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SAFETY INSPECTORS URGED FOR WEST
VIRGINIA MINES BY CHIEF HENRY FOL­
LOWING LINES OF THOSE ALREADY
NAMED.
Chief of the West Virginia Department of Mines
Earl A. Henry is urging the appointment of safety
inspectors in the mines of the state, and has sent
copies of ihe i'olloyving letter to operators who
have not named such officials for their properties,
the letter being one originally written by operators
who had appointed the inspectors and out­
lined their duties:
Dear Sir—This is to notify you that, we have
this day appointed a man to fill the position of
safety inspector for our mines.
The object of this office is to add to fhe safety
of our employes and the sole duties are to assist
the mine foreman in regard to safety to employes.
The entire time must be spent in making in­
spections of the working places, haulways and
traveling ways; he must see that the law is com­
plied yvith in every respect and that the rules and
regulations governing the operation of these mines
are closely observed and adhered to, and be shall
give all workmen instructions as .to safety and
safety-methods that are established and may be
established in the future.
The following is a list of his duties in detail:
First: He must see that all persons going to
and from work enter cars while stopped, that
they sit down inside of cars and not up on the
side, or on tbe bumpers, and that all persons remain
inside of cars until they come to a dead stop.
In no case must he allow persons to get on and
off cars yvhile in motion. See that the motormen
engaged in hauling men trips use the proper care
both as to speed and rough handling.
Second: See that no person carries any larger
amount of powder or other explosives into the
mine than the law permits.
Third: He shall visit all working places, at
least every alternate day, and as much oftener
as possible, see that, they are in a safe working
condition, that all loose coal, slate and rock is
taken down, er securely propped, and that the
coal is being blasted in accordance with law and
rules governing the mine, and that a sufficient
amount of air is in circulation, that break-throughs
are properly driven, that the oil regulation is not
violated, and that men do not carelessly handle
powder or other explosives, and that props and
raps and all necessary timber be kept up by the
workmen and in no case allow them to take any
risk for the want of timber; if the timber cannot
be had, they must suspend work until' same can
be furnished. In the event he finds a person
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
working under loose coal, slate or rock, he shall
stay witli him until same is made safe. Start a
system of setting timbers in rooms, the maximum
distance apart shall be 'i\2 feet and as much
closer as the nature of the roof may require: a
standard distance of 12 inches from the rail is re­
quired, and all posts must be set in the best posi­
tion to suppoit the roof, which position is most
generally at right angles to the weight of roof.
Fourth: He shall examine the roof along the
haulways and traveling yvays and mark all loose
slate to be taken down, and when, in his judg­
ment, he deems it unsafe to yvait until after work­
ing bonis to have it removed, he must have it
removed at once, regardless of cost. In no case
must he permit any person to work in an unsafe
place, except for the purpose of making it safe,
ancl in case it is extra hazardous he shall remain
with the workmen until same is made safe.
Fifth: He shall make a daily report of his inspections
in a book which is to be kept in the
office of the mine superintendent for his exam­
ination. He shall be subordinate to the superin­
tendent and keep him informed of any violations
of the rules and of his inability to comply with
Ihe law or rules, by lack of material of any kind.
His daily reports shall consist of the condition of
the various working places he visits, violation of
the rules and law, by whom, when, where and
how, steps taken to remedy same. If any person
or persons shall try- to intimidate him in the dis­
charge of his duties, state same in his daily re­
port, give name and nature of the offense, and
said pei son shall be dealt with severely.
Sixth: It shall be his duty to see that all
stretchers, blankets, etc., are kept in readiness,
and that same are returned to their places after
being used. He shall include this in his report.
A medicine (best with bandages, plasters, cotton,
tourniquet, splints and other appliance*; to render
first aid will be in the mine superintendent's
office for use in case of emergency. He will be
given a key to said office.
At the annual meeting of the International Coal
& Coke Co., held in Spokane, Wash., recently, the
following officers were re-elected: William Far-
well, Sherbrooke, Quebec, president: Hugh David­
son. Vancouver, B. C, vice president; Will G.
Graves, Spokane, secretary; John McKegan. Cole-
ment, Alta., treasurer, and R. XV. Riddell, Cole-
mont, general manager. The directorate, in addi­
tion to the officers, consists of B. H. Kizer, Spo­
kane, and Clement. S. Houghton, Boston, Mass.
The annual report showed that the net profits
for the year 1913 yvere $146,S29, of which $120,000
was dispensed in dividends. The company's
mines are near Colemont, Alberta, Can.