While watching a press conference this morning concerning the 13 trapped West Virginia Miners, I was struck by the sheer lack of knowledge of the mining process of those reporters I heard ask questions.
In one instance, after trying as well as possible to "laymanize" the complexities and terminology of the rescue efforts, a reporter asked if the speaker could put it in "plain english." Underground mining by it's very nature is a very dangerous occupation. Accidents can and do happen. Some tragic and fatal, and those that never make the nightly news.
Anyone who has ever been in at a mine site and in one of the tunnels could tell you. Mines are a vast organism of tunnels extending into the depths of the earth. The equipment used to mine the ores are a technological wonder. Violations on something that massica a scale are inevitible. Most are corrected as quickly as possible after they are recognized. And yet, with 13 brave miners trapped, the media seem to be pre-occupied with casting blame on someone. Additionaly, the number of Serious accidents in mines in this country are quite low.
Almost immediately after the public was made aware of the explosion in West Virginia, the media the media started their wailing about possible mine safety violations. This has only intensified as the day wears on. And of course the line has been blurred already, if not completely obliterated with some reporters, abour the company responsible for the majority of the reported violations. Of course ICG, the current owner/operator of the mining concern was not the owner when those violations were assesed. By every account, ICG had made amazing progress rectifying those safety concerns and creating a better and safer working environment for the miners working there.
The focus of course should be on the efforts to rescue the individuals trapped more than two miles in and two-hundred sixty below the surface. It has been repeated over and over that they do not know what may have caused the underground explosion. At present all that is known is that a serious explosion occured and the 13 miners who were bringing the mine back to life were still below.
My heart goes out to those families whose loved ones are lost down in that mine shaft. It is my sincere hope that this tragedy will end on a positive note. I believe that the best and brightest within government and the mining industry are doing there very best to rescue those individuals.
Perhaps those in the journalism profession should take a little more time to learn more specifically about those things on which they are reporting and/or asking questions. Lastly, once the rescue/recovery is complete, we can begin the process to assess the possible causes of the accident and attempt to correct it and prevent it in the future.
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