The United States Senate is moving closer to passing legislation to improve safety inside coal mines, including requiring mining companies to have two-way wireless communications and tracking systems in place within three years.
A hearing on the legislation is set for tomorrow, and there are other safety issues to discuss such as emergency oxygen supplies and overall improvement of safety conditions. However, if something does happen, the ability to communicate with the outside for help is crucial, and giving mining companies three years to comply seems a bit too lenient. Too many miners have died in the last few months and it's time these mining companies get with the present and implement two-way wireless communication systems as soon as possible.
