Comparing potash (apples) to coal (oranges)

I don't doubt that there is room for improvement in the nation's mine safety program. Also, I would think that there is some merit to this article from today's Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch. And yes, no doubt we could learn some things from the Canadians.

However, like the article says, coal burns, potash doesn't. Which means also that the writer just gave us an excellent example of that old saw about apples and oranges.