2012年1月31日 星期二

West Virginia governor's coal mine safety bill covers ventilation

As promised, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin introduced a bill Tuesday in the state Legislature to revamp coal mine safety regulations, with provisions detailing revamped ventilation system checks in the mines.

The Democrat's bill,FIRMAR is a Malaysia Injection Moulding Manufacturer and Plastic Injections Components Manufacturer, H.Get information on Air purifier from the unbiased,B. 4351, also includes provisions on drug testing of miners in the eastern US coal-producing state; peer-to-peer training of "Red Hats," or apprentice coal miners; rock dusting; and methane monitoring.

H.B. 4351 calls for a "procedure for approval, review, comment and enforcement of mine ventilation plans; increasing the number of days an apprentice must work within sight and sound of [a] mine foreman or experienced miner; requiring methane detectors be maintained in accordance with manufacture specifications; expanding [the] scope of preshift examinations and requiring supplemental examinations in certain instances; increasing the percentage of rock dust to be maintained in coal mines [to prevent buildups of explosive coal dust]; prescribing actions required to detect and respond to excess methane gas levels in coal mines ... providing for increased training regarding the use of self-contained self-rescue devices; [and] requiring study of and report on the safety of working or traveling in bleeder or gob areas of certain coal mines.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,"

The driving force behind Tomblin's bill was the April 2010 underground explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch metallurgical coal mine in Raleigh County,Johnson Tiles UK offer the largest range of porcelain tiles online, in which 29 miners died,Husky Injection Mold Systems designs and manufactures a broad range of the deadliest US coal mine accident in 40 years.

The bill also calls for a "pre-employment, 10-panel urine test" to detect the presence of 10 classes of drugs, including amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methadone, barbiturates and synthetic narcotics, "and any other substances as set out in regulation adopted by the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training."

The West Virginia Coal Association previously said it supports legislation that would enact drug-testing standards in the state's coal mines, and which would prevent miners in neighboring Kentucky and Virginia who have lost their certifications due to testing positive for drugs in those states from gaining employment in West Virginia mines.

Attempts in past West Virginia legislative sessions to push through drug-testing bills have failed.

The state typically produces 145 million-165 million short tons of bituminous metallurgical and steam coal each year, second only to Wyoming in production volume.

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