West Virginia commission to examine oil, gas industry safety

Charleston, WV – West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) has formed a commission to provide recommendations on improving workplace safety in the oil and natural gas industries.

The West Virginia Commission on Oil and Natural Gas Industry Safety will review current federal and state oil and natural gas safety regulations, and is scheduled to release a final report with its recommendations on Nov. 16.

Tomblin created the commission through an Executive Order announced July 9. “This Commission will help us determine how to best protect workers at natural gas operations while ensuring our workers have the proper training and skills to do their jobs in the safest, most effective way possible,” Tomblin said in a press release.

The governor’s office will chair the commission, which comprises 10 industry and labor representatives and four state legislators.