By MARC LEVY, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 53 minutes ago
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on Monday ordered follow-up inspections of the state's mines in the next 30 days, citing the deaths of 16 miners in West Virginia since early January.
He also asked mine operators to observe the federal government's call for safety sessions for workers at the beginning of each shift.
"What happened in West Virginia has affected all of us — and it has drawn new attention on making sure every mine is safe and every miner does his job safely," Rendell said in a statement.
Although the state routinely inspects mines, machinery and maps, Rendell asked for additional inspections of ventilation, electrical equipment and rock-dusting procedures.
Pennsylvania is the nation's fourth-largest coal producer. It has 5,100 miners employed at 77 working underground mines.
Last week, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin asked all coal companies to cease production until safety checks were conducted. David Dye, the acting U.S. assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, later issued a request for coal mines nationwide to take an hour to discuss safety with workers.
In Alabama, a judge last month determined regulators weren't properly inspecting some of that state's coal mines and ordered immediate new inspections.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060206/ap_on_re_us/mine_safety
2 hours, 53 minutes ago
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on Monday ordered follow-up inspections of the state's mines in the next 30 days, citing the deaths of 16 miners in West Virginia since early January.
He also asked mine operators to observe the federal government's call for safety sessions for workers at the beginning of each shift.
"What happened in West Virginia has affected all of us — and it has drawn new attention on making sure every mine is safe and every miner does his job safely," Rendell said in a statement.
Although the state routinely inspects mines, machinery and maps, Rendell asked for additional inspections of ventilation, electrical equipment and rock-dusting procedures.
Pennsylvania is the nation's fourth-largest coal producer. It has 5,100 miners employed at 77 working underground mines.
Last week, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin asked all coal companies to cease production until safety checks were conducted. David Dye, the acting U.S. assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, later issued a request for coal mines nationwide to take an hour to discuss safety with workers.
In Alabama, a judge last month determined regulators weren't properly inspecting some of that state's coal mines and ordered immediate new inspections.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060206/ap_on_re_us/mine_safety