State Safety

From: AP

FRANKFORT, Ky. —Coal miners sickened by years of inhaling black dust on the job have been subjected to an unconstitutional system of medical screenings to qualify for worker’s compensation, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

A sharply divided high court decided that Kentucky has violated the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law by requiring miners suffering from coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, better known as black lung, to undergo a litany of tests that workers in other occupations aren’t subjected to when they apply for worker’s comp benefits.

From: Charleston Daily Mail

by Ry Rivard
Daily Mail Capitol Reporter

West Virginia’s former top mine regulator told Upper Big Branch disaster investigators “you had to blow something up” before state lawmakers would pay attention to mine safety.

Ron Wooten, the former head of the state Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training during much of former Gov. Joe Manchin’s administration, said he did not believe his agency had the proper manpower, equipment or material to do its job.

Wooten’s brutally frank assessment of his own agency and the Legislature came during a February interview that … Continue Reading

From: Courrier-Journal.com

FRANKFORT, KY. — The director of the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, who has earned high marks from both safety advocates and industry experts, is retiring this month after more than two decades with the state.

A spokesman for the state Energy and Environment Cabinet confirmed that Johnny Greene submitted his retirement to Cabinet Secretary Len Peters on Tuesday, citing plans to spend more time with family.

Greene worked in various positions at the office over 21 years and has spent a total of more than 40 years in the mining industry.

From: Charleston Daily Mail

The New River Community and Technical College will offer several mine safety classes in Summersville.

The classes will prepare participants for a certification exam. The exam will be administered at the conclusion of each class.

A 40-hour surface mine safety pre-employment training class will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 23 to 27. A second class will be offered from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays from Feb. 21 to March 7.

Two 80-hour underground mine safety pre-employment training classes will be offered. One will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 to … Continue Reading