Evening star., 1932-12-25
Safety In Mines Sets
Nezv Record

I Asst year broke all existing records for
l. safety in the mines of the United States,
heavy reductions in the total Of accidents and
the accident rate being reported.
It was natural to expect that the total Of
accidents would be reduced because of the part
time employment during the year, but the
number Of accidents per million man hours Of
work also was down, indicating clearly that the
safety methods urged by the bureau have had
an important part in curtailing the injury and
loss Of life which have characterized the mining
activities in this country
Taking metal mines to illustrate there were
Al per cent fewer accidents in 1882 and re-
duction Of 20 per cent in the number of acci-
dents per million man hours of employment.
In the mines producing non metallic minerals
other than coal, the number Of accidents was
reduced 80 per cent and the rate per million
man hours, 10 per cent.
Fully 200 lives were saved as the result Of
the first aid methods taught miners by the
Bureau Of Mines experts, who last year carried
on training course reaching approximately
100 900 persons. The years activities were
carried on In more than TOO communities in
SO States and Alaska During the course last
year and in prior courses it is estimated that
more than $4,000 persons have been reached
by the bureaus experts.
Most of the accidents in mines are of the
one-man type that is affecting individual
perhaps a few individuals, but with the care
leSSnecs Of one person responsible. 1t is acci-
dents of this type which the bureau has sought
to eliminate through its educational campaign
among miners themselves. The man who care
lessly catches his foot in a switch just ahead
Of mine car, or who carries an iron bar over
his shoulder which makes contact with an
electric power line, or who disregardS various
safety measures upon which he has been given
instruction can hardly be saved from an acci->
dent sooner or later, but the individual who
heeds the warnings given him can avoid most
of the accidents which have claimed such q
heavy toll Of life and limb.
In the coal mines, much of the success of
the safety work IS due to the adoption by the
mine owners themselves of the many safety
devices and methods which the bureau has
found successful. The substitution of electric
lighting for the open flame lamps the process
Of rock busting which prevents the progressive
explosion which sets of the coal dust through
out an entire mine with devastating result, the
proper support Of the roofs Of mine galleries
as the coal is cut beneath, these and scores OF
other devices and methods have gone far toward
holding mine accidents to a minimum.
The research work of the bureau goes on
endlessly, with the experimental station at
Pittsburgh being the testing point Of many OF
the methods evolved. During the past year,
for instance, 81 new designs Of electrical equip
ment have been tested by the bureau and
found worthy of recommendation. These de-
vices in particular are destined for use in mines
likely to become gassy and dusty. The power
full explosion which results from coal dust Is
too well respected among mining people to be
disregarded and the battle against this enemy
Is carried relentleSSly.