Mine Disasters In 2006

Most work-related deaths -- of miners or other workers -- occur with one or two deaths at a time. Sadly, these deaths are so commonplace that they often go unnoticed by the news media.

In 2006, however, there were three multiple-death tragedies in the underground coal mining sector that drew public attention to the overall problem. Investigations by federal and state authorities and special panels, must be timely, but sound:

• Anyone found responsible must be appropriately prosecuted; and
• An understanding of what happened must be achieved so similar tragedies can be avoided, whether by better enforcement, better training, additional safety measures, or a combination of all of these.

Miners' Families Testified at 2006 Democratic Forum

Family members of miners killed in mining accidents in West Virginia in January 2006 and in Alabama in 2001 testified about a lack of communication equipment and other avoidable dangers facing mine workers at a congressional forum on mine safety.

Democratic Mine Safety Forum Transcript »
 

Voices from Mine Safety Rally, May 2006

Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Audio (Windows Media File, 683KB)

Rep. Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV)
Audio (Windows Media File, 4.06MB)

Deborah Hamner
Wife of Junior Hamner, a miner who died in the Sago Mine disaster in January 2006
Audio (Windows Media File, 13MB)

Peggy Cohen
Daughter of Fred Ware
Audio #1 (Windows Media File, 4.9MB)
Audio #2 (Windows Media File, 3.24MB)

Virginia Moore
Fiancee of Terry Helms
Audio (Windows Media File, 4.34MB)

Cecil Roberts
President, UMWA
Audio (Windows Media File, 8.2MB)