labor lawAdivision of labor law center

There are abandoned mines in nearly every state. Richard E. Stickler, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, or MSHA, estimates there are about 500,000 abandoned mines and 14,000 active operations throughout the U.S. Of them, many contain “hidden hazards, and for those not trained to work in mines, the outcome can be deadly.”

Old abandoned mines may seem like a great place to play. But the old sites, some of them water-filled quarries and some of them heaps of old stockpiles, can be deadly.

The danger is not only a threat to Hawaii worker safety. Outdoor sports enthusiasts and children are also at risk.

The solution may be to “Stay Out – Stay Alive.” The new public safety program is warning workers, outdoors activities enthusiasts, and children about the risks posed by mines, both active and old and abandoned ones. Children are at risk of falling into old mine shafts. Under the new program, federal mining health and safety experts will visit children in schools, scout organizations, and other groups to warn youngsters of the dangers.

There are about 500,000 abandoned mines and 14,000 active operations throughout the U.S. Richard E. Stickler, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, estimates. Of them, many contain what he called “hidden hazards, and for those not trained to work in mines, the outcome can be deadly.”

Quarries pose another form of hazard. Although they may seem harmless on the surface, beneath it swimmers might become entangled in old machinery left behind in the wake of a shutdown. There are sharp objects underwater to contend with. And even the best swimmer may succumb to the cold and surprisingly deep waters. Not only the water poses a hazard. Around the edges, rock ledges may crumble and slopes are slippery.

Old machinery and other sharp objects may be hidden under the water’s surface, and even the best swimmer may be in for a deadly surprise in the cold, deep waters. Slopes may be dangerously slippery and rock ledges unstable. The risks are particularly a problem for all terrain vehicle users, who can be caught in a fatal rollover when heaps of old refuse or stockpiles collapse under their use.

The MSHA’s new “Stay Out – Stay Alive” program is crafted to warn everyone, whether working or playing, not to accidentally stray onto mining property.

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