A business that behaves ethically induces other business associates to behave ethically as well. If a company (or a manager) exercises particular care in meeting all responsibilities to employees, customers and suppliers it usually is awarded with a high degree of loyalty, honesty, quality and productivity. For examples, employees who are treated ethically will more likely behave ethically themselves in dealing with customers and business associates. A supplier who refuses to exploit its advantage during a seller's market retains the loyalty and continued business of its customers when conditions change to those of a buyer's market.

The Massey Energy Upper Branch Mine Disaster in West Virginia operated by the Performance Coal Company had repeated problems with methane buildups. Since April 2009, federal regulators have cited the mine eight times for “substantial” violations relating to the mine’s methane control plans. In two instances, the regulators found the mine operator was calibrating methane monitors every three months even though it is supposed to be done every 31 days. The delays in attending to the monitors meant they could not properly detect the gas; a risk inspectors said could lead to severe injuries or prove fatal. On April 30, 2009, federal regulators found that the mine had failed to follow methane-related safety precautions. Regulators stopped work in a section of the mine until the ventilation was corrected. It appears that many people (including the regulators who issued the safety citations) knew all about these safety violations but they were covered up from the miners who bore all the risks.

While the cause of this specific explosion is still being determined, most mine explosions are caused by the combustion of accumulations of methane, combined with combustible coal dust mixed with air. Methane naturally occurs in coal seams,