Edwards Releases Plan to Protect Miners and Improve Mine Safety

Press Release

Initiatives will prioritize miners' safety above corporate interests by preventing accidents and strengthening enforcement

In advance of today's Senate hearing on mine safety, Senator John Edwards released his plan to improve mine safety and protect American miners. Edwards also promised he would hire leaders at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to transform the agency from apologist for mine owners to its intended role as aggressive protector of mine safety.

"Washington isn't working for working Americans," said Edwards. "Rather than take the strong actions needed to protect America's miners, it has relied on voluntary measures and inadequate half steps. And the agencies charged with protecting them have been staffed with industry lobbyists and insiders. When it comes to worker safety, we cannot compromise with the mine owners and Washington insiders who represent their interests."

Mining is one of the most dangerous occupations in America. In the last 20 months, 71 coal miners and 48 metal non-metal miners have been killed on the job. Edwards believes we have to break the cycle of just reacting to disasters like the ones that occurred at the Sago, Darby, Aracoma and Huntington mines.

On Labor Day, the United Steelworkers (USW) and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) endorsed Senator John Edwards for president. Representing 1.2 million workers and retirees, the USW is the nation's largest private sector industrial union. The UMWA represents 105,000 active and retired coal miners, municipal employees, health care workers and manufacturing workers in North America. Their membership includes more coal miners than any union in the world.

As part of his plan to make miners safer, Edwards will:

Prevent Accidents: Edwards supports legislation that would help prevent accidents by requiring stronger mine seals, imposing stricter standards for conveyor belts to reduce the risk of sparks and mandating methane monitoring to prevent fires, explosions and toxic inhalation.

Improve Emergency Systems: Edwards believes mine operators should be required to install state of the art emergency systems immediately. He will also strengthen the MSHA's ability to act in the event of an emergency, and make sure they use their authority to protect lives and support miners' families.

Eradicate Black Lung Disease: Edwards supports new limits on coal dust and stricter monitoring requirements that would eliminate black lung disease in American mines once and for all.

Strengthen Enforcement: Edwards will strengthen the MSHA by helping to retain experienced inspectors and train new ones, by appointing leaders who restore the agency's original purpose and by increasing penalties for the worst safety violations to deter mine owners from cutting corners.

Help Injured Workers: Edwards will stand up for injured workers by undertaking a comprehensive national study of the workers compensation system and will use the bully pulpit of the White House to urge states to create a fair and rational system that provides clear timelines and options for injured workers.

Give More Miners a Collective Voice for Safety: Edwards supports strengthening federal labor laws to make it easier for workers to join a union and collectively bargain for better working conditions.

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