Mining accident
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[[Image:MountMulligan.jpg|frame|right|[[Mount Mulligan mine disaster]] in [[Australia]] 1921. These cable drums were blown 50 feet (15 m) from their foundations following a [[coal dust]] explosion.
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A '''mining accident''' is an accident that occurs in the process of [[mining]] minerals. Thousands of miners die from mining accidents each year, especially in the process of [[coal mining]] and [[Underground mining (hard rock)|hard rock mining]]. Most of the deaths today occur in developing countries, especially [[China]], and rural parts of developed countries.
==Causes==
Mining accidents can have a variety of causes, including leaks of poisonous [[gas]]es such as [[methane]]<ref>Kucuker H. ''Occupational fatalities among coal mine workers in Zonguldak, Turkey, 1994-2003.'' Occup Med (Lond). 2006 Mar;56(2):144-6. PMID 16490795</ref> or explosive natural gases called [[firedamp]], [[asphyxiant gases]]<ref>Terazawa K, Takatori T, Tomii S, Nakano K. ''Methane asphyxia. Coal mine accident investigation of distribution of gas.'' Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1985 Sep;6(3):211-4. PMID 3870672</ref>, [[coal dust|dust explosions]], collapsing of mine [[stopes]], flooding, or general mechanical errors from improperly used or malfunctioning mining equipment.
==Accidents by country==
{{details|:Category:Mining disasters}}
===American accidents===
In the [[United States]] in 2006, 72 miners lost their lives at work, 47 in coal mining. The majority of these fatalities occurred in [[Kentucky]] and [[West Virginia]], including the [[Sago Mine Disaster]].<ref>[http://www.msha.gov/stats/charts/allstatesnew.asp All Mining Fatalities By State] U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 15 Jan 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.msha.gov/stats/charts/coalbystate.asp Coal Fatalities By State] U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 15 Jan 2007</ref>
In addition to deaths, many thousands more are injured (an average of 21,351 injuries
per year between 1991 and 1999). Overall, there has been a downward trend in deaths and injuries. From 1880 to 1910, mine accidents claimed thousands of fatalities. The U.S. Bureau of Mines was created in 1910 to investigate accidents, advise industry, conduct production and safety research, and teach courses in accident prevention, first aid, and mine rescue. The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Acts of 1969 and 1977 set further safety standards for the industry. Where annual mining deaths had numbered more than 1,000 a year in the early part of the 20th century, they decreased to an average of about 500 in the late 1950s, and to 93 during the 1990s.<ref>[http://www.msha.gov/MSHAINFO/FactSheets/MSHAFCT8.HTM Historical Data on Mine Disasters in the United States] U.S. Department of Labor</ref>
The [[Monongah Mining Disaster|deadliest mining disaster in American history]] took place on December 6, 1907 in [[Monongah]], [[West Virginia]]. Three hundred sixty-two men and young boys were killed when an underground [[explosion]] took place.
===Canadian accidents===
Probably the most famous accidents in [[Canada]] are collectively referred to as the [[Springhill mining disaster]]s.
===Chinese accidents===
[[China]] currently accounts for the largest number of coal-mining fatalities, accounting for about 80% of the world’s total, although it produces only 35% of the world’s coal.<ref name= "Xiaohui">[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/13/content_391242.htm Coal mining: Most deadly job in China] Zhao Xiaohui & Jiang Xueli, Xinhua News Agency, Updated: 2004-11-13 15:01</ref>
In 2006, according to the State Work Safety Supervision Administration, 4,749 Chinese coal miners were killed in thousands of blasts, floods, and other accidents. For example, a gas explosion at the [[Nanshan Colliery disaster|Nanshan Colliery]] killed 24 people on November 13, 2006; the mine was operating without any safety license and the [[Xinhua News Agency]] claimed the cause was incorrect usage of explosives. However, the 2006 rate was 20.1% less than 2005 despite an 8.1% rise in production.<ref> [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK206148.htm China sees coal mine deaths fall, but outlook grim] 11 Jan 2007, Reuters</ref> Between January 2001 to October 2004, there were 188 accidents with a death toll of more than 10, about one death every 7.4 days.<ref name="Xiaohui"/>
After the [[2005 Sunjiawan mine disaster]], which killed at least 210 miners, a meeting of the State Council was convened to work on measures to improve work safety in coal mines. The meeting's statement pointed out serious problems such as violation of safety standards and overproduction in some coal mines. Three billion yuan (36 million US dollars) were earmarked for technological renovation on work safety, gas management in particular, at state-owned major coal mines. The government also promised to send safety supervision teams to 45 coal mines with serious gas problems and invite colliery safety experts to evaluate safety situations in coal mines and formulate prevention measures.<ref>[http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/gyzg/t184576.htm China takes steps to halt coal mine disasters] Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the U.S.A., 02 Feb 2005</ref>
The worst coal mining disaster in the world took place on [[April 26]], [[1942]] in [[Benxihu Colliery]], located at [[Benxi]], [[Liaoning]]. A coal-dust explosion killed 1,549 miners working that day.
===Polish accidents===
Several major mining accidents happened in Poland. See [[List of mining disasters in Poland]].
===Russian accidents===
Several major mining accidents happened in Russia, particularly the [[Ulyanovskaya Mine disaster]].
===United Kingdom===
Some of the largest and worst [[mine disaster]]s occurred in Britain. Over the period 1850 to 1930 the [[South Wales coalfield]] had the worst disaster record. This was due to the increasing quantity of mines being sunk to greater depths into gas-containing strata and poor safety and management practices. As a result there were nearly forty underground explosions in the [[Glamorgan]] & [[Monmouthshire]] areas of the coalfield, sadly continuing into the 20th century, each resulting in the deaths of twenty or more men and boys - either directly during the explosion or by suffocation in the poisonous gases formed. The total deaths from these forty disasters was 3,119 lives lost.
The four worst disasters were ; 439 deaths at the Universal Colliery in [[Senghenydd]], Glamorgan in a Gas explosion in 1913; 290 deaths at the [[Albion Colliery]] in [[Cilfynydd]], Glamorgan in a Gas explosion on 25th June in 1894; 266 lives lost in the [[Gresford Disaster]] near [[Wrexham]] in [[North Wales]] on 22nd September in 1934; 259 deaths at the [[Prince of Wales Mine]], [[Abercarn]], Monmouthshire in an explosion on 11th September in 1878.
Some collieries e.g. [[Morfa]] Colliery, near [[Port Talbot]], [[Glamorgan]] and [[Black Vein]] Colliery, [[Risca]], [[Monmouthshire]] suffered three disasters before it was decided to close them for being unsafe.
In [[England]] [[The Oaks explosion]] was and remains the worst mining disaster, claiming 388 lives on 12th December 1866 near [[Barnsley]] in [[Yorkshire]].
The worst mining disaster in [[Scotland]] is the [[Blantyre mining disaster]] in [[Blantyre]], [[South Lanarkshire]] which claimed 207 lives in 1877.
==External links==
*[http://www.pwcglobal.com/extweb/ncpressrelease.nsf/DocID/9DE1C0CAA94007DF85256EAD007F53B0 Price Waterhouse Cooper press release]
*http://www.msha.gov/MSHAINFO/FactSheets/MSHAFCT2.HTM
*[http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk/songs/woody-guthrie/struggle/waiting-at-the-gate.php Waiting at the Gate] by [[Woodie Guthrie]]
== See also ==
*''[[The Stars Look Down]]''
*''[[The Citadel (novel)|The Citadel]]''
==References==
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[[Category:Accidents]]
[[Category:Mining]]
[[Category:History of mining]]
[[Category:Mining disasters]]
[[Category:Mining disasters in the United States| ]]
[[Category:Mine safety|Accident]]
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