Miners Trapped In WV Coal Mine

[Buzz Mills]

I missed that show I wish I could of watched it I been curious now as to what exactly they do down in the mines. As for the vulture he is a billionare? Just out of respect for his hard workers he should give each immediate family memeber of those who died 1 million dollars! That isnt much for a billionare won't put a dent in his budget. He was the owner so it would just be out of respect for the ones who did his dirty work... :twocents:

The company set 2 million aside for ALL of the families---NOT EACH OF THE FAMILIES. They are hoping the American public contributes the other 63 million

 

[Mygirlsadie]

Wow 63 million? That's alot of money! I'm not one to sue anybody never have been I don't really agree with it esp. if it's a accident however we havent found out yet if this is/was a accident so IF it is found to be the companies fault then I think the money should come from the company not the American public. I have no problems sending some $$ from my heart though.. not because some rich vulture don't want to part with his billions. On another note arent explosions in the mines something that unfortunately comes with the territory? And arent the coal miners & their famlies fully aware of this before taking the job? Kind of like my husband is in the Army and when he went to Iraq if (and he wasnt thank the Lord) he was killed I couldnt sue the Army or expect anything from them besides his life insurance because that is something we were fully aware of when he took the job.

The company set 2 million aside for ALL of the families---NOT EACH OF THE FAMILIES. They are hoping the American public contributes the other 63 million

 

[Bobbisangel]

If the families do sue the company I hope that they are very chosey when it comes to hiring attornies. Every volture in the state will be on their door steps trying to get in on the action. I listened to a local attorney talk about this the other night. He said they need attornies who have compassion for them...who care about them as people and who will do right by them...not some hot shot attornies who could care less about the people involved. I think that he is right. He is local and has handled some big cases involving mines. I hope they hire him. He was so down to earth and nice.

I really hope Randy survives. He will no doubt have survivors guilt but judging from what I've heard about the whole community and the families of the men who died...they will be there to support Randy and his family all of the way.
The community sounds like a nice down to earth community with people who care about each other.

I look at Randy as a miracle. I really wonder if the docs can tell just how much if any damage there really is. Brains are a funny thing. You just never know what the outcome will be. I am going to pray for him daily and try to think positive thoughts for his recovery. He came out of that mine for a reason so I'm really hoping that there won't be any damage at all.

 

[Nore]

Nore, is your son Ok now??? Allegheny Hospital is a well-respected facility. My home town was just South of there.

ABC had s special on working in the coal mines tonight--they also did a good interview with the principal owner of ICQ which owns the mine. The owner is hoping the American public will contribute to the dead miner's families--he's a billionaire.and they compared him to a vulture, as he is known for going in on bankrupt companies, and turning them around and then selling them off for huge profits.

----------------------------------

Thanks to all for asking,my son passed away after a 3 1/2 year battle.It was so very hard.My heart goes out to Randy and his family for I am afraid they have much heartbreak ahead of them.This is part of the reason I am still up~cant get him off of my mind,other families also.I hope they can get the vulture. I read early on the mine had failed in many many different areas. I dont think it should have been open.As one poster said he knew the problems when he bought the mine~he could well be responsible. Nore

 

[Sassygerl]

Scandi and Nore, thank you for sharing your stories. You are both strong women. I'm so sorry you both went through such tragic ordeals

After watching Primetime last night I can understand more how there was such a miscommunication after hearing the call from the rescuer to the fresh air base.

 

[Sassygerl]

From Tuesday, Jan. 3, 11:48 p.m.

VOICE 1: "7472."

VOICE 2: "Go ahead, Matt."

VOICE 1: "You might as well just stand still right where you're at, Gary. They did find them, and they're all OK, I guess, so, I think we might be transporting them. I'm not exactly sure, but we're stuck right here."

VOICE 1: "10-4, Matt."

From Tuesday, Jan. 3, 11:54 p.m.

VOICES: (inaudible) VOICE 1: "And what am I telling them?"

VOICE 2: (inaudible) "Twelve, and they're bringing them out."

VOICE 1: "And they're all alive"

VOICE 2: "Uh, as far as I know … (inaudible)"


http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Mine/story?id=1475974

ETA: audio of first call.....
http://abcnews.go.com/podcast/060105ems.wav

second call....
http://abcnews.go.com/podcast/060105alive.wav

 

[MrsMush99]

Just in on Fox News:

Randal McCloy showing signs he is coming out of coma. Opening his eyes on his own, biting on the trach tube.

 

[Sassygerl]

Just in on Fox News:

Randal McCloy showing signs he is coming out of coma. Opening his eyes on his own, biting on the trach tube.

I'm so thankful he's starting to come about! His wife was on GMA and said that when she talks to him, and when the children visited she could tell he was excited and knew they were there.

 

[ember]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/06/miner.note/index.html

I think something divine was going on in that mountain...

I know the brother-in-law thinks Mr. Toler meant to say "I WILL see you on the other side", but how could he know what he meant to say...
I think Mr. Toler said exactly what he wanted to say. Did anyone else notice that the whole note is written in past tense? It's almost like he was already gone but came back for a second to give his family comfort. Like he got to the other side and realized that he could see them from the other side. He wrote:

"I see you on the other side" - he wanted them to know he was watching over them and still with them and saw them worrying for him and the others

so then he wrote:

"It wasn't bad" -past tense, comforting
"Just went sleep" - again, past tense and comforting

But the "I love you" was neither past or present, instead infinite...


That note ,to me, was more profund than anything I've ever read. I think he gave us a glimpse that there definitely is life on the other side.

Divine indeed...

Bless these families...

 

[Linda7NJ]

He's in a medically induced coma, to allow his brain to rest ..the plan is to keep him this way for as long as possible.

IMO he will need to be trached soon.

 

[housemaid25]

Here is a web page you can use to offer sympathy, send cards, etc. to the families of these miners, if you wish to.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvcoal/sago/index.htm

 

[cheko1]

He was a real piece of work, wasn't he!? (And I feel I'm being very generous with that remark.)

Wait until the lawsuits happen he won't give a darn about anyone but himself!! I read a huge article on him some time ago in a magazine. Can't remember which one it was.

 

[lynie]

Wow 63 million? That's alot of money! I'm not one to sue anybody never have been I don't really agree with it esp. if it's a accident however we havent found out yet if this is/was a accident so IF it is found to be the companies fault then I think the money should come from the company not the American public. I have no problems sending some $$ from my heart though.. not because some rich vulture don't want to part with his billions. On another note arent explosions in the mines something that unfortunately comes with the territory? And arent the coal miners & their famlies fully aware of this before taking the job? Kind of like my husband is in the Army and when he went to Iraq if (and he wasnt thank the Lord) he was killed I couldnt sue the Army or expect anything from them besides his life insurance because that is something we were fully aware of when he took the job.

I very much agree with you Sadie. I would be happy to help out the families if they have a need, but I know they will be getting $$ from the company. I think that there needs to be an investigation and if the safety was compromised then the company needs to settle up whether sued or not.

If the mine was working according to all regulations then I think you have to step back and say it was a risk of the job. That is one of the reasons the jobs are more well paying than others in the area...such a crummy way to make a living and so dangerous too...

lynie

 

[Linda7NJ]

Surviving Miner Gets 2nd Oxygen Treatment
Jan 6, 11:11 AM (ET)

By DANIEL LOVERING

The lone survivor of a coal mine explosion underwent two oxygen treatments and remained under sedation as he struggles to recover from brain damage and other injuries, doctors said Friday.


Doctors stressed it would take time before the extent of the brain damage is known.

Randal McCloy Jr. was taken by ambulance Thursday from West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital to Allegheny General Hospital, where he remained in critical condition Friday. Dr. Richard Shannon, who is leading the team of doctors treating the miner, said McCloy's first oxygen treatments went well. Doctors said McCloy has shown some movements when his medications are reduced at times.


[url="http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails//MINE_EXPLOSION_SURVIVOR.sff_PACR103_20060105213147.jpg"]http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails//MINE_EXPLOSION_SURVIVOR.sff_PACR103_20060105213147.jpg[/url][font=Verdana,Sans-serif](AP) Dr. Richard Shannon, chairman of the Department of Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in...
Full Image[/font]if (NAV_NS&&NAV_VER

More at LINK:

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20060106/D8EV9DKO5.html

 

[Buzz Mills]

There was a guy from that area, on ABC, that hit the nail on the head. He said the miners know about the hazardous conditions, and the dangers involved in coal mining, but if they complain too loudly about dangerous conditions, they'll be fired, and the economic conditions in those areas haven't been such that a miner can just turn around and get another job. Working in a mine pays well, especially for that area of the country, but the miners also know that it is a very dangerous job.

He also said that the Safety Inspectors have been around too long monitoring the same mines, and have a tendency to let safety violations slide. With the price of coal having almost tripled over the last three years, more old mines are being reopened, and that spells trouble.

The Tallmansville mine had been going through bankruptcy proceedings for two years prior to ICG buying the mine two months ago. When a company is going through bankruptcy they aren't looking to see how much money they can spend on safety, so there's no small wonder that all of the safety violations were accruing. The people are all now saying that the mine should have been shut down for all of the safety violations, but that isn't dealing with the reality of the situation. Mines don't get shut down because that puts people out of work, and the our current administration, doesn't want to see job loss, ahe people in that area would have had a fit if the mine was shut down because they would have lost their "good" incomes. There are probably a lot of mines out there with a lot of violations, and yet the miners in those areas will still go to work everyday, even though they know there are violations, and there is danger involved. People in economically challenged areas don't give up their good paying mining jobs, even though getting out of working in the mines is probably an everyday subject. The "good" money keeps them locked in, providing for their families.

 

[housemaid25]

something else to make one wonder...what's this all about ?

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2006010529

 

[cappuccina]

...I posted previously about the deplorable safety track recrod for this mine, and why mines are becoming more unsafe....It is as Buzz says, combined with having to mine deeper to get the coal because that's the only place to find it...I think that in this case, though there was actual negligence because this company had purportedly proverbially "thumbed their nose" at the inspectors....Inspectors spent more time at this mine last year, than in almost evey other mine combined...The violations and attitudes of this mine and its owners were so flagrant that I think that something needs to be done...

The poeple in this area are in a Catch-22...One of the few places you can make any sort of decent wage without more education is in the mines....It allows the miner's kids to have a chance to do something else if they want to...I cannot fault these men for trying to better their families' situations, I mean, what else are they supposed to do....

Something else I posted about above as well....The Federal regs. regarding mine safety are terribly outdated, and some don't even make any sense...For example, the only reason this mine stayed open wa because of a Federal Reg. that in essence says that if any part of the mine is viable, that portion of the mine can stay open, even if the rest of the mine is shot to hell. How stupid is that? That's like saying a restaurant with one clean toilet stall can stay open even if there's sh*t in the kitchen...

So, there are a whole host of things that led to this situation. I do believe, however, as I said before, that something needs to be done here because of the attitude of this mine, and the gross violations...

 

[indigomood]

something else to make one wonder...what's this all about ?

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2006010529

thanks for the link, it will be interesting to see what comes of this...

 

[housemaid25]

Complaints of lawyers trying to contact family members will be investigated.

http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2006010620/

 

[Buzz Mills]

...I posted previously about the deplorable safety track recrod for this mine, and why mines are becoming more unsafe....It is as Buzz says, combined with having to mine deeper to get the coal because that's the only place to find it...I think that in this case, though there was actual negligence because this company had purportedly proverbially "thumbed their nose" at the inspectors....Inspectors spent more time at this mine last year, than in almost evey other mine combined...The violations and attitudes of this mine and its owners were so flagrant that I think that something needs to be done...

The poeple in this area are in a Catch-22...One of the few places you can make any sort of decent wage without more education is in the mines....It allows the miner's kids to have a chance to do something else if they want to...I cannot fault these men for trying to better their families' situations, I mean, what else are they supposed to do....

Something else I posted about above as well....The Federal regs. regarding mine safety are terribly outdated, and some don't even make any sense...For example, the only reason this mine stayed open wa because of a Federal Reg. that in essence says that if any part of the mine is viable, that portion of the mine can stay open, even if the rest of the mine is shot to hell. How stupid is that? That's like saying a restaurant with one clean toilet stall can stay open even if there's sh*t in the kitchen...

So, there are a whole host of things that led to this situation. I do believe, however, as I said before, that something needs to be done here because of the attitude of this mine, and the gross violations...

That's the GWB administration making sure that jobs aren't lost because of simple things like Safety Violations.

Being that ICG has only owned this mine two months, even though they fully understsood what they were buying, they'll probably use that as a defense. saying that almost all of the violations were with the previous owner, and they had a program in place to fix all of these violations. Let's not kid ourselves, the new owners were not going to spend one penny more on the safety of that mine, then they were forced to, and I doubt that they were going to be forced into doing anything. The families might be better off sueing the government mine inspectors who continually allowed this mine, and all of the others, just like it, to stay in operation, despite major safety violations. At least, hopefully with good reporting, we'll have a chance to hear about all of the other unsafe mines in operation.

Another problems with mines, that I saw on a PBS program, about a year ago, is all of the earthen dams, they end up building with their tailings, and the water pumped out of the mines. There are a large number of these which are extremely unsafe, and should they break, the flooding will cause a lot of devastation and loss of life. They showed one series of dams where three dams, and their lakes/very large ponds, were stacked one right behind the other; if the top one fails, they all fail, and there would be major loss of life. Apparently there are literally 100's of these earthen filled dams in the PA and WV area, all an accident just waiting to happen.