Business

West Virginia mine had history of safety problems

By Washington Examiner
Published May 13, 2014 9:00pm ET
Add Washington Examiner on Google
West Virginia mine had history of safety problems
The entrance to Brody Mine No.1 in Wharton, W.Va., is closed onTuesday May 13, 2014. Two workers died after they were trapped as the ground failed at the West Virginia coal mine. The ground failure occurred just about 8:45 p.m. Monday, trapping the workers, safety agency officials said. The miners' bodies were recovered, and safety personnel were on the site of Brody Mine No. 1 in Boone County, about 50 miles south of Charleston. Preliminary indications show that a coal burst was responsible, according to state officials and mine owner Patriot Coal. (AP Photo/Charleston Daily Mail, Craig Cunningham ) | Craig Cunningham

WHARTON, W.Va. (AP) — Two miners who were killed on the job Monday night worked in a coalfield that had so many safety problems federal officials deemed it a “pattern violator,” a rare designation reserved for the industry’s worst offenders.

Brody Mine No. 1 was one of only three mines last year to earn the label that regulators have put greater emphasis on since the 2010 Upper Big Branch explosion killed 29 miners about 10 miles away.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Coal West Virginia