Stepping on the ladder may cause it and the entire shaft to collapse. Water Pools of water may conceal deep holes in the floor of mine tunnels. Deep water is also found in many shafts. One false step can lead to a disaster. While most dangers are obvious, air containing poisonous gases or insufficient oxygen cannot be detected until it is too late.
Poisonous gases accumulate in lows areas and along the floor.
Walking into these low spots causes the good air above to stir up the bad air below, producing a potentially lethal mixture. Explosives Even experienced miners hesitate to handle old explosives. They realize that the ingredients in explosives will deteriorate with age and can detonate at the slightest touch. Many abandoned mines contain old explosives left behind when the operations closed down. Innocent looking sticks and blasting caps are potential killers.