Testimony resumed today in the criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship with a former section boss at Massey’s Upper Big Branch mine taking the stand.

Richard Hutchens told jurors that he was pressured to meet production goals that were impossible, given the poor conditions at UBB.

“I put the safety of the men first,” Hutchens said. “If we had bad top, I fixed the top first. That hurt my production”

Questioned by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg McVey, Hutchens testified that the conditions described in violations federal inspectors issued at UBB – excessive coal dust, inadequate air flow, ventilation walls crushed by deteriorating mine roofs – were typical of what he experienced at the mine.

Despite those problems, Hutchens told jurors, “My managers insisted that we meet a strict production of mining 250 feet per shift.”

Hutchens, whose nickname in the mine was “Smurf,” said he was threatened with losing his job if he didn’t meet that benchmark.

“I was always pressured that I wasn’t running enough coal,” Hutchens said.

Testimony was to continue this morning with cross-examination of Hutchens by defense attorney Bill Taylor.