labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The way to stay alive is to stay out.

Abandoned and active mines can be a danger to Connecticut worker safety as well as children and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Outdoor workers in many fields are hurt after falling into mine shafts. Children trespass on or wander onto old, abandoned mining property. More than 200 people have died in accidents on mine property since 1999 alone.

The U.S. Labor Department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has adopted a “Stay Out – Stay Alive” program. The program is an attempt to curb the problem by warning about the deadly dangers that can befall workers or others who find themselves on mine property.

Children are among those killed in mine accidents. Workers from unrelated industries may fall into mine shafts. Or they may suffer other types of accidents on the properties of active or abandoned mines.

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

The MSHA’s program involves public service announcements. They warn people from mistakenly going onto mine property, whether for work or for play. Mine health and safety officials from the federal government will visit schools and scouting groups, as well as other organizations to warn youngsters about the dangers.

Some of the dangers of underground abandoned mines are a threat to both workers and explorers. Shafts may be hundreds of feet deep, hidden beneath a deceptive layer of boards that can often be rotted or decaying. The boards may break under light weight. Tunnels may cave in. They may be flooded. They may have poisonous snakes or insects. There may be deadly gases. Explosives may be scattered across the property. These misfired or unused explosives, such as blasting caps, can be set off by a mere jiggle.

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