FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 29, 2019
UMWA demands OSHA involvement in the investigation of member’s passing
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:
“The hearts and prayers of the entire UMWA family are with the family of Zack Kromer, a 26-year old member of UMWA Local Union 2291, who was killed on the job on Friday, March 22, 2019 at Advanced Disposal, in McClellandtown, PA.
“As of today, our safety experts have been denied access by the company to begin our investigation to determine the cause of this tragedy.
“The response to this incident by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also been severely disappointing. To date, OSHA has only agreed to hold, what they call, a “fact finding mission” and refuse to conduct an investigation on what happened the night of the accident.
“The UMWA is demanding Advanced Disposal permit the union access to the property in order to conduct our own investigation into the cause of the accident.
“We are also calling on OSHA to do its job and conduct a thorough investigation on this preventable tragedy. We will not rest until the cause is understood so that it never happens again.
“It is shocking to see an agency that is charged by law with ensuring workers’ safety be so indifferent about protecting the lives of the American workforce.
“The family of Brother Kromer deserves better, and we will continue to raise this issue at every level of government until OSHA steps up and does what it is supposed to do.”
UMWA International Secretary-Treasurer Levi Allen also released the following statement concerning the events that have taken place in the last week.
“I would just echo that, it is shameful that we have to turn to the court of public opinion to demand justice when a government agency, whose very existence has come about through the blood of working men and women, dishonors the working life of a 26 year old man and leaves a family to question why he is not worthy of a full investigation as to the cause of his tragic and untimely death.”
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