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NEWS & LETTERS,
August-September 2002
Quecreek rescue
Detroit--Like most people in the U.S., I closely
followed the dramatic events leading to the successful rescue of the nine coal
miners trapped in the Quecreek Mine in southwestern Pennsylvania. I was
impressed by the level of technology and knowledge available and used to save
them. When I heard the news, I recalled an explosion I was in
because one boss did not give accurate information to another boss. Many other
times while I worked in the coal mines in the area during the l950s, adjacent
mines were cut into and miners lost their lives as a result. It is speculation
to think some of those lost lives could have been saved if such technology had
been available then, but it is certainly possible. However, the major issue at Quecreek is how this could
have happened. Investigations will be made and reported, but I do know from my
experience that most of the so-called accidents that resulted in deaths and/or
injury were due to mine management’s lack of concern for the safety of the
miners. The bottom line for coal operators has been, and I am certain still is,
to get that coal--often at the expense of the health, safety and welfare of the
miners and their families. State and federal laws stipulate the procedures that are
supposed to be followed to avoid Quecreek incidents, and there are underground
mine maps that indicate locations of adjoining mines. One of two things probably
happened: the maps were not accurate (which is inexcusable), or they were
ignored--which is even worse. And one thing is certain--the miners obviously did
not know of the danger, for they would never have cut into the other mine. Miners have always demanded to have control of safety in the mines. They have always been denied that responsibility, which they would joyously assume. The result is that mine management continues to control and too often endanger the lives of miners for the sake of production. --Andy Phillips, <br> co-author of THE COAL MINERS’ GENERAL STRIKE OF 1949-50 AND THE BIRTH OF MARXIST-HUMANISM IN THE U.S. |
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