The cameramen for Spike TV’s new reality show Coal, from Deadliest Catch‘s Thom Beers, are doing an undeniably good job documenting the lives of the miners who work Cobalt Coal in Big Sandy, W. Va. So good, in fact, that after viewing the first episode of the series, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and state Officer of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training cited Cobalt Coal for various violations that endangered miners. The Associated Press details the citations, which range from improper use of tools to individual miners failing to wear the correct reflective clothing or proper eye protection. Cobalt Coal co-owner Mike Crowder hasn’t been soured on reality TV by the experience: He told the AP at the very least, the Spike footage, far better in quality than most training videos, can be used as a teaching tool, and that the show succeeds in its goal, which is to tell the coal miners’ story. (He also said he’s seen both a surge in business and in employee applications.)
“Spike is proud of Coal,” a network spokesperson tells EW. “The intent of this series isn’t to be an exposé on the mining industry, but rather give viewers a never before seen look at the profession of coal mining, the extreme conditions these men (and in some cases women) face on a daily basis in order to get their jobs done, and take a personal look at the men who work at this particular mine. If the series can be looked at as a tool in mine safety and training, it would be an added benefit.”
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Deadliest Catch producer talks new show Coal
This was bound to happen because this independent mine was brave enough to give such an all-access pass to their operations…the show remains a great depiction of and testament to the fine men who work in these mines every day.
I have to tell you that your show gives this WV girl a little bit of relief from her homesickness. My Papaw worked 30 years at Kopperston
My daddy drove a coal truck until
he was 62. I knew how hard it was to be a miner but this show gives even me insight to the hazards and pure hard work our men do.
Gotta love how the worthless bureaucrats are doing their jobs with a TV set…
These problems occurred months ago. Where were the “inspectors” back then.
Sitting in the office being worthless, that’s where.
The Feds are there to protect US! It’s pretty sad that these men cannot wear safety glasses!!!
They don’t even bother to wear masks either. I worked in a shop swinging a sledge breaking ceramic off of molds and nobody wore the protection you were supposed to unless a boss busted your balls about it. I only started to wear a mask because I was getting breathing problems, people get stuck in their ways.
I love this show … I am a daughter of a coal-miner that worked 35 years in the mines!
awesome show. really awful that the safety board slapped this nonsense on these guys. Go cobalt im rooting for ya and screw you to those who ruin great shows like this by attacking those who provide us the access!
Great show, I worked 18 years underground, Pa. & W.VA. I was a roof bolter for most of those years. I’m watching the show with the old lady and something didn’t seem right. Were are your saftey glasses ????
How about pulling electrical cable with no electrical gloves. Working on everything with no lock and tag. Stuff like this gets you killed.Believe or not MSHA is there to protect the miner.
I just retired from the largest lignite producer in the state of Texas. boy MSHA would have locked the gates on us if we had as many violations as they had.
thanks , it is very useful for me
Haha wow!
great story.
i have yet to see any ventalation
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