Mines No Safer Despite $1 Billion In Fines, Federal Audit Says
A Labor Department audit found no correlation between the federal system that fines mining companies for unsafe conditions and safety in mining operations.
An audit of the federal system that fines mining companies for unsafe conditions found no evidence that more than $1 billion in mine safety penalties over 18 years deterred unsafe mining practices.
The four-year long audit from the Office of Inspector General of the Labor Department says its analysis of Mine Safety and Health Administration accident and violations data "showed no correlation between penalties paid and the safety of mine operations."
The audit was prompted by a of thousands
