The Owosso times., 1922-09-15
SAFETY IGNORED
BY MINE BOSSES
THIS is PROVED BY ExAMINA.
TIoN OF MANY DISASTERS
AND AT lNQUESTS.
LAW PROVISIONS UNKNOWN
Few Have Definite knowledge as to
Coal Dust Explosions - Following
Advice of Bureau of Mines Would
Save Many Lives.
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY

BY JAMES p. HORNADAY
Washington.-EX of nu-
merous disasters. such as fires or ex-
plosions, and the evidence at coroners'
1nquests following such disasters, have
shown how frequently men In charge
OF the operation and safety of mines
have forgotten, or have failed to learn,
details OF safe mining practices. After
securing position of trust as super
intendent, or certificate of cOmpeten-
cy to act as shot-firer, fire boss or mine
foreman, some men seem to have felt
IT unnecessary to keep safety princi-
pies In mind, or to keep abreast of cur
rent progress in safety they have con-
centrated on getting out maximum tom
mage at minimum cost.
In coroners' inquests, the testimony,
after disasters, has shown that fire
bosses, fOremen and coal mine super
1ntendents are noticeably lacking In
knowledge of the provisions Of the
state mining law relating to fans or
doors, frequency of crosscuts, nature
OF stOppings necessary, electrical
equipment, records of daily mine eX-
aminations, quantity Of air required, or
splitting and overcasting. According
to the federal bureau Of mines some
mine fOremen confer rarely or not at
all with the fire boss, and do not COM
ply with the law as to the daily re-
porting Of the fire boss to the foreman,
and the keeping of daily written rec
ord by both, through ignorance of such
requirements.
Some superintendents, foremen and
fire bosses admitted they had not read
the state law on coal mining; one SUI
perintendent considered enforcement
Of the state law the work Of the state
Inspector. The latter impression Is
q more or less general one; for in
stance, In gaseous (closed lamp)
mine in state having severe penalty
against carrying matches into such
mines, a man caught in the mine with
matches In his shoes was not prose-
cuted, presumably because the state in
spector was not present to take ac-
tiOn.
In spite of all that has been written
on the dangers from coal dust, rela-
lively few coal mine officials have any
definite knowledge as to the agencies
that ignite dust, as to the kind of dust
that ignites, or the size or quantity of
coal dust that is dangerous; or the
kind of dust that prOpagates an ex-
plosion If started by another agency.
Ideas as to the best methods to reduce
the quantity Of coal dust, or to render
the dust nonignitable are extremely
hazy. Methods adopted for this pur-
pose are often half-hearted and ineffi-
cient, and are based not on scientific
Explosions continue, with resultant
heavy loss Of life and property. Coal
dust is frequently the most active fac
tor in such disasters.
Rapid expansion Of the use of cleo
tricity underground has introduced
problems that have not been satisfac-
torily answered, or the information re-
garGlng them is not widely known.
Coroners' inquests disclose the fact
that mining men, even those who en-
deavor to keep informed, are hazy as
TO up-to-date safe practices. To what
extent, or under what restrictions may
electrical pumps, electrical cutting ma
chimes, electric locomotives, telephones,
or electric signal wires be used in
gaseous and dusty mines? What volt
ages may be used safely in any mine,
and what precautions may be taken in
gaseous mines to prevent short-circult-
ing in rock falls? These and other
questions puzzle men responsible for
safety in mines.
Advice by Bureau Of Mines.
The safety of coal mines and miners
cannot be safeguarded If the men in
charge are not familiar with safe
methods. The following recommenda-
tions, therefore, are offered by the bu-
reau of mines.
/. All persons in responsible charge
of the direct operation of coal mines
Including superintendent, foremen, fire
bosses and shot firers-should be re-
quired to have certificates of COM
potency Issued by the state, showing
that the applicant has passed an ex-
animation clearly establishing his
knowledge of what constitutes up-to-
date safe practices In the branch or
Branches of mine operations under his
Jurisdiction. All such certificates
should be revocable by the state for
cause, should expire after five years,
and should be renewed only upon TAX
ing another examination. The latter
requirement would compel all operat-
ing mining men to keep conversant
with progressive safety practices.
2. Mining companies should require
superintendents, foremen. fire bosses
and shot firers to keep thoroughly ia
miliar with requirements Of state laws,
as we'll as with up-tO-date practices in
regard to ventilation, dust, electricity
in mines and explosives. If possible,
tbis information should be conveyed by