Retired coal miner Stanley “Goose” Stewart is raising concerns about safety in the mining industry. His worries come as the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and created under President Donald Trump, pushes for cuts that could compromise mine safety. The plan includes shutting down about three dozen offices of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the agency responsible for enforcing safety laws in mines.
Stewart, who lost 29 co-workers in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion 15 years ago, believes these cuts will allow coal companies to operate with less oversight. He describes the proposals as “idiotic” and fears they will give companies a free pass to prioritize profits over safety.
The MSHA was established in 1978 to ensure mines are safe, particularly because state inspectors were often too close to the industry to enforce strict safety measures. The agency is required to inspect every underground mine quarterly and surface mines twice a year, checking for hazards like faulty equipment and unsafe conditions.
Despite a significant drop in mining fatalities over the past 40 years, largely due to a decline in coal production, the proposed cuts could lead to less thorough inspections. Jack Spadaro, a former MSHA investigator, criticized the plan, saying it shows a lack of understanding of mine safety.
Robert Cash, a miner from West Virginia, expressed uncertainty about how the office closures would affect safety, highlighting concerns about response times in emergencies. He fears that if a disaster happens, the distance to the nearest inspector could delay critical responses.
Tom Clark, a Republican state lawmaker and former MSHA inspector, believes that as long as inspectors are reassigned to other coalfield locations, miners will remain safe. He supports the Trump administration’s aim to streamline government but acknowledges that funding should not be cut for health benefits related to black lung disease.
Stewart, however, is skeptical. He wouldn’t recommend anyone enter the mining industry now due to the ongoing changes. He questions the loyalty many West Virginians show toward Trump, feeling that he hasn’t done much for them.
The situation is complicated by the ongoing political battle over coal. While Trump campaigned on saving the industry, mining jobs have not rebounded significantly. West Virginia has become a stronghold for Republicans, but the fight for miners’ rights and safety continues.
Union leaders warn that without strong protections, workers’ safety will be left in the hands of employers, which they believe is a dangerous gamble. UMW President Cecil Roberts emphasized that history shows this approach leads to disasters in the mining industry.
As the fate of MSHA’s offices hangs in the balance, the future of miner safety remains uncertain, raising alarms among those who have witnessed the industry’s dangers firsthand.