According to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), Massey Energy Company was guilty of “industrial homicide” for the deaths of 29 miners in Raleigh County, WV on April 5, 2010.  UMWA President Cecil Roberts presented a report at a press conference in Charleston, WV on October 25, 2011 which concluded that Massey created the conditions for a catastrophic work accident when it did not correct known safety violations, intimidated workers, and disregarded state and federal health and safety regulations.  The UMWA was appointed by MSHA to represent the families’ interests in the investigation. 

The UMWA report indicates that Massey valued production over workplace safety by insisting that its miners work in areas with poor ventilation, massive buildup of coal dust, inadequate rock dusting, and water sprayers that were ineffective or missing from the area.  Roberts stated that since the company did nothing to prevent the explosion, that company executives should be held responsible for at least negligence which caused the deaths.

For April 5, 2010 Fox News Report on UBB Disaster:    http://youtu.be/yiV3rETtEMw

For more information about workplace injuries and accidents, go to www.robinettelaw.com