The additional team was formed to augment the efforts of the main accident investigation team as it works to determine the cause of the incident that killed 29 miners at the Massey Energy operation in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
This investigation group will be led by MHSA veteran of 27 years, Robert Phillips, who, until his recent retirement, had managed the agency’s Coal Mine Safety and Health district office in Vincennes, Indiana.
Officials said that Labor Secretary Hilda Solis called for the additional group to provide a safe and confidential venue for miners, victims’ families and the public to speak freely with federal staff without fear of retaliation and with the ability to remain anonymous.
"We need to use every available tool to establish the cause of this tragedy that took 29 coal miners' lives," MSHA assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health Joseph Main said.
"The work of this special team will be part of MSHA's investigative process, and it will give family members and others the opportunity to share information they might otherwise not feel comfortable passing along."
Part of the new group’s responsibilities will be monitoring of, and responding to, a tip line that anyone can use to convey information relevant to the UBB accident investigation. The phone number is 877-827-3966.
MSHA also has formed an internal review team to look at the agency’s actions prior to the April 5 blast in southern West Virginia, and this team will be making recommendations for improvement where needed.
The internal review team is being led by Coal Mine Safety and Health district office manager Jack Kuzar from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
