A fatal accident occurring in a Performance Coal Company mine site situated in West Virginia claimed the lives of 29 miners employed to work there. Excessive buildup of methane gas and coal dust caused an explosion in the mine that left no survivors. The event is undoubtedly horrific but the issue that raises skepticism is the degree to which it could have been avoided. Always in retrospect there are precautionary measures that we recognize and can’t help but dwell on. The true question is whether or not these precautions were mere responsibilities of the safety regulators on site. Many believe that they in fact were and if handled correctly the catastrophe could have been avoided altogether. As more research is being collected it is becoming obvious that many members on site knew of the danger but did not wish to shut down production. The question that arises is one of whether it is unethical to disregard safety hazards in order to maintain work processes. A case of this magnitude offers a simple answer, yes it is unethical and possibly a criminal offense. On a smaller scale some grey area is present making the “right” choice less clear. It could be said that safety advisors did not realize how greatly their choices would impact their colleagues. It is that principle of the unknown that solidifies the reality that any safety issue purposely overlooked is a blatant breach of ethical behavior.

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/apr2010/ca20100420_479716.htm