Mine safety

Mine safety is a broad term referring to the practice of controlling and managing a wide range of hazards associated with the life cycle of mining-related activities.

[5] A ventilation system is set up to force a stream of air through the working areas of the mine.

Frictional heat and sparks generated by mining equipment can ignite both methane gas and coal dust.

[6] Miners utilize equipment strong enough to break through extremely hard layers of the Earth's crust.

[7] By age 50, nearly 90% of U.S. coal miners have some hearing loss, compared to only 10% among workers not exposed to loud noises.

[8] The preferred prevention strategy involves engineering controls to eliminate noise sources.

Cases such as these often lead to high-profile rescue efforts, such as when 33 Chilean miners were trapped deep underground for 69 days in 2010.

High temperatures and humidity may result in heat-related illnesses, including heat stroke, which can be fatal.

However, despite modern improvements to safety practices, mining remains a dangerous occupation throughout the world.

[12] There are upwards of 560,000 abandoned mines on public and privately owned lands in the United States alone.

[13][14] Abandoned mines may be dangerous to anyone who attempts to explore them without proper knowledge and safety training.