----- Original Message -----
From: Evan Price <[log in to unmask]>
To: mining <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2000 1:51 PM
Subject: Miners' health
> In referring to miners trading safety for money, I didn't intend to let
> the companies off the hook. As John Hinde says, this was AND IS an easy
> out for management. The only thing in John's letter that I do argue with
> is the implication that this was a situation that has now passed. A few
> years ago, there was a disaster in the Westray Mine in the Canadian
> maritimes. I will include a URL that will provide more information (but
> not enough!!).
> http://north.nsis.com/~amartin/index.html
> After the Westray disaster, the government (as is common in
> Canada) held an inquiry that was shown on television. The testimony at
> the inquiry was shocking (although little was done to punish the men
> mainly to blame).
> The main points of interest from the inquiry was testimony that:
>
> 1. The Westray mine was supposed to be a showplace of modern methods
> and
> safety equipment. Unfortunately, much of the new equipment
> (especially gas
> testing equipment) failed to work. In some cases, this was a
> fault in the equipment,
> but shift bosses were known to have disconnected such equipment
> on the coal
> digging machines to maintain production. When problems with the
> "back" slowed
> production drastically, safety concerns were disgarded.
>
> 2. The provincial government was anxious to make this mine a success,
> and pressured
> inspectors, etc. to keep the mine functioning.
>
> 3. The miners were so anxious to keep a salary coming in that they
> worked under
> appalling conditions. They were afraid to protest conditions in
> case the mine
> would be shut down. They also didn't want to be fired and
> blacklisted. They
> also felt, quite justifiably, that no one would listen to them.
> One man, who
> normally worked as a mine manager, but was temporarily between
> jobs, did
> protest. Although the mines inspectors had dealt with him in
> several of his
> management positions, they accepted the company's claim that he
> was simply
> an agitator for the union. At the time of the inquiry, this man
> still seemed to be
> blacklisted.
>
> 4. Although I have never been a coal miner, I was appalled at some of
> the things
> that were going on in this mine. Welding was being done
> underground without
> following safety procedures. Inspectors deliberately kept away
> from high dust
> areas, and had excuses for not following up on the previous
> man's complaints.
>
> 5. The mine managers kept away from the inquiry, and were never
> forced to testify.
>
> Sadly, the bad times are not over. I think all readers of this
> page would benefit from viewing the video tapes of the Westray inquiry.
>
>
> Evan,
You are absolutely correct. The Westray incident is a shocking tale of
political interference, corruption and gross mismanagement. In many respects
its safety record was worse than in the Dunsmuir mines. In general, however,
I would suggest that in most industries in the West today safety is a
primary concern, although I am not an expert. The Westray inquiry is in
print form (at UVic and probably also on the mainland). It is a must read
for anyone interested in coal mining.
As for the safety/wages trade off. Is this really a choice - I would suggest
that in many cases, miners, with families to feed, would hardly feel they
had a choice.
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