At 5:18 a.m. on May 9, 1992, the Westray coal mine exploded, killing 26 miners. Although news of the disaster momentarily gripped the country, the aftershock is still felt in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The film chronicles the forces that conspired to take the lives of these miners and the survivors' futile search for justice. Greed, incompetence and negligence were only some of the factors contributing to the tragedy. Poorly-trained men were sent into the mines; without a union and fearful for their jobs, they did not raise concerns over safety. One lone voice complained and was fired - the others learned to keep quiet. Mine inspectors failed to act, as did the Ministry of Labour. Disaster was inevitable.