Winslow daily mail., 1926-12-17
STUDY ARIZONA
ACCIDENTS F D R
z YEAR PERIOD

Il IEAH PEhlUD
The bureau of mines, department
of commerce, has issued a state
ment from Washington saying that
most accidents in metal mines Of
the United States due to explosives
are preyentable and that RESPONSE
biiity rests jointly upon the min
ing companies and the men using
the explosives.
The bureaus conclusions are bas-
ed upon an investigation of all ac-
cidents from explosives in mines of
Arizona in 1928 and 1924.
The statement in full text, fol-
lows:
can investigation designed to as
certain the safest and most eco
nomical explosive for use in metal
mines and to determine the best
methods of blasting under different
conditions is being conducted by
the bureau of mines, department
of commerce, in cooperation with
The mining companies of the south
wetern states.
"In metal mines many of the
miners work in isolated places and
are not supervised at blasting time.
Most miners prepare and fire eX-
plosives in a safe manner, but Oc-
casionally some one becomes care
less or forgetful, and disaster re-
suits.
Educating Miners
''In the early days of mining in
the west miner on being assigned
to drift or to stOpe, followed his
own methods of performing his
task. Little direct supervision was
given, and if miner could not do
what was locally considered a fair
days work, he was quickly dis
charged. A new man was always
put to work as an assistant to
an experienced miner. and thus
learned his trade. He not only
obtained the advantage of the ac
cumulated experience of other min
ers, but he also absorbed the Gus
toms and traditions that had been
built up in the craft. AS new
camps were opened, the miners
brought in the established prac
tees of other districts, and new
methods were slowly evolved to
take care of new conditions.
considerable tact and patience
are required to introduce new
blasting methods of change old
customs at any time The follow
ing of custom is nowhere more evil
dent than in drilling and blasting,
and the practices in favor at most.
mines are the outcome of many
years experience.
Although improvements in re-
gard to handling explosives have
been slow, unsafe PRACTICES are
gradually being eliminated. 1t is
hoped that in time all blasting will
be done only by the most approved
methods. Some common iprad dtices
that were considered sdangerousS2o
years ago,l but were used occas4
ionally, are nowdo obsolete5 for ex-
ample, at the present time in
most camps miner would not
think of using a drill steel to
tamp hole. The withdrawing Of
unexploded charges from holes is
another unsafe custom that is
gradually becoming questionable.
Caused by Carelessness
"Since the world war many in
experienced men have been en-
ployed in the metal mines of this
| country. Some mining companies
maintain schools, or training sec
tions of the mine, for instructing
these inexperienced men in the
work they are to do. An advan-
tage in these schools is that only
the safe practices may be taught
| them. In training new men great
care should be taken to impress
upon them the precautions to be
used in handling explosives and
4 the reasons therefor. Muckers
trammers, or recent graduates of
mining colleges should be given
some instruction about the eXplo-
sives before being employed under
ground.
Most accidents with explosives
in metal mines are preventable, be-
cause they are usually due to some
persons carelessness, or to an in
total cost to the taxpayers per case
handled is only $1.21.
Formerly under the Employer S
Liability Law the employe sued in