Got home already. Had a bad Roof Fall last night and now waiting for the Feds to let us back in. UNFORTUNATELY we had a 28 year old kid hurt bad. First he did nothing wrong. Just part of Pillaring. THAT is why I have always thought Pillaring should be Illegal. You are literally putting Money over Safety. Yet the Feds and Owners feel it is worth it. I do not. We got the kid out and he is being flown to Morgantown University Hospital. I think he will lose his left leg. Not much left below the knee and it took an hour to find the foot. Finally found it under the fall still in the Boot. WHAT do they expect when we have to work under an unsupported roof to Pillar. Going to church with the Crew this morning to pray and hope. I cannot wait for my final day. I do not want to do this anymore. Said the same thing after UBB disaster though. Just want my retirement and enjoy life and the Family. You all need to fully enjoy yours while you can.

Sounds like a good time to quit-no amount of money would change my mind.

Agree

Prayers for your fellow brother miner from walleyed !!

Be safe man. Life is to short to take unnecessary risks.

I hope you Retire

Prayers for your fellow miner. My great grandfather died in a pillar collapse at 75 years old.

Most everything we do in life has some inherent danger, whether it's for money, for fun, for fame.

Look for Mike Rowe's " Safety Third" video.

If you do not feel it is safe, quit today.
It really is THAT simple.

Each one of us has to take responsibility for our own actions,, weigh risk vs reward on our own scale.

Hope the young man has a full land speedy recovery.

As long as you like the money more than your safety, you'll keep going back. People force me to work using money all the time. Maybe there will come a time one day where you value time with your family more than that paycheck and that day you'll quit. Its that simple.

The money is not worth your life! Remember that.

Well if you can financially retire I'd be making last night my last day.
Can you still get most of your pension if you do leave now? It sounded from previous post you could afford to retire anytime.

I'd retire tomorrow if I could afford it and my jobs not nearly as dangerous.

I'd ask myself do I really need one more year of the money if not give them your notice hope the young man recovers and stay safe. GOTTA HELP GUIDE YOUR GRANDKIDS

GOD be with him.

Hope the young guys recovery goes as best as possible. No one forced anyone to do that job, it was a choice. I don't agree with anyone saying they are "forced" to do an unsafe job unless they had a gun to their head.

Amen

Just got back from the Hospital this evening. Was there most of Yesterday and all day today. Sat there with our crew their Wives and His Wife. He was in Surgery most of Yesterday. He lost his leg below the knee. Just below the knee. Today he was mostly drugged up and just coming in and out. We Will be back Tomorrow to help support his wife. His Mother is totally out of it and they gave her something to calm her down. My wife wants me to go in on Wednesday and talk to the Union about my Pension and future. I am 99 percent sure that I am totally vested in my Pension. If so they will get my notice. I am tired of this!! I do not have the stomach for it after 28 and a half years. I kept it up even after UBB and the loss of my crew. No More!! Like some of you said Family and Grandkids are more important. I am not a quitter but am done on my terms!!!

Consider this an unlucky young man that lost a leg because of "forced" unsafe working conditions is the management going to change those conditions? You indicated they are not, so who will be next? You or some other unlucky individual that might loose more than a leg. Weigh that when making up your mind

I dont know what a pillar is, but how often do they cave in?

Quiter no ,retiring on your terms perfect

A Pillar is a big Block of unmined space that helps support the Top. Think of a Big sheet of Graph Paper and Black out every other Block. Those would be the Pillars. The open spaces are what we mine. Now as we pull back when done mining a seam we start mining those Blacked out spots and leave nothing to support the top. We use big Hydraulic type of Rams to support the roof while we do it but as we pull those back as well usually everything stays up for a few minutes before you hear the loud "crack" seconds before the top comes crashing down, but not always. That is what happened here. He was helping to get the Jack pulled back when everything let loose and trapped his leg crushing it. This 28 year old man is proof that some of these kids out there will work. This kid worked like a dog, never missed work and put in MORE than his share of overtime. He was not married for that long and just saved enough to buy his first home. Actually a nice little Farm. I hope he comes out OK!!!