey alerted workers when inspectors came
BECKLEY, W.Va. — A Massey Energy miner whose son was killed in the nation’s worst coal mining disaster in 40 years says the company had a policy of alerting others when inspectors arrived at a mine.
On Monday, Gary Quarles told the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee in Beckley that Massey routinely sends out radio alerts that a “man” is on the property when inspectors arrive. Quarles urged stiff penalties for such warnings.
His son, Gary Wayne Quarles, was one of 29 men killed in the April 5 explosion at Virginia-based Massey’s Upper Big Branch mine.
The elder Quarles suggested that inspectors randomly choose miners to accompany them underground so they can speak up without fear of retaliation.
Gov. Joe Manchin and U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis spoke earlier at the hearing.
Tags: Accidents, Barack Obama, Beckley, Energy, Explosions, North America, Personnel, United States, West Virginia
