Communicating underground proves difficult for mining outfits

An official says it took a disaster to understand the need for better communications.
By ROBERT J. SMITH
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
An official with the state agency charged with protecting coal miners said that it took the 2006 deadly Sago mine accident to call attention to the need for better communications devices underground.
Juliette Hill, a mining engineer for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, said her agency is now searching for wireless radios that will work underground.
"The organization didn't think to improve our communication devices until Sago happened. Since MSHA, mining companies, and communication manufactures have been working together to improve communications," Hill said in an interview at her Wheeling office.
"After the accident, we started a committee to improve communications. Over 300 companies contacted us with interest in selling us their technology," Hill said.
She said it's sad that something like Sago had to happen to awaken people to needs and problems.
But more than a year later, Hill said the search for communications devices continues and miners throughout West Virginia continue working underground with little or no ability to communicate.
Long-sought change
Improvements to the communications systems in mines are long overdue, according to a report released earlier this week by the United Mine Workers of America.
In its 124-page report, the UMWA says that better communications devices might have saved the lives of the 12 miners who died after being trapped underground for about 40 hours.
The UMWA's findings were echoed by residents who live near the Sago mine who said they have long known that the communication system for miners needed to be improved.
Thomas Benson of Tallmansville said MSHA and mine companies should have realized the need for better communications long before the January 2 disaster.
Benson said while standing in front of a small grocery store, "it's pathetic that it would take an accident like this for them to do anything about it."
Limited options
Hill said there are not many communications devices that will work well so far underground. She said many communication companies didn't want to invest in manufacturing these devices because the market is too small.
"The only people who would buy radios that worked underground, are mining companies. There would be more money in making cell phones," she said.
Hill said that much of the focus of the mining industry has been on making more effective machines for digging for coal and making equipment that miners use smaller and more comfortable.
Benson said he cannot buy the excuse.
"That isn't a real reason as to why communications were not looked into before; employees are the most important part of mining. It's common sense that communications would take care of the employees."
But Terry Hamner, another man with deep mining roots, said he does not blame officials for not having better communications devices in mines at the time of the disaster.
Hamner of Tallmansville said his cousin, George "Junior" Hamner died in the mine and that many members of his family, including his father and grandfather, were miners.
Different viewpoint
"Everything is perfect until things go wrong. I don't think they could have known how much they needed communications until something like this happened. When my grandfather was in the mines, they didn't have any radios," Hamner said.
Hill said that it is possible that communication manufactures may not have put their efforts toward developing underground communications because MSHA was not mandating it.
"Mining companies have to use equipment that we approve of. If a manufacturer wants to change their product in any way, they have to go through the process of us testing it all over again. Some companies don't want to spend that time and money," she said.
Hill said that Motorola was looking into developing a wireless radio for miners. "We tested it in a mine, and there was something wrong with the battery," Hill said.
After MSHA told Motorola that its radio was not approved, the company simply quit the project, Hill said.
Hill also said the complexity of underground communications means more time and money for companies. "Short-wave radios can travel through coal and rock, but require the assistance of a huge antenna. Long-wave radios don't need an antenna, but can't travel through rock and coal. There is always a drawback to communicating underground," she said.
Disbelief
But Benson refuses to believe that the technology is an obstacle. "I know they have the ability to communicate underground, without any drawbacks," he said. "We use cells phones that can talk to anyone in the world. We can talk to people underground."
"They don't always work the way the companies say they will," Hill said.
"It's a year later and we are still searching. It's mostly because companies that pitch us their products, are companies that have no experience with mines."
Hill said that the search will continue and that even if an acceptable device is found, there is still no guarantee that mining companies will use it.
Mining companies, Hill said, can opt to use different devices that may not work as well but that cost less.
Benson said that he believes coal companies have cut corners to save money. "A lot of it is to save a buck. Those companies don't care about people, just a profit," Benson said.
By 2009, Hill said, all mining companies will be required by the Federal Mining Safety Act to have some type of wireless radio system.
Hamner, whose house is just feet away from the driveway to the Sago mine, said he has a solution that could have been implemented a long time ago.
"Simply put phone lines underground," he said.