The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-19
MONDAY IS DAY OF MOST DANGER IN COAL MINES.
Workers Also Warned Of Three Peril Periods
 Each Day
(Washington Bureau)

Washington Bureau
 WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S-Mpnday ia the most dangerous day in coal min ing. and an miners, according to the fed eral bureau of mines, should beware Monday.
 There are three dangerous periods in the course of a days work, between 6 and 9 with a peak at :SO ociock in the morning; between 5 and ( with A peak at 6 o'clock in the evening; and from Il to 1 o'clock, the moon hour," It is then that men die, the bu- reau states.
 These facts. together with explana- tions, have been sent into all mining districts, including the Birmingham district. The conclusions were reached after an analysis of 256 explosions, ranging over period of 10 years, which cost 4,413 lives, and inflicted 570 additional injuries.
 Extra Vigilance Urged
 As result of it's findings, the bureau urges that extra vigilance should pc exercised in coal-mining operations at these critical periods, particularly m the mornings, when many ot the worst explosions have taken place, largely due to the hazard or dccuuulatioh VI gas during the night.
 While firebosses generally try to ex- anime for gas before the men enter the mine in the morning, sometimes, owing to there being too many worK- ing places to inspect, or to taking chance, some place is neglected, with ,the result that miners entering therein with open lights ignite an accumula- tion of gas. The period lapsing be- tween the time of inspection and men : entering workings is often too long, and although a working place may be clear when examined, fall or other cause may result in an accumulation , of gas which is accidentally ignited.
 Many Ignore Warnings
 Sometimes a fireboss marks off working place as being gassy, yet some miner with an open light takes no notice and goes in, with the only possi- ble result-an ignition or an explosion. Again, l pocket of gas may have col lected and is marked by the fireboss. He may attempt to remove it. warning the men not to approach with open lights, yet occasionally someone does so, resulting in an ignition or explosion.
 One fairly frequent cause of morn ing explosions is the leaving of venti- lating doors ajar during the night. The air current is short-circuited thereby. and some workings will get no fresh air, consequently gas will collect, and the first man with an open light sets 1t off. This is not an uncommon happen ing. but luckily the accumulated gas is not always ignited.
 In the afternoon and evening there are many explosions. It is noticeable that the number drops at p. m. As a rule day shifts go out of the mine at 8 80 to 4 D. m. In mines where the miners do their own firing, or where it is done by shotfiring fore men during the shift, one shot at a time, the firing would be completed at that time; but in mines where the firing is done by shotfirers when all other men are out of the mine it be- gins shortly after o'clock, or if the mine has had a short days run it may begin earlier. The dangers of rapid shotfiring by such special shot firers is fully reflected in the number of explosions that take place between 5 and 6 p. m. At 6 80 there is a drop, and then at p. m., the number again runs up. These explosions may result from gas, liberated by the shotfiring, or accumulations from other reasons, be- ing ignited by the night shift when it reaches the face. Frequently the coal cutting is done on night shift.
 Safety Recommendation In view particularly of the number of early morning explosions, the fol- lowing recommendations are made by the Bureau of Mines:
 The area assigned to each fireboss should not be too extensive. In some states each working place must, by law. be examined within three hours before it is entered by the oncoming shift, To do this within the area as- signed but a perfunctory examination can be made in some cases, because 1t is a physical impossibility for a man to cover the ground in the time re- 0uired. One explosion costing nearly a hundred lives without doubt was in directly caused by the evident inabil- ity of the fireboss to inspect his section: In fact, it was stated at the time of the explosion that two firebosses had formerly been employed for. the same section.
 The system of ventilation should be so planned that a minimum number of doors will be necessary. It may De cheaper in the end to build few additional overcasts than to pay for the cost of an explosion. Permissible cleo tric lights and flame safety lamps should De substituted for open lights in all coal mines. The practice of shooting off the solid should be elim- mated and permissible explosives should be substituted for black blasting pow der. No person, except a regular ex- perienced shotfirer should be permitted to load and charge holes.
 All electric power should be ire quently inspected to see that they are properly installed, and that there is a danger from short circuits which might ignite a pocket of gas,
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 Two Civilians To Attempt ROund.the-
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