From Deseret News archives:
A slow road to improvements
That law came in the wake of mining disasters in Kentucky and West Virginia. A lot of people thought the bill took care of problems in the industry, but here we are again, watching and praying for the rescue of six men trapped in a mine far beneath the surface right here in Utah.
To keep things in perspective, you must understand a few things.
The first is that mining is, always has been and likely always will be a dangerous profession. A lot of Utahns either know miners or have miners somewhere in their list of ancestors, and their family histories likely have a story or two about dangers associated with that line of work. One of the worst mining disasters in the nation's history took place here, in Scofield, more than 100 years ago.
Those were the days when miners took canaries with them underground early warning systems designed to detect problems with the air. Safety precautions and equipment have come a long way since then, but nothing can ever totally ensure safety for workers thousands of feet below the surface.
Of course, all of this is moving far too slowly. This week's disaster in Crandall Canyon demonstrated that point clearly. All of the law's provisions would have helped the trapped miners, as well as their rescuers.
We hope the delays in acquiring new equipment and implementing procedures are not the fault of reluctant mine owners, some of whom have historically been slow to consider their workers.
We further hope this disaster spurs a quickening pace in the industry's efforts to follow the new law. Mining accidents are horrible enough without having to consider that better compliance with the law could have sped recovery efforts.
Comments
- Notre Dame QB punched at bar 3:42 p.m.
- RSL gets warm reception at Capitol 3:38 p.m.
- 2 excuted in China milk scandal 3:33 p.m.
- Winners of the Pie-Ku contest 3:18 p.m.
- Furry felons rob S. African tourists 3:15 p.m.
- 3 airlines fined in tarmac stranding 3:12 p.m.
- Guilty plea in girlfriend burning 3:11 p.m.
- Census worker killed himself 3:09 p.m.
- 'Old Dogs' lacks any bite of comedy 3:03 p.m.
- 'Fox' funniest animated film of year 3:03 p.m.
- Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
- Best prep football games of 2009
- KSL: Prostitution in Utah County
- Man trapped in own body for 23 yrs
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded
- Kirilenko climbing blocks list
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale
- Boys basketball rankings
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
221 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - BYU would like friendlier rivalry
188 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
170 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
137 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
134 - BYU records with win
132 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103
Way to go Utah! You're finally number 1 in something other than prescription...
about the BYU player that transferred to the U? It raised the average GPA of...
That a Disney movie starring John Travolta and Robin Williams wouldn't be...
And he said that it was his freedom of artistic expression. Gee Lamby you...
@ HaHa.....please don't repeat the silly mantra that the SEC is soooo good...
Wandrew, This is just one more delay and obfuscate tactic used by the flds....
I don't know for certain, but I think the enrollment at the U is more like...
Read the article in USA TODAY. The national rating was 0.9.
2:41 p.m. Why would I care if there were a aymbol of Wican or Satanism or...
Dale the Chipmunk is a fictional character. So, who is the confused individual?


You can be the first to comment on this story.