West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller is urging President Barack Obama to make several mine safety improvements immediately.
In a letter dated Sunday, Rockefeller told Obama he should consider several suggestions made by relatives of the men killed in the explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine. The April 5 blast killed 29 men, the worst loss of life in a U.S. coal mine in 40 years.
Among other things, relatives told a U.S. House panel a week ago that federal inspectors should be accompanied by individual miners and criminal penalties for tampering with methane gas detectors should be increased.
Investigators suspect a combination of methane and coal dust in the Upper Big Branch disaster.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
The Future of Appraisal and the Rising Standard of Competency 
Hanwha Aerospace Explosion Kills Five Workers, Lee Orders Probe 
Workers’ Families, Other Parties Settle Baltimore Bridge Tragedy Claims 
Deadly Screwworm Parasite Found in US Threatens Cattle Herd 
Want to stay up to date?
Get the latest insurance news
sent straight to your inbox.