Contemporary Art Form Paper

Running Head: Contemporary Art Form

Contemporary Art Form

Tina Platt

Hum/266

Instructor: Elise Ray

May 3, 2010

West Virginia Coal Mine Explosion

In this paper I will discuss a current issue with the coal mine industry at Massey Energy and the how the design of a gob well may have prevented this tragic accident from happening had they used the well.

Time stopped on April 5, 2010 for the families of 29 coal miners killed in the devasting explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine at Marsh Fork, West Virginia.

Seven bodies were pulled out from The Upper Big Branch mine immediately after the explosion, but dangerous gases forced rescue workers out. The blasts left the inside of the mine a mess of twisted tracks, boulders and debris.

Officials do not know what caused the blasts, though they believe high levels of methane gas may have played a role. Massey Energy who owns the mines has been cited and repeatedly fined for problems with the system that vents methane and for allowing combustible dust to build up.

Ventilation holes were drilled at the top of the mines to enter the level at the bottom so that the gases could escape. Methane that was coming out of the mines was so high the carbon monoxide was 280 times above safety levels.

The rule for Mine Safety and Health Administration’s existing standards for ventilation of underground mines, Section 75.320 establishes the standards for the devices relied upon to test for the presence of methane and other dangerous gases that can accumulate in a mine. It generally requires that these devices be approved and maintained in permissible and proper operating conditions. It requires maintenance of instruments required to detect and measure air quality to be done by a trained person (U.S. Dept of Labor, Vol.61).

The primary function of a mine ventilation system is twofold, to remove hazardous gases such as methane, and to provide mines with respirable environment where they are...