Performance Coal Company

Upper Big Branch 爆炸并非地下煤矿开采中不可避免的事件。2010 年 4 月 5 日，甲烷点火演变为席卷矿山大部分区域的煤尘爆炸，造成 29 名矿工死亡，两人重伤。联邦和西弗吉尼亚州调查人员识别出熟悉、必要且可控制的防御失败：通风、甲烷检测、喷水、设备状况、可燃物清除、岩粉、检查、记录和执法。持久的问题是，每个拥有这些防御权力的组织现在能否不仅展示规定或检查，还能及时证明危险被找到、纠正并在生产继续前受到独立挑战。

The Upper Big Branch explosion was not an unavoidable feature of underground coal mining. On 5 April 2010, a methane ignition developed into a coal-dust explosion across a large part of the mine, killing 29 miners and seriously injuring two. Federal and West Virginia investigators identified failed defenses that were familiar, required and controllable: ventilation, methane detection, water sprays, equipment condition, removal of combustible accumulations, rock dust, examinations, records and enforcement. The lasting question is whether every organization with power over those defenses can now show not only a rule or inspection, but timely evidence that hazards are found, corrected and indep