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Interview with Jack Gerard

Aired July 26, 2002 - 14:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As we've seen in Pennsylvania, mining disasters still do occur, but not as often as they did in the past. According to the government, back in 1930, mining axes injured -- mining accidents, rather, injured more than 70,000 workers and caused more than 1,600 deaths. The figures for last year are fewer than 7,000 injuries plus 41 deaths.
Joining us now to talk more about this, Jack Gerard, president of the National Mining Association. He has represents the industry for a number of years. Nice to see you, Mr. Gerard.

JACK GERARD, NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION: Nice to see you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, we talked about those numbers and how things have gotten better, but still, this is an extremely dangerous job.

GERARD: Yes. The circumstance that recently occurred in Pennsylvania, obviously, is very unfortunate. Our hearts and prayers go out to those miners and their particular families, but as you pointed out earlier, in this industry, we have made remarkable strides in improving our safety record, and our goal is in the future to make sure that we have no accidents and no injuries.

PHILLIPS: Has a rescue like this ever been attempted before? Is this unprecedented?

GERARD: There are rescue efforts made in these unfortunate circumstances, these are far less in terms of numbers now, just due to the fact that our safety records has improved considerably. This particular event is somewhat unique, in the nature of the water coming into this particular mine, but I am sure and confident that everything is being done in order do the best we can to rescue these miners at this point.

PHILLIPS: Why have geophones not been used since yesterday to try and make contact with these miners down below?

GERARD: It is my understanding, and I am not familiar with this particular mine, but it is my understanding that they would be used. However, in order to do that, you have got to have relative calm or quiet. In order to have that, obviously, you have got stop the drilling, you have got to stop the activity, probably even including the heavy pumping of that water, and I think at this time, it is more important to make the priority to get to those miners, and therefore we have got to keep the drilling going. Things have got to advance to get there as soon as we can.

PHILLIPS: Do you think there needs to be more pressure put on the Bush administration to ensure the safety of miners?

GERARD: I think at this point today, we have had a cooperative relationship with the Bush administration. Six months ago, they sat down with us as industry, and they set out some very aggressive goals to further improve the safety of mines. Just to put this in context so the viewing audience understands, when you compare us to other major industries, today it is safer to work in a coal mine, for example, than it is on a construction site in a manufacturing facility, or even in your local grocery store. The incidence of injury and illnesses in our industry is less than those other major industries.

PHILLIPS: Jack, real quickly, before we let you go here, what are these miners taught to do in a situation like this? I mean, I know that miners are strong souls. I have met these men and these women. What are they taught to survive when something like this goes down?

GERARD: These are great individuals, and obviously, miners in many ways are unique individuals. Their heart and soul is in this profession. They have extensive training. It is advanced training. Some of our strides in our safety has occurred as a result of new training, new engineering techniques, more sophisticated efforts, but they have gone through extensive training to know what to do in these circumstances, and the possibilities of their survival is greatly enhanced by that training, and I am confident and hopeful, like I am sure we all are, that we will be able to rescue these individuals.

PHILLIPS: Indeed we all are. Jack Gerard, National Mining Association. Thanks, Jack.

GERARD: Thank you.

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