Kiss says Sago might lead to new safety legislation

Local News

January 3, 2006

Mannix Porterfield The Register-Herald Tue Jan 03, 2006, 11:51 PM EST

New safety legislation might arise in the aftermath of an Upshur County coal mine explosion that killed one worker and left 12 others trapped in a New Year’s weekend tragedy, House Speaker Bob Kiss speculated Tuesday.

Given the sketchy details known about the entrapment of miners at the Sago Mine, Kiss said it was too early to predict what, if any, kind of legislation might be proposed.

“Every time one of those happens, you’re going to have a detailed analysis to make a determination whether it was human error or just an act of God,” Kiss, D-Raleigh, told The Register-Herald editorial board.

“I’m sure one of the issues is going to be, what was done in terms of the availability of oxygen and whether or not they were in compliance with the regulations there.”

Kiss pointed to federal safety legislation that grew out of the Farmington No. 9 mine disaster that entombed 78 miners in November 1968.

“Sometimes, things just go wrong, and it’s not that somebody didn’t do what they’re supposed to do,” the veteran lawmaker said.

“I’m sure there will be a comprehensive analysis of what went wrong. The end result of that may be the determination there’s a need for other legislation. Right now, it’s too early to even speculate or even talk about that.”

Any legislation would hinge on what the analysis of the Sago explosion reveals, Kiss said, terming the accident there “a horrible tragedy.”

“The most important thing right now is everybody say their prayers that everybody comes out of it,” he said.

While mining is an inherently dangerous occupation, he said, it “probably is one of the most regulated businesses, too, from a safety standpoint.”

— E-mail:

mannix@register-herald.com

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