Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Safety Worries Hounded Miners: Source

Floors in area around collapse site sparked concerns

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 11, 2007 11:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – The area of the Utah mine where six men are stranded was a source of worries about safety before Monday's collapse, but miners didn’t speak up for fear of losing their jobs, a source tells CNN. “I’ve never heard of that,” the mining company president said. “It's probably a rumor, and I'm not going to respond to rumors.”

The anonymous source said floors in the mine had been buckling under pressure for weeks, and supervisors knew about the problem. The miners concerned about the situation included one of the trapped men, Miguel Sanchez. Said one ex-employee of the mining company, "There are many, many people that feel this way and are afraid to speak up."

In this photo released by UtahAmerican Energy, Inc, on Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, a worker cuts a road, rear, for a drill rig and construct a 2-1/2 inch drill rig, foreground, Tuesday, Aug. 7, as part of the rescue efforts for six men trapped in the underground Crandall Canyon Mine...
In this photo released by UtahAmerican Energy, Inc, on Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, a worker cuts a road, rear, for a drill rig and construct a 2-1/2 inch drill rig, foreground, Tuesday, Aug. 7, as part of...   (Associated Press)
Amy Hill signs a card for Carlos Payan before the start of a candlelight vigil for the six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 in Huntington, Utah.  The frenetic effort to drill into the presumed location of six workers trapped in a collapsed mine...
Amy Hill signs a card for Carlos Payan before the start of a candlelight vigil for the six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 in Huntington, Utah. The frenetic effort...   (Associated Press)
Carol Densley holds her granddaughter Alexis Wood, 2, during a candle light vigil for the six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 in Huntington, Utah.  The frenetic effort to drill into the presumed location of six workers trapped in a collapsed mine yielded no...
Carol Densley holds her granddaughter Alexis Wood, 2, during a candle light vigil for the six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 in Huntington, Utah. The frenetic effort...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

6th Hole Shows No Signs of Life

9 Injured in 2nd Mine Collapse

Mine Collapse Survivor Didn't Hear the Cave-In

Officials to Drill Third Hole at Utah Mine

Second Drill Penetrates Utah Mine


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne