Caterpillar Inc Heavy Equipment CSR by GineersNow Engineering GineersNow Engineering Magazine November 2016 | Page 79

South Africa
Photo by 911Metallurgist
France
Photo by Wikimedia
MINING
DISASTERS YOU
NEVER WANT
TO WITNESS
Working in a mining site is not an easy job. In fact, working in one means
knowing you may never get to live to see the bright skies and your families if
you’re not too careful at your job. Sometimes, unfortunate accidents happen
and cause a lot of consequences to different mining companies. Given the risks
involved in mining, a lot of companies make sure that they practice safe work
ethics.
Of course, one still couldn’t avoid an accident. The world witnessed a lot of
horrifying accidents that caused a lot of lives. If there’s one thing people can
learn from these events, it’s that companies should invest a lot on making sure
everyone who works for them are safe in the workplace. It also pays to hire the
best crisis management team in case of emergencies.
In this article, we list down some of the mining industry’s worst accidents that
ever happened:
In South Africa
China
Photo by 911Metallurgist
The mine disaster in Coalbrook, South Africa urged the South Africans to change
the way companies dealt with the work safety issues. Back in 1960, 437 miners
were trapped in a section of the Coalbrook mine because of a rock fall. Due to
methane poisoning, only 20 people survived because no equipment was able to
take the workers out of the mine. This lead the companies to invest on a suitable
rescue drilling equipment.
In France
Around 1099 people died when a coal-dust explosion destroyed the Courrieres
mine in 1906. Two-thirds of the miners working there died. Children also died in
the explosion. Those who survived suffered from burns and got sick by the gases.
In China
In the Benxihu Colliery, a coal-dust explosion occurred back in 1942. The
accident cost 1,549 lives and it took around 10 days to remove all the bodies.
In Wales (United Kingdom)
Wales (United Kingdom)
Photo by WalesOnline
Back in 1913, the famous Senghenydd Colliery disaster happened. A methane
explosion occurred which ignited a coal dust. Around 439 miners were killed and
is considered the most deadly mine accident in United Kingdom.
In Japan
An accident occurred in the Japanese Mitsubishi Hojyo coal mine. Back in 1914,
a gas explosion killed around 687 workers. Another accident occurred in 1963
which killed 458 miners in the Mitsui Miike coal mine from carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Japan
Photo by 911Metallurgist
NOVEMBER 2016
Mining Engineering and Its Importance
79