Human Resources Development - Essay Example

Occupational Safety and Health Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill The New York Times of 3 January provided a comprehensive article that sought to update the public on the latest development concerning the devastating oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. This oil spill proved to be the worst in American history. The article highlighted the response of the responsible company to the civil and criminal cases that resulted after the oil spill. BP, the owner of the well that caused immense damage to the gulf has agreed to resolve the issue as the issue highlighted. Details provided on the fines that the company should pay for both the civil and criminal cases gives a glimpse into the depth of loss the company will incur in compensation. The oil spill proved to be a violation of the water act, migratory bird act and related acts on the conservation of natural resources (Graythen, 2013).
The reader also gets an overview of the five-month oil disaster and a detailed background on how the leakage resulted. Moreover, the author narrates how the explosion occurred and outlines the government response to the incident. As expected, the spill affected the American energy policy something that the author also gave attention. In addition, the article mentions the efforts that taken to bring the exploded well back into control and the setbacks hindering rescue by the team charged with that responsibility. The article also mentions the probable recovery after the disaster.
West Virginia Mine Disaster (2010)
This article relates the saddening truth about the mine disaster in 2010 that left 29 dead in West Virginia. The author describes the desperation evident in the families of the victims concerning the loss. In addition, the author emphasizes on the long hours taken by the rescue teams in their effort to uncover the debris in the collapsed mine and unearths the bodies. Moreover, the moving story mentions that the tragedy resulted because of the mines negligence to abide by the stringent safety rules in place to protect the welfare of workers in the risky mines. It becomes clear from the story that the rescue task was difficult because of the state of the collapsed mine (Urbina, 2010).
Commentary on the West Virginia Mine Disaster
The West Virginia mine disaster highlights the surging problem in many mines and that concerns safety of the workers. Occupational safety in the mining industry deserves a priority in any mine because risk assessment reports have shown that the workers are always at a great risk. This explains the stringency of the rules and regulation that govern mining. However, the West Virginia case just highlights the reluctance with which mining companies address the safety issues. The loss of 29 lives in an avoidable disaster proved to be a great blow to the American society. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration should have acted in time after regulators revealed that mine did not adhere to methane-related regulations. Investigations into the disaster will serve to unearth other irregularities at the mine.
The tragedy serves to awaken the related authorities to regulate and monitor mining activities more closely to prevent any future recurrence. The critical aspect of disaster prevention in mines is the greatest lesson that all the concerned parties and specifically the federal government can decipher from the ill fated mine. This should translate to action that will serve to prevent such disasters in the future. The federal government should strive to reinforce the occupational safety acts in place in its bid to provide safety to employees. The mine safety and health administration should also display more commitment to its purpose in ensuring safety at mines. Finally, the mines should prioritize the safety of their employees. Such incidences are avoidable if all the concerned parties appreciate the essence of disaster prevention.
References
Graythen, C. (2013 January 3). Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (2010). The New York Times. Retrieved from http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/o/oil_spills/gulf_of_mexico_2010/index.html
Urnina, I. (2010 April 9). No Survivors Found After West Virginia Mine Disaster. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/10/us/10westvirginia.html?_r=0 Read More