Arizona workers employed in jobs that tend to have a higher risk of workplace accidents such as construction, manufacturing or mining, trust in their employers to make sure their workplace environment meets safety standards. Companies in these industries are responsible for ensuring all safety equipment is available and functional. They are also responsible to make sure that all employees are trained properly for their positions. It is when companies neglect to meet these standards that tragedies occur.

A mining accident that federal investigators said was preventable has resulted in more than $10.8 million in fines and a $200 million settlement. Twenty-nine miners were killed and two were injured in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster. The accident carries the largest penalty of any mining accident; the largest penalty prior to this one was $2.3 million in a 1993 machinery accident that killed four workers in an Arizona copper mine.

According to the investigation, the accident occurred when a methane reservoir leak was ignited by a spark from mining equipment, which then led to an explosion fueled by a buildup of coal dust.

U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration officials cited Performance Coal Co. with 369 violations, including 12 that were directly related to the accident. At the time of the accident, Performance Coal was owned by Massey Energy. Massey is now being held responsible for the accident.

The 20-month investigation showed that Massey failed to follow federal rules regulating mine ventilation, roof control and the cleanup of coal dust, which is highly explosive. According to the assistant labor secretary for mine safety and health and chief of MSHA, every time Massey sent workers into the mine, their lives were at risk.

Among other problems, Massey is accused of disregarding safety examinations and failure to fix identified problems. They are also accused of warning workers of impending inspections and intimidating miners to keep them from complaining about hazardous conditions.

Twelve of the violations were categorized as deserving penalties of up to $220,000 each, including failure to properly conduct periodic and shift safety examinations. While the settlement is the largest in American mining history, officials are careful to focus on the future of mining. While the money will not bring the workers back, the changes to the industry will hopefully result in safer mining environments and prevent future accidents.

Source: The Charleston Gazette, "Deaths at UBB 'entirely preventable,' MSHA says," Ken Ward Jr., Dec. 6, 2011