September 07, 2008

Probe points to negligence for Zasyadko coal mine blast

AP reported that negligence by coal mine managers eager to ratchet up output led to a methane blast that killed 101 workers in Ukraine's biggest coal mine Zasyadko in the eastern city of Donetsk on November 18th 2007. In addition to the colossal toll of the blast and its immediate aftermath, five cleanup workers were killed and dozens were injured in two explosions at the mine over the following two weeks.

Mr Oleksandr Turchinov first deputy prime minister of Ukraine who heads the government commission investigating the tragedy said the push by mine managers for greater output led them to ignore safety rules.

He said “The main problem was that the mine's work load was colossal. The volumes of production were such that it was very difficult to observe all the safety norms. As result we had this horrifying death toll.”

Mr Turchinov said the methane blast occurred at a depth of some 1,300 meters and was probably caused by a spark from faulty electronic equipment. He said that while the mine was supplied with the necessary ventilation and other equipment, it was pushed to the limit of its capacity at the expense of safety precautions.

Mr Turchinov said the example of Zasyadko showed that there are no production tasks that can cost the lives of hundreds of people. And in this hunt for profit, very often those who run the mines forget that this profit turns into blood.