The Widows of Harlan County

Six Men Died In Harlan County, Ky., Mines In 2006

(CBS)  Chances are the electricity powering your appliances comes from coal. Coal, not oil, provides half the country’s electricity. And there’s a cost.

Miners die, and last year was the deadliest in American coal mines in more than a decade. As correspondent Bob Simon reports, 47 miners died, six of them from just one county in eastern Kentucky, Harlan County. That's twice the number that died there in 2005.

And their widows tell 60 Minutes all the accidents could have been prevented. The "widows of Harlan County" say their husbands deserved more protection in the coal mines, mines that widow Melissa Lee says her husband Jimmy loved.

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Melissa remembers her husband Jimmy loved the smell of coal. "He would inhale. And he said, 'Do you smell that?' It was almost intoxicating to him. It was like a high rush, the smell of coal."

For Jimmy Lee, mining wasn't just a job. "It was his second home. He would always say it was time for him to leave me to go to his second wife, which was the mines," his widow remembers.

Jimmy Lee loved his job, but he also knew that mining was just about the only job he could find to support his family. Harlan County is one of the poorest counties in the country. Life revolves around church and family and the mines. And if you’re a coal miner, your life, as the country song goes, is always on the line.

"And it’s there I read on a hillside gravestone, you’ll never leave Harlan alive," the lyrics of the song go.

Men, hundreds of them, have been dying in the mines here for generations. Fewer have died in recent years, but mining still has the highest fatality rate of any job in the state.

Kent Hendrickson is a lawyer who represents mine owners in Harlan County. He agreed to talk to 60 Minutes, but because of potential lawsuits, he declined to speak about specific accidents.

"Now when I was a kid and growing up here, it was so commonplace, it was almost accepted. You wouldn't know a miner died unless you read his obituary. And you know, and it was almost a natural death. There wasn't … a guy died of a heart attack or he died in the mines," Hendrickson explains.

Asked how he would explain to people who live far from Harlan County why so many people have been killed there in the last year," Hendrickson tells Simon, "As far as I know at this point, it’s a fluke."

He thinks it's just been a string of bad luck.

That explanation does not sit well with the widows of Harlan County, who held a memorial service for their husbands.

Nine men died in four separate accidents in 2005 and 2006. The widows told 60 Minutes their husbands would still be alive if the mines had been safe. The deadliest accident took place at the Kentucky Darby mine last May. State investigators concluded that methane, undetected, leaked through a wall that had been improperly constructed to seal off an abandoned part of the mine. The gas was accidentally ignited by a blowtorch. The explosion was horrific and killed Melissa Lee's husband Jimmy

"He lost the top of his head. He had an O2 tank impaled through his body. The force was so magnificent, it shot him backwards so fast, it pulled his pants over top of his mining boots. It tore his hard hat into 45 different pieces. He laid dead and stepped over top of, not even recognizing it as a human body," Melissa says.

"He left me with two babies to raise by myself," she adds.

Jimmy’s wedding ring was never recovered. "He wasn’t supposed to die yet," Melissa tells Simon.

[jshuck130]

You will never find any better people than the people of Harlan County, KY. As I sit here and read the negitivity of some of the comments made in some of these posts I am totally appauled!
Why would it matter if Mrs. Lee remarried? She had a wonderful husband and a wonderful marriage; most widowed women with those two things DO remarry quickly. I am glad she has found someone who loves and believes in her and can help her raise her children and her late husband would have wanted that also. Jimmy was a sweetheart, and he would not have wanted Melissa nor his children to be lonely for one second!
Melissa, I think what you are doing is wonderful! Jimmy would be so proud of you for speaking out on behalf of all the miners! Keep your head up and keep doing what you know is right!

[georgebirman]

the guy saying mines are safer is full of *** I know first hand that companies pay safety bonuses to get miners to not report accidents and safety violations that is why the stats lie the union prevented this from happening my father is still fighting to get compinsation for a back injury Kentucky has the worst workers Comp in the nation in KY black lung is not a work related illness this can be blamed on former governor Paul Patton a coal operator in Pike county he was a registered Republican until running for Lieutenant Governor in KY this is all part of the problem in KY mines it is less costly to pay a miners family for his death than lose pfofits from the high priced coal

[kenmitchellz]

sheilabug1 is a good example of the saying "Ignorance is bliss." She is the bully, not the people fighting for better working conditions and medical help. SHow us your Bush/Cheney bumper sticker.

[kenmitchellz]

I hope it does some good. Bush has as much concern for the miners with injuries and black lung didease as he does for the wounded troops in the military hospitals. He even wants them to go back into combat even though they aren't ready. I can imagine what he wants from the injured and cancer stricken miner.

[maryvivenzi]

Melissa if you are reading this the only way for sheilabug1 comment can affect you is to let it. There is no point in trying to change her beliefs or allow her a second more of thought Take pity on her. And move forward as the only power she could ever have over you is allowing her the satisfaction of believing her thoughtless words have been in part responsible fro steering you off your path. I am so proud of you Melissa! My 12 year old daughter wanted me to add a quote from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to show her support for Melissa
"Our live's begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter!"
~Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Mary Vivenzi
707-795-0783
United Support & Memorial
For Workplace Fatalities
web site ~ http://www.usmwf.org
Email ~ [e-mail]
Ignorance is more intelligent than undeveloped knowledge.


*Please Note*
Workers Memorial Day is April 28, 2007

[maryvivenzi]

To all who were upset by the soulless comments left by sheilabug1
sheilabug1 and her kind are the exact reason people have such a hard time comprehending just how difficult it is to get the word out. The fact that sheilabug1 mentioned that her husband was both disabled/injured and retired can only lead one to believe his disability/injuries led to his retirement. If this is in fact the case sheilabug1 has just demonstrated how the victims and even their family's are being on some level forced into believing that being hurt or killed on the job is something that is acceptable or just an unfortunate part of the job. Which couldn't be further from the truth. Its very disturbing to me to see the unjust attacks from those who allow themselves to be bought off or broken down by corporate greed on those who take a stand with the intent on making a difference. Melissa is a strong and remarkable person who is doing what is right. No employer has the right to put our loved ones in danger And people like Melissa are the ones who hold the power to make a difference to allow our loved ones the right to a safe workplace.
Mary~

[sbrown12345]

I think Melissa Lee has done a wonderful job and I can only hope that one day she'll be able to find love and be happy again. The mining industry in eastern KY is a joke and someone has to do something about it. Good for u, Melissa, claudia, Stella, and everyone else who is standing up and trying to get things done. I'm so proud of you and i know that your miners would have been too!

[sbrown12345]

I think Melissa Lee has done a wonderful job and I can only hope that one day she'll be able to find love and be happy again. The mining industry in eastern KY is a joke and someone has to do something about it. Good for u, Melissa, claudia, Stella, and everyone else who is standing up and trying to get things done. I'm so proud of you and i know that your miners would have been too!

[tomdietz3]

Posted by RandalDS at 02:15 AM : Mar 12, 2007

RandalDS, I neither work for MSHA or own or work in any mine. I work for a company that developed a wireless networking sytem that will aid in tracking miners in the event of an emergency and will provide more reliable and broader communications throughout the mine. As for political affiliation, I am a Libertarian and have no ties to the Bush administration. The MSHA website has coal mining statistics going back to 1900. You said you have eyes, perhaps you can use them to see what the real numbers are rather than having a kneejerk reaction to what you see in the media. The coal mining industry has become much safer in the past 15 years, let alone 30 or 50 years. I have not been in a coal mine in Harlan County, so I cannot speak to them. But I have been in mines in Illinois and West Virginia which are owned by some of the largest coal companies, and I can speak from first hand experience rather than hearsay to the efforts that are being made to make their mines safer. Harlan County may have issues, but it doesn't speak to the industry as a whole.

[zim573]

Ljburnell - There is a difference between taking a risk and employer negligence. You take risks when you choose to sky dive. It is called making a living when you get a job!
And for the record anger goes with grief, it is just part of the process. Melissa isn%u2019t just angry which she has every right to be She is fighting back something people who fear laying in bed is a death sentence no nothing about. Instead of just complaining Melissa is up fighting for you and everyone else%u2019s right to a safe healthful workplace. Something her husband and her children%u2019s father was not granted.


sheilabug1-Well if Jimmy Lee wasn%u2019t a regular coal miner then what the hell was he doing there? Sounds to me as if you have nothing better do but gossip about things you have no clue about.
Grow a heart you still have your husband disabled or not. Melissa has two children to raise without a father which rather she chose to remarry or not is none of your business she has every right and I happen to know that is a load of horse stuff she is still single. It is sad to see a woman has no motherly instinct that%u2019s what is wrong with this world today.
The tongue is sharper than a two edge sword and if it were for myself I would ignore your childish comment however it is not and someone needs to stand up to bullies like you.

[ds_ky_88]

Harlan county people are a peculiar people. We're different. Yes, coal miners sometimes "squat" instead of using portable toilets. But, somehow that paints a picture of overcrowded kennels and animal abuse round-ups on "The Animal Planet."

Coal Miners are accomodating people, welcoming nearly anyone into their homes. We help each other and we help those away from here. We do missions in Africa, Mexico as well as send help and encouragement to our soldiers overseas. We've developed the largest ATV Park in the Eastern U.S.

Harlan county coal miners like their field of work just as much as New York City rescue workers like theirs. We know and accept the risks of coal mining, just like a rescue worker knows the dangers of needle-sticks and terroristic threatening. Controversy fuels the media. If you want to know the life of a coal miner, visit Harlan County, Kentucky. We'll let you get to know us. You will like us, you just can't help it. Our friendly, outgoing people sometimes fall prey to people like Tony Oppegard who act like we need to be "protected." We'll survive without his help, Thank You!

I have more than 20 years experience in and around the coal business. I've had family killed in it, we've lost employees in it. ALL lives are precious. But, get to know us in OUR environment. Don't judge the coal miner NOR the coal companies based on what the media presents.

[ky_to_mi]

To Melissa, I used to babysit for you. (remember Jason and Kristy) I say kudos to you for speaking out about mine safety.....someone NEEDS to! I was devastated to here what happened to Jimmy and the others. My prayers are with you and the kids.

Both of us come from families (going back several generations) who have made a living by working in the coal mines. It is the ONLY way in Harlan county to make a decent living, and we all know just how dangerous it is and all the cover ups that go on.....it's just not talked about.

The government needs to step up and make mine safety a priority!!! People's lives depend on it!!!

[georgebirman]

I worked in the mines for a brief period and Mmy father is a retired miner with over 38 years under ground and this is a steady progress of what has been happening for years it started with Richard Trumpka selling out the UMWA and companies like Arch Minerals busting the unions that help keep miners safe by having a safety comittee that will help keep the mines safe US Steel had much safer mines than Arch. Arch broke the union in 98 and the fatalities have been on the increase in harlan county ever sence the Widows should really blame the companies who mine unsafe they all cut corners to increase profits and the government continues to allow this to happen my father worked union 29 years and 9 years non union and seen the difference in safety first hand. all miners in harlan county should fight for the UMWA it helps keep all miners safe by forcing all the companies to mine safely because they don't want the union in it makes them provide better benefits to the miners and safer working conditions

[minerswidow]

Sheilabug1-----I am Melissa Lee and I left you a phone message on your answering machine asking you about your comment you left on this comment space. Where did you hear I had remarried? I am very much still a widow and if anyone would like real information about my personal life please feel free to ask. I am not quite sure where you received your information that you shared about me remarrying so soon after my husband died. I am still legally his widow because NO, I have not remarried. I speak out for safety matters due to my family having so many miners in it. I don't feel what my 14,12, 4 and 2 year old have and are going through should EVER happen to another child again. Please, feel free to point all the fingers you like at me. YOU are not the first and will not be the last. I pray that if any miner goes under ground to support his family and make "good money" he also comes home the next morning. My heart will always miss my bestfriend. He was a wonderful man and he is with his Wonderful God. Prayers for you and yours. Melissa

[grumpas]

Talk about sour grapes sheilabug1! What did you expect her to do become a nun????? Life goes on regardless of what you think. My husband worked in the constrution field for 45 years until he retired. I know first hand what greedy company's ask their employee's to do! How they cut corner's for higher profits, safety of their employee's comes after production and etc. My husband buried many a toxic barrel of waste that he was told to bury! No doubt so someone can find their ground water contaminated years later. He has said many a time if he had to do it over he would have refused.

[zootallures2]

Well, with the greatest minds of the world devoted to making war machinery, our potential for making things of a positive nature are greatly hindered. And no one in the UN, US and A, or any other nation are screaming for peace. All this safety and medical advancemnt makes little sense when you turn around and kill millions of people some where else. We can do alot better at safety on a global scale if most people and our leaders weren't such morons.

[acauble1]

Our energy, our ability to continue on with our daily lives comes from...

...PEOPLE!

Whether we chose oil, coal, natural gas, or nuclear power, many hard working people have died to bring us those resources.

This post is just a reminder, the next time we start our car or turn on a light, to help us not take the energy we use completely for granted.

[acauble1]

We all want less government interference in our lives, and especially in the business we try to run. Unfortunately, government control/regulation is a neccessary evil. It is only neccessary when kept in check however.

Greed is part of a human condition that requires some level of regulation in our (U.S.) capitalist society. Sadly, it is the greed that makes unrestricted free-market enterprise incompatible with the advancement of humanity, and more specifically, America as a whole.

Why have I mentioned these two different facts about American society? Simply because the greed of continuously higher profits, left unchecked by some form of regulation, will cotinuously guarantee more injuries, more suffering, and more deaths from the hard working Americans that make our country what it is today.

[randalds]

Posted by tomdietz3 at 09:33 PM : Mar 11, 2007

So what part of the MSHA do you work for? Or what mine do you own? Or perhaps you work for Karl Rove? No one and I do mean no one (except for mine owners) believes the mines are safer now. You sir are a bald faced liar if you say otherwise! We have eyes sir! We can see the deaths climbing! We have ears sir! We can hear the cries of the windows and children! And then you have the gall to say much has been done?!? You're either an idiot or paid by the mine owners or the Bush administration because you can not seriously expect anyone who can read to accept your absurd bullsh*it!

[randalds]

Bush turned the Mine Safety and Health Administration over to a former mine owner. He brought in former mine lobbyists to run it with him. More miners are dying. What the fu*ck part of 1+1=2 do people not understand? He did the same with the EPA and they gutted the clean air and clean water acts. They're slicing our old forests down as we speak and building logging roads in our national parks. If it turns a profit for Bush's friends they'll do it and fu*ck the people who die at the same time. They don't care if the money they make is blood money, as long as they make it. The Bush administration has been a disaster for working people of all jobs, of the environment and of our troops. Their only god is money and profit and that's all. Until enough people realize this and rise up to stop him the trees will fall, the troops will die and our working men and women will die too. In the mines, in the factories and on the farms. They do not CARE!