coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

32 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
place yvhere he will find more misery or comfort,
as the case may be.
From my personal experience in coal mines I am
familiar with dangerous practices connected with
the occupation of coal mining, such as shooting
off the solid, and the use of short fuses, which is
brought about by tbe enforcement of Ibe use of
permissible explosives in the mines where it is
necessary to use fuses instead of squibs. Thus in
eliminating the danger by the use of black powder,
we have created in many instances the danger as
mentioned above. In the matter of the reckless
running of trip to and from tbe mines by careless
motormen, and the failure of miners to properly
secure the roof against falling, miners who
ride on loaded trips between cars, and many other
practices which it is unnecessary for me to mention
as you are all familiar—I would suggest.
as a remedy to protect the Compensation fund that
upon your return home you inaugurate a system
of "Safety First" about the mines.
The United States Steel Corporation has adopted
the plan of a painted sign on a white board, with
a large red circle. I notice from their literature
that they have no patent right on this plan, and
anyone yvould be permitted to use it if they choose.
In line with the above thought I would suggest
that each party adopt a signal of this kind, using
a red circle, square or any sign (bat would meet
the conditions best; having this board large enough
to paint under the sign a notice calling the attention
of the employes to the particular dangers they
will come in contact with in that vicinity, having
numerous signs of this kind in conspicuous places
around the mines. Also take tbe matter up with
the mining foreman and get him interested in
tbe safety and better understanding of the mine
rules such as you have in use around the mines,
which if printed and posted may never be read
by half of the employes in and around tbe mines
unless the mining foreman keeps insisting upon it,
and drills it into the miners and laborers.
Tbe mining foreman being tiie most important
man in connection with the operation of the mines
as regards safety, he should instruct the men as to
their various duties, tbe best method of mining
and shooting coal, the propping of the roof, etc.
In accordance with our statutes he should visit
every working place at least every other day. and
while at tbe working place should instruct tbe men
as to* their various duties with reference to safety.
The mining foreman may be over-burdened with
duties and in order lo meet with the statutory requirements
he goes through the mine rushing up
to the face of a room where be finds two men at
work, one of them possibly working under a piece
of loose rock, and maybe both of them. He immediately
calls their attention to the loose rock, and
gives them orders to prop it, and starts on his
journey to the next room. Probably before reaching
the face of the next room he hears the alarm,
and returns to find that the roof to which he called
their attention has fallen, killing one or possibly
both of the men. The question is whether he has
fulfilled his duties when he gave the instructions
to secure the roof. I will say that he has not.
He should have remained long enough in the room
to definitely ascertain the condition of the root,
ordered the props set in the proper manner and
remained until the miners had accomplished the
work. In all probability he would have avoided
the accident. I could go on enumerating various
cither things that occur on his trip around Ihe
mines, some of them more dangerous than this.
All of tliese dangerous practices should be carefully
watched. He should get interested in these
matters with him, the boss driver, drivers and
track layers.
The employe whose duty it is to look after the
brakes on the mine cars should be deeply interested
in the safety of the drivers and niiners, as
bad brakes on the cars have already contributed a
number of accidents that have come to our attention.
In this connection I noticed a publication in
the Pittsburgh Dispatch a few yveeks ago which
gave some statistics as to the loss of life from
industrial accidents and occupational diseases,
which gave a striking total of the cost to the nacion.
The United States in the last year had
35,000 killed and 2,ff;J,000 injured fiom industrial
accidents, causing a loss to the industrial world
of $250,000,000.00 for the year. Besides this loss
the additional 4,000.000 deaths due to occupation
diseases seems slight, but is worth adding to the
total. With the heavy loss above mentioned it
is not bard to understand why the industrial world
is giving attention to the "Safety First" agitation.
Many of these accidents are clue to the carelessness
of the workmen. Men who are constantly
subjected to danger are liable to contract the idea
that the danger do>s not exist. Other accidents
are duo to the error of the employers, who are
gradually forced to learn better methods. You
will readily see the importance of starting a
"Safety First" campaign immediately, and getting
some method of keeping the idea of safety first
before all employes engaged within the state.
State Mine Safety Superintendent J. M. Roan
will ask the Ohio Industrial commission to recommend
to Gov. Cox that he send a special message
to the legislature favoring a law prohibiting the
use of carbide lamps in Ohio mines, as a result
of an investigation into the fatal explosion in the
Wheeling Creek mine.