Safety
Coal mining has always been one of the most hazardous professions. Recently, mining accidents have brought national attention to the industry and have reinforced the importance of safety issues in coal mining. Over the years, thousands of miners have been killed in mine accidents and from lung diseases caused by breathing coal dust.
Historically, the work of the coal miner was extremely perilous.  During the 1800’s, many miners worked more than 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. They broke the coal loose with picks and shoveled it into coal cars. Many children worked for the mines, as well. A trapper boy would sit all day in a tiny space, opening the door for the coal cars to pass and closing it again to improve air circulation.  Other children worked at sorting tables, removing rocks and sorting the coal into sizes. In fact, there were very few safety precautions in the early 20th century.  Hard hat helmets were not even used underground until the 1930’s. And, to a coal mine operator, a mule was more valuable than a man because, if a mule died underground, a new would have to be purchased to replace it. If a man died, the mine would simply hire another man.
Today, machines do much of the work.  Other improvements include better mine safety laws, shorter work hours and prohibition of child labor. But, coal mining is still one of the most hazardous occupations. Dangers include accidents involving machinery, collapse of tunnel roofs or walls, gases, flooding; explosions caused by coal dust, as well as health problems from breathing coal dust.

More than 100,000 workers in the United States have lost their lives in coal mine accidents since 1900. Many more have been injured or disabled. This high accident rate has led to government regulation of mine safety. State and federal regulations for minimum health and safety standards must be met by coal companies and miners must be trained in mine safety. These regulations and resulting improvements have greatly reduced the death rate.
More United States miners are killed in accidents involving roof falls than other kinds of mining accidents. Deep mine accidents most often involve machinery because they operate in dark, cramped spaces. Collapse of tunnel walls or roofs can often be prevented by planning and using a scientific roof support plan. These plans are made after studying rock formations surrounding the coal bed. The plans consider the number of pillars to be left standing and the number of roof bolts to use. The plan must be approved by the government regulatory agency before mining is begun.
Gases can be a serious hazard in underground mines if they accumulate. In the very early years of coal mining, miners brought a canary with them underground. The canary, with it tiny lungs, would die from lack of oxygen or exposure to methane gas. If the canary died, miners would know to leave the mine immediately. Two of the most dangerous gases are methane and carbon monoxide.  Ventilation through air vents will normally prevent harmful gases from accumulating. Fresh air is circulated through the mine by a powerful fan at the surface. In addition, all underground mines are required by federal law to have an automatic methane detector which will show an accumulation of more than two percent of dangerous gases. A mine must shut down if this occurs.
Coal dust is responsible for a disease called black lung or pneumoconiosis. Many miners who have breathed large amounts of coal dust over the years have developed this disease which interferes with a person’s breathing and can cause death.  High concentrations of coal dust can also be explosive, especially if mixed with methane.

Coal dust can be controlled by proper ventilation and method called rock dusting. Rock dusting involves spraying powdered limestone on exposed surfaces in mine entries to dilute the coal dust and minimize chances of an explosion.  Water sprays may also lessen the amount of dust.

Another simple yet effective safety measure is the use of reflective clothing. Today, all coal miners wear work clothes with fluorescent strips. This makes it easier to spot fellow miners underground. According to Josh Birchfield, a coal miner with the Kingston mines, reflective clothing has prevented a large number of accidents underground.
Breathing apparatuses have had a tremendous impact on mine safety.  Each miner is required to have one underground.  These apparatuses have also been under a lot of criticism lately, as well.  In the recent Sago mine disaster, several of the apparatuses did not work correctly. There is currently talk of legislation that will require each mine to stock extra breathing apparatuses underground.  Regardless, coal miner Josh Birchfield says that safety training for miners has changed recently. Previously, miners were instructed to barricade themselves underground and wait for rescue.  Today, there is an increased emphasis on making every effort to get out of mine when a dangerous situation occurs.
The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, passed by Congress, provides short term health and safety standards.  Congress directed the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare and the Secretary of the Interior to develop and advertise improved health and safety standards to protect the health and safety of the nation’s miners. An amendment to this act was passed in 1977.  This amendment transferred the enforcement from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Labor or delegate. The Secretary’s delegate is called an Authorized Representative, better known as a Mine Inspector.   Individual state standards are passed by the states and enforced by the State Department of Mines Inspectors.
The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 also provided benefits to coal miners with black lung disabilities.  This national effort actually began as a grass-roots movement in Beckley, West Virginia.  Local coal miners, physicians and VISTA volunteers organized to lobby Congress and bring the issues of black lung to the attention of the national government.  Their efforts gained national momentum and attention, resulting in legislation that addresses the issue
In fact, West Virginia has been significant in affecting national safety legislation in other ways. It can be said that two major mine disasters in West Virginia were the bookends that marked national safety legislation.  While the coal mining industry has had a number of major disasters, the Monongah Disaster of 1907 and Farmington Disaster of 1968 significantly impacted national awareness of mine safety.  The disaster at Monongah, near Fairmont WV, is to this day the largest mine disaster in the nation. In early December, 1907, 363 men were reported to have lost their lives in the explosion, although it is estimated that the loss of life was closer to 500 men. Only one man, Peter Urban, survived.  This terrible loss of life, along with three other disasters nationally the same month, began a national dialogue about safety in coal mines and resulted in early legislation requiring mine inspectors.
More than 60 years later, the disaster at Farmington again brought the safety issues of coal mines to national attention.  After Farmington, the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 was implemented. It is interesting to note that another West Virginia mine disaster, the contemporary disaster at Sago, has once again brought the crisis of mine safety to the attention of the American people in the 21st century. Monongah, Farmington and Sago are all within 60 miles of each other.
Another result of the 1969 legislation was the establishment of The National Mine Health and Safety Academy, located near Beckley, West Virginia. The Academy provides training for federal and state mine inspectors, organizes training programs for miners and presents education programs about preventing mine accidents and occupationally caused diseases in the industry.  In addition, most coal mines require annual re-training for each of their employees and require employees to attend weekly or daily safety meetings to discuss topics in mine safety.

Federal Mine Safety and Health Standards are enforced by the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor.