The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-05-08
FEWER COAL MINERS
KILLED DURING 1923
Reports to Bureau Of Mines
Show 2,452 Lost Lives.

Show 2,452 Lost Lives.
Washington made by the
various state mine inspectors to the
United States Department Of the
Interior, through the bureau Of mines,
show that 2,452 men were killed by
accidents at coal mines In the United
States In 1923. Of these fatalities
224o occurred as the results Of acci-
dents underground, 46 were due to
shaft accidents and 157 to accidents
In and around surface plants. The
production Of coal during the year
was 81, 476,O00 tons; hence the fatal
ity rate for the year was 1882 per
million tons, as compared with AIS
for 1922. Non-fatal accidents number
approximately 100000 per year.
This reduction Of eight per cent in
the fatal-accident rate per million tons
Of coal produced in 1928 is equivalent
10 the saving Of 210 lives, the bureau
Of mines points out, and had the IA
tality rate of 1922 continued during
the last year the number of lives lost
would have been 210 more than ac-
tually were lost during 1923.
Means Big Loss In Coal.
Not only was there net reduction
b the fatality rate from all causes
combined, but each Of the main causes
OF coal-mine fatalities also showed a
decline. Falls OF roof and coal, which
generally account for nearly half Of
all deaths In coal mines, were respon-
sible Tor 1,158 fatalities In 1923, which
represents rate Of Isl per million
toms, as compared with 1.90 In 1922.
Haulage accidents underground usual
" cause about Is per cent Of all IA
tanties, and the reports for 1923 show
that Alb deaths were due to this cause.
indicating a rate Of O.64 per million
tons. as against 0.T2 for the previous
year.
Gas and dust explosions killed 372
men, the fatality rate being OBS; the
previous years rate was 0.65. Seventy
five deaths we're due II electricity, for
which class Of accidents the fatality
rate per million tons was OH, as COM
pared with Ole the year before Pow
&er and other explosives caused ia
deathS representing a rate Of OBS,
as compared with OLD for 1922.
Ncn-fatal injuries occurring in the
coal mines number approximately
10000 per year and represent a total
zeal tonnage loss valued at about $780,
100000 The average mine accident
mkailing only temporary disability
means loss of production Of approx
n1aseiy 90 tons Of coal, it Is estimated.
Il ID calculated that each accident of
his nature results In a time loss to
the worker Of ID days. With the daily
output of coal per man figured at four
tons, and with coal valued at $9.25 per
son at the mine, the average value
lost tonnage for each accident entail
ing temporary disability is $195. The
lime and monetary loss per accident
would, Of course, be increased If acct
dents sntafling permanent disability
&C. Death were included in the tabula-
hoas
Few Accidents Are Fatal.
The non-fatal reports were furnished
the bureau Of mines during 1922 by
the operators Of 200 coal mines, who
have co-operated with the bureau In a
special study Of mine accidents by
furnishing a separate report Of each
accident disabling an employee for
more than the remainder of the shift.
In ali, study of more than 5000 coal
mine accidents was made.
The bureau found that about two
per cent Of coal mine accidents result
fatally. Deaths, permanent total dis
abilities and permanent partial dlsa-
btiities constitute less than five per
cent Of all mine accidents, while disa-
biiities Of a temporary nature account
for 90 per cent of mine accidents.
In bituminous mines, fall Of roof
and side, the bureau Of mines says,
are responsible for 20 per cent of all
temporary injuries and 50 per cent Of
all time lost By underground workers.
Injuries from this cause average 81
days loss of time per man injure'
Mine haulage was found to be re-
sponsible for % per cent Of all tenn
porary injuries and 80 per cent of all
time lost. injuries from this cause
average 10 days loss of time per man
injured.
Mine explosions and fires were found
20 be responsible for threetenths of
one per cent Of all temporary injuries
and slightly less than that percentage
Of ali time lost. Injuries from this
cause average u days loss Of time
Dar man injured.