A United Mine Workers of America’s report on the fatal explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine places responsibility on mine management and on leaders of the former Massey Energy Company.

The report pointed to several factors that led to the 2010 disaster, which took the lives of 29 miners.

Among them
1. Sparks caused by bits from the longwall shearer ignited a small amount of methane.
2. Massey made an illegal airflow change days before the explosion.
3. The forces from the explosion lifted and suspended excessive amounts of coal dust that had been allowed to accumulate throughout the mine.

UMWA International Secretary-Treasurer Mr Daniel J Kane called it unconscionable that a mine could be operated in that way.

He added “That it was allowed to be operated this way by the federal and state mine safety and health agencies is also unconscionable.”

(Sourced from safety.blr.com)