Why do miners distrust Federal Mine inspectors?

As a safety committeeman I informed an inspector of coal spillage on the track under a conveyor belt. The inspector went underground and wrote a citation for the coal spillage. Guess what? I am called into the office and informed the Fed inspector said he had to write the citation because I had pointed the violation out to him. He said that he would not have wrote the citation if it had not been pointed out. The dastardly coal company did not appricate my interference with a Fed inspection. Thank you Fed inspector.

When I ask a State inspector why he would't do his job. He plainly informed me that he who has the gold makes the rule. As it was explained to me, it is the Golden Rule when mining coal in WV.

I wish this world wasn't obsessed over money. This (in my opinion) is what caused the deaths, is that the right equipment and/or training of the miners in this type of situation.

It's like in the song "If I die Young" by The Band Perry says in their song "funny when you're dead how people start listening."

I have worked in the mining industry for over 20yrs. I have been in Australia for almost 5 years. I have held the positions of Section foreman to Mine Production Manager. Since returning to the US I had a hard time with the issues of how we do things in this country in relation to Miners Training MSHA & State Agencys. The only thing we do is compile laws after every fatility instead of looking outside the box. The AUstralians battled this for years and finally made the moves to make thier mining industry the safest in the world. They have only had 1 Underground Mining Fatility in 8yrs. The operate more Longwalls than we do and the State of Queensland produces more coal than WVa yearly. I have tried talking to MSHA and State Agencys but they dont want to listen, Why? I posed some questions last summer to a MSHA Supervisor whom works out of the Logan Regional Office and he could not manage an intellegent reply to the questions that I posed about Miners Training, MSAH Inspections, Rescue Shelters, Emergency Escape Ways. His only reply was "The reason why laws arent complied with is due to the fact that all miners from the time that they are born they are trained to hate inspectors". That my friends is our tax payers dollars at work. This was a statement from a MSHA Supervisor. I am the grandson and son of a coal miner and never once overheard my grandfather or father talk bad about inspectors. Everyone needs to ask the question (Why can't we have a safe mining industry like other countrys) It's time for MSHA and State Agencys to have a look at other alternatives. At this time they are only traffic cops and not leaders of training and inovative safety reforms that actually work. He in the US Inspectors visit mine site about every day. In Australia they might visit the mine a couple of times a year to see that things are going well. I know how they have achieved this level of Safety and Mine management but when I challenge MSHA and State Agencys they tell me that their system wont work here. I then reply that our system isn't working either. No response but to shut my mouth about things I have no understanding of. Well I am cinfident that I do have some answers but I am certain that things will get worse and out of control and the industry will die because of it. This last tragedy will supply the fuel needed for the Radical Left Wing Greenies to push MSHA & State Agencys to over regulate the industry into doom and gloom. I urge everyone to ask their local Congress and House Memebers to reply to the question of why we havent looked at alternatives that have a proven track record in the same industry in another country that would freely support the US in any endeavour we take on to change our industry for the good of all miners and mining communities. God blees the boys whom have lived the life of a miner and have gave all to making a better future for thier families and the life long longevity of the citizens of America.