New mine rescue center opens in Kentucky

The federal mine-safety agency opened the nation’s fourth mine rescue center in Madisonville, Kentucky, on Friday. Aimed at making faster and safer rescue operations, the station will include a response truck, communication systems and portable high-tech equipment to test for poisonous and explosive gases. “Hopefully, we’ll never have to use it” in a real emergency, said Joe Main, head of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. In an interview, Main said that he has a number of other plans for improving mine rescue operations, including more of these rescue stations across the country. He also wants better underground communications and technology. “I don’t care what the economy is, miners deserve a safe workplace. They need to have a government that really has their back.”

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