The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-12-31
MINERS SLAUGHTERED IN
PREVENTABLE DISASTERS

ter: Mining Notes giving figures
only up to the end Of October,
which does not include the Now
eaqua explosion, says:
"The death rate from explo-
siOnS in bituminOus mines is
much higher this year than last.
Deaths from explosions have
actually risen, in spite of the
great decrease in numbers Of man
hours worked and a corresOnd-
ing fall in the total number of
deaths from mine accidents. Up
to the end of October, 70 men
were killed in explosions in 1882
as against Ga during 10 months
in 1881. The explosion death rate
jumped from 2.C2 to 800 per
100000 tons. These two major
explosions during December with
their 81 deaths have pushed the
1882 total of explosion deaths in
bituminous mines up to at least
lis and probably higher-when
the figures come in on scattering
deaths in small local explosions
during November and December
against a total of 10 during the
year 1881,
GOVERNMENT figures for mine
u disasters in which five or more
miners lost their lives, snGy 2,437
killed in the last ten years, includ-
ing the MoweaQua disG---I.
But there is a trick in this. The
government lists, for long periods,
only those major disasters which
kill five or more.
The biggest killing in mines is
not even in the major disasters,
but in the day by day destruction
of miners i'll small lots, one or
two at time, from rock falls,
small explosions, electrOcutiOn,
underground traffic accidents,
etc. Little" accidents like these,
of which no extended record is
kept, have easily doubled the
number killed in She last ten
years. 1t is safe to say that at
least 5000 have been killed in the
coal mines of the U. s. in the
last ten years, since Dec, 1922.
DEAR in mind that the death
ID rate is jumping this year, and
that those who have shot down
miners in cold blood to reduce
wages ten or fifteen cents ton,
do not hesitate to refuse the few
dollars needed for safety measures.
Then contrast that picture with
this, also from Labor Research AS
sociation's Mining Notes" for
December, 1882:
'In the Soviet Union, 100000
900 rubles were spent this year
1892 for safety protection in the
mines alone, an increase from
3O,O0O,OO0 in 1881. "A rouble is
about so cents.
Especially important work is
being done in improving the
safety technique in the mines,
to protect workers against the
effects of gas and dust. The
Council of Peoples Commissars
of the U. S. S. r. has charged
industry with the task Of manu-
featuring electrical safety equip
ment for the mines.
'eNo fixture is admitted to the
mines without detailed testing in
the Scientific Research Institute
of the Peoples Commissart OF
Labor and a thorough study by
the Mining Inspection.
IAN explosion proof motor has
been constructed and approved
by all competent mining authors
ties. Electrical fixtures for gas
shafts and safe electrical de-
tonator lin handling explosives
have also been installed.
THE coming of hundreds OF
thousands Of new workers into
Soviet industries and the intro
PRODUCTION of new equipment
have made necessary the train
ing of masses of workers in safe
methods of work. A 2 per cent
deduction from all sums applied
to labor protection was assigned
for this purpose OF training in
safety, in 1881. Workers doing
dangerous work are given special
training in safety appliances"