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Maryland Worker Safety Mines

May 16th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Maryland worker safety is threatened when workers in fields unrelated to mining are injured after falling into mine shafts. “Stay Out – Stay Alive” is a new public safety campaign to warn workers and others about the risks posed in trespassing on mining property.

For the inattentive worker, the explorer, the outdoor sports enthusiast, or the trespassing child, abandoned and active mines are a danger.

Workers in all kinds of labor besides mining are hurt every year when they fall into mineshafts. Outdoors people and children have died when they have trespassed on the property of old, abandoned mines. Occasionally, workers in other industries fall into shafts or have other accidents.

The program may include visits by mine safety and health experts to scout organizations, schools, and other groups to talk to youngsters about of the many dangers that can face them if they wander onto abandoned mining property. It also involves public service announcements warning against accidental trespassing.

A wide range of dangers face anyone on abandoned mine property:

Hidden shafts may be hundreds of feet deep.
Rotted or decayed boards over the openings may give way under one’s weight.
Tunnels may cave in.
Tunnels may contain water-filled sections, posing a risk of drowning.
Tunnels may contain poisonous insects and snakes, and harmful gases.
Mineshafts may contain unused or improperly fired explosives. Blasting caps are unstable. They can go off as the result of a slight touch.

“There are about 500,000 abandoned mines and another 14,000 active operations throughout the United States,” says Richard E. Stickler, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. “Many of them contain hidden hazards and, for those not trained to work in mines, the outcome can be deadly. That’s why we urge workers, hikers, bikers, rock hounds and swimmers to ‘Stay Out – Stay Alive.’”