Paper's Inquiry Finds Serious Flaws in Mine Safety

Melissa Block over at NPR talks with Ken Ward Jr., staff writer at The Charleston Gazette, about his investigation into mine safety.

Ward found that 90 percent of mine deaths could have been avoided if safety regulations had been followed. He says mine managers are ignoring some safety measures, and federal regulators are only charging small fines for breaking the rules.

The 2006 death toll for workers in mines is already the highest since 1995.

Listen to the piece from All Things Considered:

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