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Any large scale mineral extraction operation carries inherent risks due to the nature of the industry which often includes working underground combined with the use of explosives and heavy machinery. The conditions, even in modern coal mining, are still dangerous and difficult, and when an accident occurs the death toll can be high. If the owners of the mine are found to be negligent in any way, families of the dead and the injured may be able to make successful coal mine accident claims.
Upper Big Branch Mine disaster
On 5th April 2010, an explosion occurred in the West Virginia mine in the USA killing 29 workers and causing two others to suffer personal injury.
The following is a timeline of the rescue attempts and unfolding news story:
Monday 05/04/10 : 3.27pm - Explosion occurs.
5pm - Massey Energy, owners of the mine, issue a press release confirming the explosion has occurred.
8.10pm - It is confirmed that seven miners are dead. The rescue operation begins. Reports confirm that refuge chambers in the mine are designed to sustain life for 96 hours.
Tuesday 06/04/10 : 1.40am - Massey confirms 25 miner deaths, two injured workers and four missing personnel.
Noon - Coal administrator for the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Kevin Strickland, says to reporters, "It's quite evident that something went very wrong here. All explosions are preventable. It's just making sure you have things in place to keep one from occurring."
2.30pm - High levels of methane and other toxic gases detected in the mine cause the rescue attempt to be suspended. Boreholes are drilled into the mine to aid ventilation.
Wednesday 07/04/10 : 4am - First 1,000 ft bore hole drilled. There is no response to the rescue worker's banging on drill case piping.
11am - Second bore hole drilled.
4pm - Levels of toxic gases still too high for rescue workers to return to the mine.
9pm - MSHA say the mine's air quality is at a level whereby rescue workers could resume the rescue attempt within hours.
Thursday 08/04/10 : 4.55am - After continued air quality monitoring, rescue workers are finally allowed back into the mine.
9.30am : Air quality readings show raised levels of methane, carbon dioxide and other gases which could set off more explosions. Rescue workers withdraw again. Crews begin bore hole drilling.
Friday 09/04/10 : 12.30a.m - Two teams of rescue workers go back into the mine.
7am - The teams are forced to withdraw when they come across smoke. Nitrogen is pumped into the coal mine in an attempt to make the atmosphere less combustible. Federal officials note that requests had been made to Massey for supplies of nitrogen since Tuesday.
2.30pm - Two rescue teams of eight, make a final attempt to reach a sealed refuge chamber in a deep part of the mine around four and a half hours journey time away.
3pm - More than 96 hours have now passed. It is hoped that if the four men are in a refuge chamber their small number would mean their lives could have been sustained.
11.30pm - The final victim of the coal mine accident is found. The refuge chambers had not been used.
Saturday 10/04/10 : 12.30am - Governor of West Virginia, Joe Manchin announces that the four missing miners are dead. The death toll has reached 29. Strickland says it was apparent none of the miners were able to get to the refuge chambers.
A full investigation into the coal mine accident commenced immediately.
Making a claim for a coal mine accident
Whether an industrial accident at work is large scale or affects only one worker, if it was caused by the negligence of the owners of the workplace, management or other workers, then the injured worker or their family are likely to be eligible to make a personal injury compensation claim.
If you have been injured in a mining accident or any work-related incident, the no win, no fee solicitors here at YouClaim can help you make a coal mine accident claim to win the compensation you deserve.
Call us on our free helpline: 0800 10 757 95, have a real-time echat or fill in an online claim form and we will call you back at a time to suit you.
