# Blankenship, quit your fucking lies! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479 "2010-04-09T01:13:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/1 "2010-04-09T01:13:36Z")
“We’re the leaders in safety innovation and continue to be more creative in the area of safety than any other company, in our opinion.” You lie. Even in your opinion, you cannot believe that. The safety record in Massey mines is far worse than the industry average. The number of citations by the MSHA in Massey mines is far worse than the industry average. The amount of fines, desist orders, and serious violations levied against Massey mines is far worse than the industry average. When discussing the safety and environmental records of coal companies, there is only one context in which Massey’s name comes up: They’re the worst. They’re the worst in accidents, in lost-time injuries, in safety violations, in environmental violations. Massey is an example to all coal mining companies. An example of what not to do. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/2 "2010-04-09T01:28:46Z")
_“We’re the leaders in safety innovation and continue to be more creative in the area of safety than any other company, in our opinion.”_ Perhaps they are the leaders in discovering creative ways to avoid strict compliance with safety regulations, in their opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/3 "2010-04-09T02:00:45Z")
I’m the most amazing, handsome and all around most wonderful guy in the world _in my opinion_. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/4 "2010-04-09T02:01:06Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > _“We’re the leaders in safety innovation and continue to be more creative in the area of safety than any other company, in our opinion.”_ > > Perhaps they are the leaders in discovering creative ways to avoid strict compliance with safety regulations, in their opinion. Possibly, probably, so. But as their safety results are so dismal, measured by lost-time injuries and fatalities (even before the current disaster) how can they honestly believe that they lead in safety innovation? The innovations are failures, they are not safe, they know that, they lie. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/5 "2010-04-09T02:04:53Z")
They’re only lying _in your opinion._ See! If you just don’t let pesky facts get in your way, an opinion can go any way you want! ETA: This way,they can get equal time for their opinion,the same way the nut-cases can get equal time for other nonsensical points of view. The goal? Confuse the public, and make sure that they are not censured. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/6 "2010-04-09T02:09:26Z")
Right. At this point, they’re gearing up for (more) massive fines and lawsuits, and stonewalling, contradiction and denial is SOP. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/7 "2010-04-09T02:13:06Z")
Right you are, Kim! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/8 "2010-04-09T03:25:23Z")
Yup. **Kimstu** nailed it. The company wants to be very careful to not say anything that may bite them in the ass later. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/9 "2010-04-09T03:38:02Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > “We’re the leaders in safety innovation and continue to be more creative in the area of safety than any other company, in our opinion.” In any other industry, those that claim to be “creative in the area of safety” would receive a collective :eek: from the workers, the press and America in general. It’s sad that in mining, it really would be an step up to be “creative in the area of safety”: although I don’t really believe that what they say is true. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/10 "2010-04-09T04:22:28Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > “We’re the leaders in safety innovation and continue to be more creative in the area of safety than any other company, in our opinion.” > > You lie. Even in your opinion, you cannot believe that. > > The safety record in Massey mines is far worse than the industry average. The number of citations by the MSHA in Massey mines is far worse than the industry average. The amount of fines, desist orders, and serious violations levied against Massey mines is far worse than the industry average. > > When discussing the safety and environmental records of coal companies, there is only one context in which Massey’s name comes up: They’re the worst. > > They’re the worst in accidents, in lost-time injuries, in safety violations, in environmental violations. > > Massey is an example to all coal mining companies. An example of what not to do. I’m afraid that the fad for reality-based statements has passed. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/11 "2010-04-09T05:05:13Z")
Would it surprise anyone to learn how proud he is of being non-union? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/12 "2010-04-09T06:39:46Z")
Oh, but they are the leaders in safety innovation – in much the same way as a canary in one of their mines. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/13 "2010-04-09T12:58:33Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Would it surprise anyone to learn how proud he is of being non-union? Why wouldn’t he be proud of it? [He worked so hard for it:](http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/mine-owner-don-blankenship-cast-cavalier-worker-safety/story?id=10314692&page=2) > [@](#): > > When Blankenship first took control of the mine, he spent more than a year trying to woo the miners to abandon their allegiance to the labor union that had represented them. > > “Don made it his own personal campaign. He began flying in every week in his helicopter. He gave pep talks. He took a whole bunch of them on trips to Dollywood, where they went to concerts. He went with them and bonded with them. New cars started turning up in their driveways,” [_Coal River_ author Michael] Shnayerson said. > > But as soon as the union was gone, Shnayerson said Blankenship shifted gears. Work hours increased from eight hours to 12 hours. Bonuses were cut. If they got injured, their jobs were at risk. > > And according to federal mining data, citations and safety violations started to rise. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/14 "2010-04-09T13:10:11Z")
They’re _very_ creative. At widow creation. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/15 "2010-04-09T17:32:08Z")
He apparently thinks they’ve been doing a heckuva job. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/16 "2010-04-09T19:02:08Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > They’re _very_ creative. > > At widow creation. Not too bad at orphanogenesis technologies, either. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/17 "2010-04-10T07:02:45Z")
The [four missing miners](http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE63909F20100410?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FUKWorldNews+%28News+%2F+UK+%2F+World+News%29&pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true) have been found. Their bodies were missed in the original search because of smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/18 "2010-04-10T09:50:56Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > It’s sad that in mining, it really would be an step up to be “creative in the area of safety”: … But there is really nothing creative necessary for mining safety; there are proven and well-known standards to follow. The single most important safety factor is a corporate culture that acknowledges safety is first. Don’t take short-cuts, don’t rush, pay attention to detail, etc. It’s pretty obvious from the industry statistics which mining companies have that culture and which don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/19 "2010-04-10T13:17:01Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > But there is really nothing creative necessary for mining safety; there are proven and well-known standards to follow. The single most important safety factor is a corporate culture that acknowledges safety is first. Don’t take short-cuts, don’t rush, pay attention to detail, etc. It’s pretty obvious from the industry statistics which mining companies have that culture and which don’t. Not quite the same thing, but for my company it is safer working in the mine or the mill than it is to work at home office - home office has more lost time accidents than either the mine or the mill. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479/20 "2010-04-10T15:31:55Z")
> [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](#): > > Not quite the same thing, but for my company it is safer working in the mine or the mill than it is to work at home office - home office has more lost time accidents than either the mine or the mill. A lot of office worker die in accidents then? Pretty dangerous. Black lung pales in comparison to paper cuts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blankenship-quit-your-fucking-lies/535479.md?page=2)