US, W.Va. move aggressively curb accidents

摘要

Mine-safety regulators in West Virginia and at the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration reacted dramatically to two Feb. 1 mining deaths, seeking short mine shutdowns to conduct safety briefings for miners and inspect working areas for hazards. Coal production may fall in the short term because of the renewed focus on mine safety in the nation's second-largest coal producing state, but is not likely to reduce longer-term production. In fact, more coal production may be lost from the shutdown of the affected mines during investigations than will be missed because of these safety efforts.