FIGURE 112. Loader pushes car into low room with hands over end gate___ 113. Loader's hand crushed between end gate and roof_‒‒‒‒‒ 114. Proper way for loader to push car into room_ 115. Loader uses small block under car wheel to hold car___. 116. Loaded car improperly blocked runs into entry and crushes 117. Right way to block car in pitching room...--- 118. Loader in dip room loading car which is not blocked‒‒‒‒ 222 122. Motor runs into room where switch was left open---. 123. Motor running into room bumps car against loader, killing 134. Brattice man carries away all tools and extra battens--- 135. Timberman holds wedge with thumb exposed to stroke of ax 138. Rib at junction point permitted to slack and crumble_. 139. Roof at junction point is supported by brick retaining wall. 144. Scraper's foot caught in running gear___ 145. Proper way to oil gear of running machine_- 146. Machine runner moves machine through chute into entry with scraper riding on machine_____ 147. Runner runs machine into a passing trip----. 148. Runner has scraper walk ahead to see if roadway is clear___ 89 149. Scraper signals that trip is approaching entry- 154. Safety appliances for cage---. 155. Miner looks up shaft to see whether cage is descending_ 156. Miner is hit by descending cage-- 157. Miner struck by descending cage is knocked into sump--- 94 Page. FIGURE 158. Miner waiting for cage looks up shaft__ 159. Miner is struck by falling piece of coal--160. Neat underground fireproof machine shop--. 95 95 96 161. Bins of clay tile in machine shop for storing supplies--- 163. Locked explosives magazine in subforeman's office; first-aid 164. Accident bulletin board placed at top of shaft.... gestion box, next to lamp house- 97 98 98 99 100 169. Concrete-lined manway slope provided with steps.. 102 173. Mine telephone set in hitch in rib along main haulageway 104 174. Satisfactory substation, except for machinery being too 105 175. Sheet-iron door in brick frame inclosing underground sub- 105 176. Underground fireproof station for chemical engine___ 106 106 178. Underground centrifugal pump satisfactorily installed__. 107 107 180. Satisfactory switchboard, except wiring is not neat_ 108 181. Iron gate at underground main pump station_--_. 108 PREFACE. A coal miner's safety depends largely on his obeying the mine rules. In most coal-mining districts in the United States many miners and laborers are non-English speaking and lack experience in mining. The campaign for " Safety first " among miners, which is being conducted by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with mine operators and State officials, has proved itself to be of such practical value in reducing accidents that safety instruction is now considered indispensable. In 1907, 4.81 men were killed out of every 1,000 employed in the coal mines of this country. In 1916 the number killed per 1,000 employed was 3.03. The Bureau of Mines, in addition to teaching the miner how to guard himself and his fellow workmen against injury and to keep the mine safe, also instructs the miner how to protect himself and the members of his family from disease. The bureau has published 22 miners' circulars pertaining to the duty of a miner in making mining safer. The photographs shown in this circular were made by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Ellsworth Collieries Co., Ellsworth, Pa., and the Consolidation Coal Co., Fairmont, W. Va. The aid rendered by officials of these companies is gratefully acknowledged. The bureau intends to publish more of these circulars, and invites criticism of this circular. The chief purpose of the bureau is to reduce accidents and to save lives, and the bureau hopes that this illustrated safety primer and those that will be published in the future will aid that purpose. VAN. H. MANNING, Director. 9 DANGEROUS AND SAFE PRACTICES IN BITUMINOUS COAL MINES. By EDWARD STEIDLE. INTRODUCTION. Before an outline was prepared to serve as a guide in making the series of photographs for this circular, several reports of State mine departments were reviewed and a list of 50 of the daily accidents in bituminous mining was compiled. Each of these accidents is illustrated by a series of three to five photographs showing (1) the dangerous practice causing the accident, and the result, and (2) the proper and safer practice. With each series is a brief description setting forth the lesson taught. Most of the accidents described may occur daily in any mine. Some of them are due to the negligence of the operator, whereas others are due to the carelessness or inexperience of the miner. Besides the photographs of dangerous and safe practices, a number of general underground safety devices, such as mine signboards, are illustrated. In the mines where the photographs were taken, permissible explosives, electric haulage, and closed lights are used exclusively. The reader should note that neither this series nor, in fact, any similar set of photographs will represent all practical conditions in every bituminous coal mine or in every mine in any one district. Moreover, some of the names used in this circular may not be used for similar things in all districts. The chief aim of this circular is to cover the coal-mining accidents in a general way, or, in other words, to present dangerous and safe practices in a more practical manner than has been attempted. Each suggestion can then be adapted to a similar condition in mines other than those in which the photographs were taken. It has not been deemed necessary to describe the practices fully, but merely to say enough to make the lesson plain and effective. Some of the photographs of dangerous practice may show more than one bad practice, and some of those representing safe practice may also bring out several that are proper. |