Case Study -The Upper Big Branch Mining Disaster
Case Questions:
What could Massey Energy have done to avoid this tragedy?
The company had a long history of being cited for safety violations. Why might a company persist with flouting violations?
To what extent did Massey Energy’s organizational culture contribute to the disaster? How do you assess the role of the CEO, Donald Blankenship, in creating this culture?
Should society rely on self-regulated behavior of companies to engage in ethical conduct or on legally binding laws enacted by state and federal governments? Discuss, based on this case.
What has been the impact of this disaster on the company, Mr. Blankenship, the employees, and the community?