During the first 9 calendar years of operation under Public Law 49, 103,166 nonfatal injuries occurred and the average rate was 80.97. On a percentage basis, this means a reduction of 23 percent in the number of nonfatal injuries and a reduction of 23 percent in the average nonfatal-injury rate. During the 9 years before Federal inspection of coal mines, 9,078 men were killed in the bituminous-coal and lignite mines of the United States, and the average number of fatalities per million man-hours exposure was 1.45. During the first 9 calendar years of operation under Public Law 49, 8,205 men were killed, and the average rate was 1.19. On a percentage basis, this means a reduction of 10 percent in the number of fatalities and of 18 percent in the average fatality rate. During the 9 years before Federal inspection of coal mines, 407,787 nonfatal lost-time injuries occurred in the bituminous-coal and lignite mines of the United States, and the average number of nonfatal injuries per million man-hours exposure was 65.22. During the first 9 calendar years of operation under Public Law 49, 388,555 nonfatal injuries occurred, and the average rate was 56.27. On a percentage basis, this means a reduction of 5 percent in the number of nonfatal injuries and a reduction of 14 percent in the average nonfatal-injury rate. Attention is drawn to the fact that, generally, injury rates were on an upward trend during the 9 years before Federal inspection of coal mines was begun, but during the 9 calendar years of Federal inspection the trend was downward; under such circumstances, a comparison of average rates attained before and after Federal inspection was commenced is misleading and does not represent a true picture of the facts. The true picture is revealed by graphs that depict the general trend in injury rates, and such trends are now discussed. The general trend in fatal injuries per million man-hours exposure, portal to portal, in the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania was upward during the 9 years before 1941. In 1942 the trend was reversed and has been favorable ever since, as indicated in figure 1 of appendix G. The fatality rate of 0.75 in 1950 was the best annual record in the statistical history of anthracite mining. The general trend in nonfatal injuries per million man-hours exposure, portal to portal, in the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania was upward before 1941. However, since that year the trend has been downward, and by 1950 the rate reached an all-time low of 71.72, as shown in figure 2 of appendix G. The general trend in fatal injuries per million man-hours exposure, portal to portal, in the bituminous-coal and lignite mines of the United States was upward during the 9 years before 1941. Since then, the trend has been downward, and in 1949 the record-low rate of 0.92 was attained, as indicated in figure 3 of appendix G. The general trend in nonfatal injuries per million man-hours exposure, portal to portal, in the bituminous-coal and lignite mines of the United States has been favorable since 1935, as shown in figure 4 of appendix G. The all-time low of 47.83 was attained in 1950. A record of the number of fatal and nonfatal injuries that have occurred in the coal mines of the United States since 1932 is shown in table 1 of appendix G. The low mark of 593 killed in 1949 (16 of which occurred at strip mines) was realized during an exposure of approximately 581 million man-hours at underground mines and 61 million man-hours at strip mines. In 1939, when the tonnage produced was about the same as that mined in 1949, 1,078 persons were killed (9 at strip mines) during an exposure of approximately 736 million man-hours at underground mines and 24 million man-hours at strip mines. A comparison of the data for these 2 years reveals &. decrease of 45 percent in the number of fatalities, with a decrease of only 16 percent in the man-hours of exposure, and indicates that progress is being made in reducing mine injuries. The number of major coal-mine disasters in the United States and the fatalities resulting from them are listed for each year since 1932 in table 2 of appendix G. A major disaster is defined as any accident that causes the death of 5 or more persons, and it is gratifying to report that no such disaster occurred in the coal mines of this country from November 4, 1948, to January 18, 1951, an unprecedented disaster-free period. Major improvements made in coal mines during the last 10 years contributed much to the favorable decrease in the injury rates. The records show that a systematic roof-support plan was adopted in 1,866 mines; the use of dangerous black powder was discontinued in 1,037 mines; new main fans were installed at 2,010 mines; auxillary blower fans with tubing were removed from 473 mines; preshift examinations for gas and other dangers were begun in 2,147 mines; onshift examinations for gas were begun in 1,688 mines; the use of water to allay dust was initiated in 867 mines; 1,407 mines were rock-dusted for the first time? second openings were provided in 660 mines; smoking was discontinued in 1,186 mines; and the use of open lights was discontinued in 1,049 mines. (For reference, see appendix H.) Credit for the favorable results attained during the past 10 years cannot be ascribed rightfully to the efforts of any one group or agency, but it is well-known that Federal activities under Public Law 49 have been, and continue to be, a great influence in giving deserved attention to health and safety in coal mines. The cooperative efforts of management, labor, State inspection agencies, manufacturers of mining equipment, coal operators' associations, the Federal Bureau of Mines, and other agencies interested in mine safety have brought about the improvements in conditions and practices that have resulted in a reduction in coal-mine injuries. The Bureau of Mines has made the following contributions toward the many improvements in coal mines that have had a desirable effect on health, safety, and injury records: In 1. There are approximately 8,400 active coal mines in the United States. all, 41,986 regular Federal inspections of coal mines have been made since Public Law 49 became effective in May 1941; 8,971 of these inspections were made during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1951. Currently, funds are being appropriated for the employment of 250 coal-mine inspectors to perform the inspection and related work. 2. The revised coal mine accident prevention course for supervisors was introduced in the coal-mining industry by the Bureau of Mines on March 1, 1948. Since that date, 12,276 supervisors and those aspiring to official positions have completed such training conducted by mining engineers of the Coal Mine Inspection Branch employed for that purpose. 3. The revised coal mine accident prevention course for miners was introduced in the coal-mining industry by the Bureau of Mines on January 1, 1947. Since that date, 34,832 mine workers have completed such training, conducted by Federal coal-mine inspectors assigned temporarily to educational work. 4. A coal-mine-haulage safety course was introduced in the coal-mining industry on April 1, 1951, by the Bureau of Mines. During the 3 months remaining in the fiscal year 1951, 8,538 haulage employees and others completed such training conducted by Federal coal-mine inspectors. 5. A roof-fall accident-prevention course was initiated by the Bureau of Mines in May 1951. The course was completed during the fiscal year and will be introduced to the industry by Federal coal-mine inspectors during the fiscal year 1952. This course is designed to impress upon mine officials and workmen the need for more adequate roof-control measures and to make all concerned more roof conscious. 6. The Federal Mine Safety Code for Bituminous-Coal and Lignite Mines of the United States was issued by the Director of the Bureau of Mines on July 24, 1946, after consultation with management and labor representatives of the coalmining industry. This code has been used by Federal coal mine inspectors during their inspection of bituminous-coal and lignite mines as a basis for determining the existence of unhealthful and unsafe conditions and practices in these mines. Under the agreement of May 29, 1946, between the Secretary of the Interior, acting as Coal Mines Administrator under authority of Executive Order 9728, and the United Mine Workers of America covering bituminous-coal and lignite mines in Government possession, Federal coal mine inspectors were charged with the responsibility of making periodic investigations of the mines and reporting to the Coal Mines Administrator any violations of the Federal Mine Safety Code. They were active in making prompt investigations of hazardous mines that had been closed by order of the Coal Mines Administrator to determine whether enough improvements had been made to allow the mines to reopen. Federal coal-mine inspectors also has authority to close mines they found to be imminently dangerous, but such authority was removed on June 30, 1947, when Government control of the mines ended. 7. The Safety Standards for Anthracite Mines were prepared by personnel of the Bureau of Mines and are used by Federal coal-mine inspectors as a basis for determining unhealthful and unsafe conditions and practices during their inspections of the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania. 8. Public Law 328, Eightieth Congress, chapter 450, first session, effective for 1 year following its approval on August 4, 1947, required the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Mines, to submit quarterly reports to the Congress of the United States with respect to the conditions of all bituminous-coal and lignite mines inspected by Federal coal-mine inspectors, all recommendations and notices to the State agencies, and action taken by such mine owners, operators, and the State agencies with respect to his findings and recommendations. 9. Introduction of the bolting method of roof control to the coal-mining industry by the Bureau of Mines in 1948 is a major contribution toward reducing coal-mine accidents. Falls of roof and coal cause more than half the fatalities in coal mines of the United States, and there was no general departure from the orthodox method of roof support by timbering until 1948, when the Bureau of Mines perfected and generall introduced the roof-bolting method of controlling mine roofs. The efficiency, practicality, and economy of roof bolting are indicated by the fact that, in the short term of 3 years, 494 coal mines and 54 noncoal mines have adopted this method of roof control to various extents; in some large mines boits are used exclusively for controlling the roof. The success of this new method of roof control shows that it is likely to surpass the use of rock dust as a means of preventing loss of life and serious injuries in coal mines. Certain Federal coal-mine inspectors who have been especially trained in mine roof control and roof bolting are in constant demand by mine operators to determine if roof bolting is practical and, if so, to recommend a plan of bolting suitable to the conditions in their respective mines. Before roof bolting is begun in any mine, the Bureau of Mines makes the foilowing recommendations: Controlled experiments to determine whether roof bolting is applicable should be made in conformance with procedures worked out by the Bureau of Mines. Bureau experiments are made under controlled conditions, with auxiliary conventional supports during the initial experimentation. After a safe and economical method of bolting is determined, no deviation from this method should be made without a new experimental period. Also, if roof conditions change radically from those encountered during the initial experimental period, there should be a new experimental period. The advent of roof bolting brought with it the health hazard from dusts produced during drilling in roof rock. The Bureau has been active in eliminating this hazard by cooperating with manufacturers of mining equipment in designing effective dust collectors that may be used in lieu of water to allay such dust at its source. 10. Federal coal-mine inspectors began investigating all coal-mine fatalities by order of Bureau of Mines Director James Boyd on March 10, 1950. The reports of these investigations are made available to industry and the information in them is summarized and published annually with the hope that it will be helpful in preventing accidents in coal mines. 11. Special studies covering roof control, explosives, fires, explosions, mining, electricity, haulage, ventilation, and control of atmospheric dusts are being made continually as part of the health and safety program set up under the Coal Mine Inspection and Investigation Act (Public Law 49). Reports of findings and recommendations are made available to the coal-mining industry. 12. Since 1947 personnel of the Bureau of Mines has assisted in preparing proposed revisions of the coal mining laws of 12 States. Such revisions have been adopted in Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Tennessee, and Wyoming. The Bureau of Mines will continue to furnish this service to any agencies directly concerned with improving State mining laws, such as labor organizations, coal operators' associations, and State officials. This contribution is another major and vitally important step taken by the Bureau of Mines to fulfill its obligation to the coal mining industry. Despite all these influences ard the improvements in conditions and practices, far too many men are being injured and killed in coal mines. The coal mines in the United States are in better condition from the standpoint of health and safety than at any other time in the history of the industry; however, much remains to be done before the conditions in many mines can be considered even fairly satisfactory. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1951, Federal coal mine inspectors reported an average of 19 unsafe conditions and practices per mine inspected; 49 percent of the inspection reports transmitted during the year indicated dangers of a serious nature that were not corrected, and only 27 percent of all the dangers reported by Federal coal mine inspectors were corrected during the year, as indicated in appendix J and appendix K. These data are evidence that more incentives, more safety training, additional technologic improvements, and more adequate and modern State mining laws are needed to reduce the incidence of coal mine accidents further. An additional incentive would be provided if Federal coal mine inspectors were given authority to order withdrawal of men from a mine or any part of a mine in which serious danger exists if prompt action is not taken to eliminate the danger. The time to eliminate unsafe conditions and practices is when they are discoveredeven a minimum of delay may result in tragedy that could be avoided by removing persons from the unsafe area. The 1950 fatality record for the coal mining industry was the best ever attained; it can be improved by constant prodding, proper training, effective planning, and determined cooperative efforts. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Section 8 of Public Law 49 provides for the appointment of an advisory committee composed of not more than six members to exercise consultative functions, when required by the Secretary of the Interior, in connection with the administration of the act. The following persons constitute the present members of the committee: Thomas Kennedy, vice president, United Mine Workers of America, W. A. Boyle, assistant to the president, United Mine Workers of America John T. Jones, president, District 16, United Mine Workers of America, L. C. Campbell, vice president, Eastern Gas & Fuel Associates, coal Harry Treadwell, vice president, Chicago, Wilmington & Franklin Coal E. C. Weichel, vice president, the Hudson Coal Co., Scranton, Pa. September 3, 1941, at Washington, D. C. EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL Coal-mine inspectors and engineers of the Coal-Mine Inspection Branch are selected from the civil service register, and applicants must meet the rigid requirements set up by the United States Civil Service Commission before their names can be included in the register. The current requirements for the several grades of Federal coal-mine inspector are as follows: United States Civil Service Commission requirements for Federal coal-mine inspectors Sample of work.-Applicants must submit with their application a 250-word description of some phase of coal mining, such as a description of the ventilating system, haulage system, or timbering methods used in a mine familiar to the applicant. The description must be prepared by the applicant, and he must certify in his own handwriting that he received no assistance in composing it. Applicants who fail to submit this sample of their work or who submit unsatisfactory samples will receive no further consideration. Experience. Applicants must show, as a minimum, the quality and amount of experience prescribed below unless they substitute education for experience (see Substitution of education for experience below). To establish eligibility in any grade, at least 1 year of the required experience for that grade must have been acquired during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing application. This recency of experience requirements will be waived for applicants whose qualifving experience was interrupted by service in the Armed Forces of the United States after May 15, 1940. GS-9, $4,600: 6 years of progressive experience in practical coal mining, of which at least 2 years must have been specialized experience in coal-mining operations of moderate difficulty, which involved responsibility for providing and applying adequate modern safety and health programs in coal mines in a position of at least the responsibility required of a mine superintendent, mine foreman, mining engineer, or safety inspector. The nature of the experience must have been such as to demonstrate initiative, resourcefulness, and ability to perform important coal-mine-inspection work under only general supervision. GS-11, $5,400: 7 years of progressive coal-mining experience, of which three or more years must have been specialized experience that required supervision of difficult, important, and responsible work, subject only to general supervision and review, in a position of at least the responsibility required of a mine superintendent, mine foreman, mining engineer, or safety engineer. The experience must have included the direction, application, and enforcement of modern coal mine safety and health programs. This experience must also have demonstrated that the applicant has (1) a thorough knowledge of the basic principles applicable to modern programs for promotion of safety and health in coal mines; (2) the resourcefulness, initiative, and ability to perform, direct, and coordinate moderately large scale mine-inspection work of considerable difficulty; and (3) administrative ability, tact, and judgment necessary to conduct conferences in promotion of programs for improved safety, health, and working conditions in coal mines. GS-12, $6,400: 8 years of progressive experience in the various operations necessary in exploration, development, and production in coal mines, including at least 4 years of very difficult, important, and responsible specialized work that was subject to only general administrative supervision, in a capacity such as direct supervisor. This work must have included full responsibility for directive and applying modern coal mine safety and health programs. This experience must have demonstrated that the applicant has (1) a thorough knowledge of basic principles applicable in modern programs for promotion of health and safety in coal mines; (2) the resourcefulness, initiative, and ability required in a position of at least the responsibility of mine manager, mine superintendent, mining engineer, or safety engineer; (3) the ability to perform, direct, and coordinate large-scale mine-inspection work of unusual difficulty; and (4) administrative ability of a high order, along with the tact and judgment necessary to conduct important conferences with interested parties, such as coal-mine operators, labor organizations, and the general public on matters related to safety and health of workers engaged in coal mining. Provisions of law.-Section 9 of the Coal Mine Inspection and Investigation Act under which those positions are established provides: "That in the selection of persons for appointment as coal mine inspectors no person shall be so selected unless he has the basic qualification of at least 5 years' practical experience in the mining of coal, and is recognized by the United States Bureau of Mines as having the training or experience of a practical mining engineer in those essentials necessary for competent coal mine inspection." The provisions of law quoted above are made a part of the requirements of this examination. Persons whose qualifications are not such as to receive the recognition of the Bureau of Mines as required by law cannot be accorded an eligible rating in this examination. Part-time or unpaid experience. Credit will be given for all valuable experience of the type required regardless of whether compensation was received or whether the experience was gained in a part-time occupation. Part-time or unpaid experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Substitution of education for experience. Successfully completed courses of study in engineering at a college or university of recognized standing may be substituted for part of the required general experience on the basis of 1 year of education for 6 months of experience. Such substitution will be limited to 1 year of required general experience in GS-9 grade and to 2 years of required general experience in the GS-11 and GS-12 grades. Ability to drive automobile.-Applicants must give evidence that they can drive an automobile. Physical ability.-Applicants must be physically capable of performing efficiently the arduous duties of this position. They must be free of defects or diseases that may constitute employment hazards to themselves or endanger fellow employees or others. They must be capable of sustained physical exertion for 6 to 8 hours per day under hazardous conditions, such as walking over rock fails or steep pitches, in adverse atmospheric conditions, or under low roof where it is frequently necessary to crawl on the hands and knees. In emergencies following a mine disaster they may be required to work for as long as 2 hours at a time carrying mine rescue apparatus, which weighs about 40 pounds. Vision must be at least |