Pubdate: Fri, 03 Dec 2004 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2004 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240 Note: from the Associated Press COAL MINERS AND OPERATORS TO DISCUSS DRUG ABUSE ON JOB Msha, Mining Agencies Schedule Meetings HAZARD - Coal miners and mine operators will meet next week to discuss drug and alcohol abuse on the job. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration in conjunction with state mining agencies in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia scheduled the daylong meeting for Wednesday at the Hazard Community and Technical College. Public health experts as well as representatives of industry, labor and state governments also are encouraged to attend the meeting, which begins at 8 a.m. David Dye, acting MSHA director, said toxicology reports done after recent accidents found drugs and alcohol in some of the victims. "Use or abuse of alcohol or drugs in the mining environment can significantly impair a miner's ability to focus on the task at hand and avoid the kinds of hazards that can maim or kill workers," Dye said. "Drug or alcohol abuse in mining by any one person puts the safety of all workers at risk. One impaired person can bring tragedy to many other innocent workers." Dye said one of the goals of the meeting is to identify priorities and actions needed to address drug and alcohol use among miners. The meeting will include panel discussions involving coal miners, coal operators and government regulators. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D