However, the lack of internal communication, particularly as to underground communication, is a leading cause of the Sago Mining crisis.
By lack of underground communication, it is meant both a lack of direct communication between the rescue teams and the trapped miners and a lack of scientific communication as to the actual conditions of the underground mines and the ability of the rescue teams to go into the mines for the rescue. If there would have been updated technologies implemented into the mines prior to the explosion, the disaster could have been avoided. Underground communication capabilities would have made it possible for the rescue teams to communicate with the trapped miners, allowing for a more efficient finding of their location and the ability to guide them to a safe area of the mine. Underground communication between the mine's condition and the rescue teams would have allowed for the rescue process to begin quicker and most likely be more successful.
The crux of the cause of the disaster is lack of underground communication. With the proper technology implemented, a disaster plan could have been efficiently and effectively executed. However, without any form of communication pertaining to the actual trapped miners and the conditions of the mine, there was essentially no disaster response plan in place. Thus, the cause of the Sago Mining crisis is a lack of technology that caused the lack of underground communication that caused the unnecessary deaths of twelve miners.
Conclusion
As can be seen from the provided case study analysis and timeline, the crux of the problem was a lack of communication. Particularly, this lack of communication stemmed from the mining company having out-of-date technologies implemented into its mine and emergency response system. Although the actual call of the rescue process, although slightly delayed, was implemented, it soon found itself with its hands tied and unable to do anything to help rescue the...
This is because the rescue process plan and the rescue teams that arrived on the scene were out-of-date and therefore unequipped to be able to properly handle the Sago Mining crisis. Had this same event occurred even a decade ago, than the story would be different. However, in today's technologically advanced age, there are tools designed specifically for both preventing and handling this type of situation. Had the mines and the rescue teams been equipped with this communication-based technology, the Sago Mining disaster would not have been a disaster.
Implications
What can be learned from the Sago Mining crisis is that in order to prevent this type of crisis and disaster from occurring again, steps need to be taken to implement new technologies into the mining industry and compliance assurance regulations need to be implemented by both the state and federal governments to ensure safety compliance. If the governments had had the power to halt operations at the Sago Mines when their evaluations showed several hundred violations, this crisis could have been avoided. Further, if part of the government evaluation process included mandatory implementation of communication technologies and an undated disaster response plan in order to maintain operations, the Sago Mining crisis could have been avoided.
Bibliography
ABC News. "Rescuers Break Ground in Miner Mission. 3 Jan. 2006.
BBC News and Current Affairs. "Fury Over U.S. Mine Rescue Fiasco." 4 January 2006.
Dao, James. "Blast Traps 13 in a Coal Mine in West Virginia." The New York Times. 3 Jan. 2006.
McLachlan, Justin. "West Virginia Mine Explosion, My Time There." New York Times. 3 Jan. 2006.
Mine Safety and Health Administration. "Emergency Mine Evacuation." Federal Resister. 9 March 2006, p.p. 12252-12271.
Yates, Jennifer. "Company Discouraged by Air Quality Where 13 Coal Miners Trapped." Associated Press. 3 Jan. 2006.
