Interview with David A. Zegeer, September 21, 1988

Interview Summary

This is a second interview with David Zegeer, Assistant Secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration under President Ronald Reagan. Zegeer discusses former mine superintendents that he worked with at the Consolidated Coal Company including James "Buster" Brown and Hershel Childers. Hershel Childers was put in charge of implementing the 1969 Mine Safety and Health Act at Consolidated Coal. Zegeer states that this law helped to put all coal companies on equal footing in the area of safety. He discusses technological advancements affecting productivity during his career including the transition from hand-loading to mechanization. He also describes changes in the union.

Zegeer talks about creating a safe workplace at the Bethlehem mine. He states that safety is a responsibility of everyone. Zegeer discusses the Reagan administration's interest in the health and safety of miners and describes the larger budgets given to health and safety. He discusses the role of the media in the public's perceptions of the mines, and explains the differences between state and federal safety inspection programs. Zegeer also discusses the importance of reclamation once strip mining is completed.

Interview Keyword

Coal Operators

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Coal miners Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Zegeer, David Abraham, 1922- Zegeer, David Abraham, 1922- --Interviews

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.