Virginia cracking down on smoking, substance abuse in mines

To fight smoking and the abuse of controlled substances and alcohol in Virginia's coal mines, the state has added tougher drug testing policies and required all mines to have substance-abuse policies.

In September, 32 cases related to substance-abuse charges and two cases involving smoking materials came before the Board of Coal Mining Examiners, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Twenty-two miners lost their mining certification when they failed to show for the hearing. On Sept. 20 a miner from Lee County was sentenced to two years in the Virginia State Penitentiary for possessing smoking materials in an underground mine.

"Substance abuse has reached near epidemic proportions in our society, and the introduction of such behavior into the mining workplace significantly raises the risk of accidents, injuries and fatalities," said DMME Division of Mines Chief Frank Linkous.

In addition to the aggressive prosecution, Virginia has passed changes to coal mine safety laws. As of July, a state mine safety inspector can order a miner to take a drug test if the inspector believes the miner is impaired or was impaired during an accident. Each mine must also have a written substance abuse policy and program, which at least must include a pre-employment 11-panel urine test. The DMME says that while it will work with miners who seek treatment, it will not hesitated to revoke the certification of those that endanger their coworkers.