public policy in coal-mine safety
SUMMARY
Coal mine safety first was undertaken by the state governments early in the twentieth century. However due to the dissatisfaction and ineffectiveness of state regulation, federal regulation was sought by miners and their supporters. Then Congress enacted the Coal Mine Safety Act of 1952. Then enforcement was entrusted to the Bureau of Mines in the Department of the Interior. They also had responsibility for promoting the economic well-being of the mining industry. Plus they also were being criticized because they are being too responsive to the mine owners interests.
After two decades nothing really effective was done to improve the situation even though technology was available to improve safety conditions. One of the reasons is because underground coal mining is concentrated in a few areas of the country and most people are both relatively unaffected by and unaware of the miners’ problems.
On November 20, 1968, an explosion occurred at the Consolidation Coal Company’s No 9 mine in Farmington, West Virginia. Seventy-nine miners were died. Plus, miners are also being affected by black-lung disease. This situation lead to the miners protest meetings, engaged in wildcat strikes, and conducted other activities, including a march on the West Virginia state capitol. In March 1969, the West Virginia legislature enacted legislation decides to compensate them.
The miners and their leaders kept press for national legislation and threat to do the coal strike if there is no action taken. President Nixon responded by sending the special message and draft bill, which is the bill is much stronger than before, which is proposed by President Johnson. In October 1969, the mine-safety bill was signed into law by President Nixon. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969 provided foe health standards for mines and the black-lung compensation program was established. The Bureau of Mines was given the role to enforce the health and safety standards.
However, the
Coal mine safety first was undertaken by the state governments early in the twentieth century. However due to the dissatisfaction and ineffectiveness of state regulation, federal regulation was sought by miners and their supporters. Then Congress enacted the Coal Mine Safety Act of 1952. Then enforcement was entrusted to the Bureau of Mines in the Department of the Interior. They also had responsibility for promoting the economic well-being of the mining industry. Plus they also were being criticized because they are being too responsive to the mine owners interests.
After two decades nothing really effective was done to improve the situation even though technology was available to improve safety conditions. One of the reasons is because underground coal mining is concentrated in a few areas of the country and most people are both relatively unaffected by and unaware of the miners’ problems.
On November 20, 1968, an explosion occurred at the Consolidation Coal Company’s No 9 mine in Farmington, West Virginia. Seventy-nine miners were died. Plus, miners are also being affected by black-lung disease. This situation lead to the miners protest meetings, engaged in wildcat strikes, and conducted other activities, including a march on the West Virginia state capitol. In March 1969, the West Virginia legislature enacted legislation decides to compensate them.
The miners and their leaders kept press for national legislation and threat to do the coal strike if there is no action taken. President Nixon responded by sending the special message and draft bill, which is the bill is much stronger than before, which is proposed by President Johnson. In October 1969, the mine-safety bill was signed into law by President Nixon. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969 provided foe health standards for mines and the black-lung compensation program was established. The Bureau of Mines was given the role to enforce the health and safety standards.
However, the
References: 1. Abdul Rauf Ambali , Rozalli Hashim. (2010). Policy Analysis. Malaysia: InED UiTM. 2. Andrson, J. A. (2011). Public Policymaking. United States of America: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. 3. Paul J. Larkin, J. (n.d.). John Kingdon’s “Three Streams” Theory and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 .