Mine foreman: I was ordered to fake safety data
by By VICKI SMITH
23 months ago | 1233 views | 1 1 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — A foreman accused of faking inspection reports at a West Virginia coal mine says his boss ordered him to ignore potentially dangerous methane levels and to avoid evacuations.

In an interview with state investigators, 40-year-old John Renner of Granville says the Patriot Coal Corp. supervisor put profit ahead of the potential danger. He said was warned to evacuate the underground mine only if a federal inspector happened to be watching.

Renner has been charged with falsifying safety inspection reports at Patriot’s Federal No. 2 mine near Fairview. He is cooperating with federal prosecutors.

Before he was charged, Renner told state investigators about his panic attacks and fear of being fired for disobeying orders.

Patriot has declined to comment.
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ooxxoo
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March 07, 2010
every person who decides to become a mine foreman has an obligation to working miners to stand up for their safety even if it means giving up their job! they have the duty to maintain safe working conditions. any time management cannot provide necessary materials and time to correct a safety problem the foreman has the duty to inform wv mine enforcement. any person who do not possess necessary psersonality traits for the job should not seek foreman certification.
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