Ouray, Colorado Mining Accident Details Emerge

Investigators won’t go underground until the mine is determined safe, according to MSHA spokeswoman Amy Louviere, who says the agency has “required the mine operator to submit a plan for the rescue teams to re-enter the mine in order to determine that it is properly ventilated and all harmful gases have been removed.” Louviere adds that investigators will very likely be “looking at a variety of things related to ventilation and gas.” Mining companies manipulate ventilation underground so that lethal gases are swept away. Miners are also required to carry gas detectors and emergency breathing masks known as self-rescuers. Investigators will try to determine whether the ventilation system worked properly and whether miners carried the detectors and breathing masks and that they knew how to use them.Mine owner Rory Williams told reports Monday night that “the fallen miners were equipped with safety equipment, including self rescue devices and rebreathers containing oxygen, and said that equipment malfunction is not suspected at this time,” according to a local weekly newspaper, ‘The Watch’. The Watch also reported that Williams said safety is the mine’s “number one priority.” “I believe our safety record has been strong,” Williams said. “We have not had any incident of this nature ever, and I never intend to have another one.” I also note, upon our initial report yesterday, Rory Williams was quoted as a “Project Manager” whereas today, his is being reported as the “Mine Owner.” I will try to follow up on this discrepancy during the day also.

An independent review of federal mine safety records confirms that no fatal accidents have occurred at the Revenue-Virginius mine since recent operations began in 2011. But the most common measures of safety show that the mine is above the national average for underground metal-nonmetal mines in both injuries and safety violations. The rate of violations, (measured in violations per inspection day), during the past 15 months is nearly double the national rate. The injury rate, (measured in workdays lost to injuries), was nearly five times the national rate last year and double the average this year. MSHA records list 25 violations and eight injuries since 2011. Twelve of the violations were labeled “significant and substantial”, indicating the potential for serous injury or death. Citations issued included moderate or high negligence 28 times. Eight citations said the violations were reasonably likely to cause permanent injury or death.

When the mine first reopened in 2011, the company was cited for failing to train workers and federal inspectors ordered the untrained miners to leave the mine. However, none of the violations appear to cite any problems with the ventilation systems or failure to carry, use and have working self-rescuers and gas detectors. There were no additional citations involving proper training after the 2011 incident.

Louviere says MSHA “will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident” but gave no time frame for a report.

Read Rick’s original report: https://fggam.org/let-us-be-in-prayer-2-killed-in-ouray-colorado-mining-accident-20-injured/