Three Rescuers Die at Utah Mine

Per Huffington Post:

3 Rescue Workers Killed at Utah Mine

PAUL FOY August 17, 2007 11:47 AM EST


HUNTINGTON, Utah — The search for six miners missing deep underground was abruptly halted after a second cave-in killed three rescue workers and injured at least six others who were trying to tunnel through rubble to reach them.

It was a devastating turn for the families of the six men trapped in the Aug. 6 collapse at the Crandall Canyon mine and for the relatives of those trying to rescue them. It's not known if the trapped miners are alive.

"It just feels like a really hard blow to swallow after all we've been through the last week and a half and everyone trying to hope in their own individual way," Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon said in telephone interview Friday with CNN's "American Morning."

All rescue workers were evacuated from the mine Thursday evening and work underground was stopped. Asked if the search would be suspended, "that's something to be determined," said Rich Kulczewski, a U.S. Department of Labor spokesman.

While this entire Utah disaster has been horrible, once again, the MSM must be called out. With the exception of Huffington Post, and Keith Olbermann, I haven't seen the OBVIOUS part of this story being reported:

THE LACK OF SAFETY FOR THE MINERS.

Do you actually think it's a coincidence that we are hearing about more of these mining disasters in the last seven years, since Bush & Company came into power?

Hell no.

One of the functions of government, IMO, is to PROTECT the citizens in the workplace. Workplace safety rules were not put into place because government wanted to 'beat up on business'.

They were put into place to help make the workers safe. To make sure, that after a long shift at your job, ESPECIALLY if it's a dangerous job, that you have the best possible chance to GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILY.

THAT is why workplace safety rules have been put into place.

Of course, Bush & Company have spent the past seven years GUTTING WORKPLACE SAFETY, thus endangering the lives of these workers.


HOW MANY fines had the owner of this mine gotten, and STILL was allowed to continue business?

HOW MUCH money had he contributed to the Bush campaigns?

And, just WHO is in charge of Worker Safety and Protection in the Mine Industries? Could it be yet ANOTHER business flunky who has NEVER had the MINERS' SAFETY as the focal point of his job.

Yes, I blame the Republicans, and anyone who voted for them. You wanted ' smaller government' - THIS IS ONE OF THE RESULTS.


PEOPLE DYING FROM UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS.

Why isn't the MSM connecting the dots? Following the fines, the money, the donations, the gutting of the government agencies - how many employees have been eliminated from the government agency that is supposed to oversee mining safety? And, what is the background of the top management? Why not study the past five years, and compare it to the last five years of the Clinton Administration? How about doing some frigging JOURNALISM?


Related Articles:

Mine Safety Czar Richard Stickler: Another Bush Fox Guarding the Henhouse

Governor calls for underground rescue at Utah mine to cease immediately