Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) recently toured Industrial Scientific's Oakdale, Pa., gas monitor manufacturing facility, and conducted a town-hall-style meeting to answer questions from company employees. Employees were eager to ask the senator questions regarding the recent passage of the Miner Act of 2006.

Santorum remarked that the increase in mining accidents was a direct result of favorable coal prices that led to more mines operating and more miners at work. He believed that coal prices will remain favorable for quite some time, so the act is a step in the right direction. “It's a dangerous business,” said Santorum. “We have to continue to improve safety, and obviously the products that Industrial Scientific makes are part and parcel to that.”

The company manufactures gas monitors and other equipment that are used in a wide variety of applications including air monitoring in mines.