(NOTE. This release is issued by direction of the Federal Coal Mine Inspection Act of May 7, 1941 (Public Law 49, 77th Cong.)) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR INFORMATION SERVICE BUREAU OF MINES [For release Tuesday, December 21, 1943] THREE ILLINOIS COAL MINES REINSPECTED Additional safeguards for life and property have been recommended by Federal coal-mine inspectors for three Illinois coal mines following routine reinspections in September, Dr. R. R. Sayers, Director of the Bureau of Mines, announced today. The mines, employing 566 men and producing 4,415 tons of coal daily, are the Florida Coal Co.'s West mine near Coulterville in Randolph County, the Marion County Coal Mining Corp.'s Glenridge mine, and the Centralia Coal Co.'s No. 5 mine, both at Centralia in Marion County. Safety improvements made since the original inspections in 1942 are commended in reports which have been submitted to the operating companies, Dr. Sayers informed Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. WEST MINE Improved ventilation, safer blasting and haulage practices, control of coal dust, and the elimination of ignition hazards were among the major recommendations resubmitted by Inspectors Samuel Pursglove 3d and F. J. Smith for the 1,615-tona-day West mine, which employs 257 men. To increase air in working places, the inspectors suggested detailed improvements in air-coursing facilities and the adoption of a split system of ventilation with overcasts. Regular tests for explosive gas should be made with permissible flame safety lamps, and ignition hazards should be minimized by prohibiting smoking underground, replacing open-flame cap lamps with permissible electric-cap lamps, and restricting the operation of open-type electrical equipment to places unlikely to contain gas, they said. The Bureau representatives also recommended rules for systematic timbering, instructing workers in the vibration method of testing roof, using only permissible explosives handled and fired in a permissible manner, suspending power wires on insulated hangers and guarding them, and establishing a safety organization and first-aid training. Several safety features provided since the first inspection in May 1942 were commended by the inspectors. These included a heavy screen guard for the generator room switchboard, fuse protection for certain switches, a stopblock at the shaft landing, records on daily hoisting equipment inspections, safer methods of drilling shot holes and handling misfires, and placing fire extinguishers in good condition. GLENRIDGE MINE The Glenridge mine, which employs 158 men and produces 1,150 tons of coal daily, should be operated on a gassy basis, Inspectors Frank Kolisek and J. S. Malesky said after analyses of air samples disclosed insufficient oxygen and considerable methane, an explosive gas. Air in working places should be increased by improving ventilating facilities, tests for gas should be made with a permissible flame safety lamp not more than 3 hours before workers enter the mine, and ignition hazards should be eliminated, they added. The report contained other recommendations for using water and additional rock dust to control coal dust, storing and transporting explosives more safely and firing them in a permissible manner, maintaining unobstructed clearance and shelter holes along haulageways, printing and posting rules for systematic timbering, repairing electrical installations, and supervising underground operations more closely. Accident rates were rising, company records showed and the inspectors proposed an aggressive safety program. Outstanding safety improvements made since the first inspection in July 1942 included installing enclosed-type switches in the tipple, repairing the escape-shaft lining, good timbering, instruction of workers in the vibration method of roof testing, better underground storage of explosives and fire runs after blasting, cleaning out airway, new fireproof fan house, rock dust, a ban on running ahead of moving trips, and better ventilation for the underground stable. CENTRALIA NO. 5 MINE Renewing a recommendation submitted after the first inspection in September 1942, Inspectors J. F. Shilling and W. A. Gallagher advised that the Centralia No. 5 mine be operated on a gassy basis. They suggested moving the ventilating fan to the surface, reversing the air current so that haulageways will be ventilated with intake air, using a split system of coursing air, and eliminating ignition hazards. The mine employs 151 men and produces 1,650 tons daily. Company records disclosed that 17 lost-time accidents, including two fatalities, occurred during the first 8 months of 1943. Both deaths were attributed to falls of roof, indicating a need for a standard plan of timbering, use of the vibration method of testing roof, and closer supervision, the inspectors said. Other recommendations called for the use of water and additional rock dust to control dust, safer surface storage of explosives and permissible methods of handling and firing them, adequate clearance and shelter holes and improvement of other haulage conditions and practices, and the elimination of electrical fire and shock hazards. The inspectors commended several safety practices adopted since the original inspection, including safer storage of explosives underground, a check on the locations of oil and gas wells, and daily examinations of certain areas of the mine. Copies of the reports are available for inspection at the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C., and at the Bureau of Mines district office at Vincennes, Ind. COAL-MINE REINSPECTION REPORT NO. 2, NO. 5 MINE, CENTRALIA COAL (By F. J. Gallagher and C. F. Kahre, coal-mine inspectors) This report is based on an inspection made June 5-6, 1944, to obtain information relating to health and safety conditions at this mine in accordance with the provision of the Federal Coal-Mine Inspection and Investigation Act of 1941, H. R. 2082. Improvements made since the last inspection, September 20-22, 1943, are recorded, and additional hazards observed are discussed. Recommendations included in the last report, which are not applicable under present conditions, have been omitted. Recommendations that should be given first consideration are indicated by asterisks (*). One or more of the recommendations in this report may differ from some provision of the mining law or safety orders of the State. The intent is not to advocate noncompliance with the State law but to suggest that it may be advisable for the coal industry to examine such variations to determine if modification of the law or order may be beneficial. GENERAL INFORMATION The mine is opened by two timber-lined shafts approximately 545 feet deep and 100 feet apart. Mining is done in the Illinois No. 6 coal bed which averages 78 inches in thickness in this mine. A total of 226 men is employed; 174 underground and 52 on the surface on two shifts. The average daily production is 1,900 tons of coal. The number of men employed and the daily tonnage has increased since the previous inspection. The mine has an estimated life of about 19 years at the present rate of production. The mine is recognized as gassy by the State department governing mining. SURFACE COAL HANDLING AND HOISTING Open-type electric motors and switches are still being used in the tipple and dust accumulations were noted throughout the building. These conditions were previously reported in the September 1943 report. The wooden coal storage bin in the vicinity of the shaft has not been made fire-resistant, and no fire doors have been erected at the shafts. The hoisting equipment and practices were described in the September 1942 inspection report. The shaft timbering becomes dry during the winter months presenting a serious fire hazard. Hoisting engineers are not required to undergo annual physical examinations. Records are now being kept of the inspections of the hoisting equipment, including ropes and sheave wheels. The sides of the cages are not enclosed and no gates have been provided for use across the open ends of the cages when men are riding. Positive stopblocks have been provided at the surface cage landings; a commendable improvement. Safety catches are examined daily but no tests are made to determine their effectiveness. Signals cannot be given from the cages as reported previously. 1. Motors in the tipple should be of the dustproof type. It is recognized that such motors may be difficult to obtain because of war conditions. Therefore, for the present, measures should be taken to minimize the possibility of dust aċcumulations or dust clouds about motors. Any replacements of or additions to, the present motors should be of dustproof type, if practicable. 2. Thorough cleaning of coal dust from the tipple should be done frequently, preferably daily. 3. The wooden coal-storage bin should be made fire-resistant, or fire doors should be installed at effective points in the shafts. *4. The shaft linings should be fireproofed, or adequate protection should be provided against fire. 5. Hoisting engineers should undergo annual physical examinations. The physician's report of such examinations should be posted. *6. The sides of the cages should be fully enclosed, and gates should be provided for use across the open ends of the cages when men are riding. *7. Tests should be made at least every 2 months and a written record kept of the test; preferably, drop tests should be made. 8. A signal device should be arranged at the surface and bottom landings so that signals can be given from the cages. SURFACE BUILDINGS The conditions in the wash house and lamp house were essentially unchanged except the naphtha for safety lamps is kept in an approved container. The wash house still has only one exit and a disinfectant to prevent the spread of foot infections has not been provided. 1. There should be at least two exits from the wash house. 2. The wash house should have facilities for preventing the spread of foot infection. If foot baths are used the disinfectant should be changed daily. GENERAL SURFACE CONDITIONS Materials and timbers were neatly and safely stored, and roads and paths were free of obstructions in the surface yards. Fire protection on the surface as previously reported was adequate and oil is safely stored. Surface buildings and surrounding areas were neat and orderly except for coal-dust accumulations in the tipple. Illumination was adequate in all surface buildings. METHOD OF MINING AND TIMBERING The room-and-pillar method of mining is followed, pillars are not extracted, and about 50 percent of the coal is recovered. There is no systematic method of timbering in effect at the mine. In several instances it was noted that timbering was not carried close enough to the working faces to afford adequate protection. Safety posts or temporary cross bars are not being used. An adequate supply of cap pieces of suitable size was on hand. Roof is tested by sounding with a pick, and no roof-testing rods are provided for officials or men working at the face. *1. A method of systematic timbering should be adopted and a plan thereof posted; the timbering method should be strictly enforced. *2. Timbers should be set as close as practicable to all working faces and a sufficient number of safety posts or temporary cross bars should be set in all face areas before coal loading is begun. *3. Officials should test exposed roof in working places visited and roof along haulageways with a special roof-testing rod. Special testing rods should also be provided for the use of men working at the face. STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION, AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES The explosives-storage magazine has not been altered, and has not been barricaded on all sides as previously recommended. Also, the space between the inner and outer walls has not been filled with sand, and the area surrounding the magazine has not been cleared of dry grass and brush. The door, however, is locked with two five-tumbler padlocks and "Danger" signs have been properly posted. Screened ventilators have not been provided. The detonator magazine complies fully with Bureau of Mines requirements. Permissible explosives primed with detonator and fuze are still used to blast the coal. Fuze is ignited by means of a carbide lamp. Explosives are safely transported and stored underground. The timing of shots is dependent upon various lengths of fuze; hence, shots are fired in rapid succession. No fire runs are made after blasting and no tests for gas are made before or after firing. *1. Shots should be fired only with electric detonators of proper strength; permissible shot-firing units should be used. 2. Shots should not be fired in rapid succession. *3. Fire runs should be made after blasting and tests for explosive gas should be made before and after firing. VENTILATION AND MINE GASES The mine is ventilated by means of a reversible-type fan described in the previous inspection reports. The fan was operated blowing and was delivering 61,000 cubic feet of air a minute. As previously reported, the fan is installed underground 100 feet south of the air shaft. The fan is not enclosed by an incombustible housing, and no explosion doors or weak wall construction is provided to allow for pressure relief in the event of an explosion. The volume of air being circulated has increased since the previous inspection due to cleaning falls in air courses as recommended. The quantity of air was adequate except in the 21 and 22 south entries off 4 west and 18 and 19 south off 4 west, where less than 6,000 cubic feet a minute was found passing through the last crosscut. The air is directed to the working faces over one continuous course, and the general method of ventilation was the same as reported after the September 1942 inspection. Stoppings in entries were of wooden construction, and doors were erected singly and equipped with latches. All doors, however, were self-closing, an improvement since the previous inspection. In some instances, crosscuts are at intervals exceeding 60 feet. No stoppings are built in room crosscuts and line brattice is not used. The air passes through old workings that are not regularly inspected before reaching the working sections. Haulage roads and hoisting are in return air. A relatively small amount of methane was being liberated in the mine during this inspection. However, a sample collected during the September 1942 inspection contained 0.38 percent methane, a sufficient amount to warrant rating and operating the mine as gassy. Also, numerous oil wells have been driven through this coal bed in this mine, some of which are liberating methane. These conditions call for constant vigilance by mine officials and emphasze the necessity of maintaining adequate ventilation at all working faces. The mine is recognized as gassy by the State department governing mining. No gas was detected during the inspection by means of a permissible flame safety lamp. It was stated that no gas has been detected since the mine was opened. Preshift examinations are made, and the fire bosses use permissible flame safety lamps. Face bosses likewise use permissible flame safety lamps, however, these men continue to ride into and out of the mine on a locomotive. TABLE 1.-Analyses of air samples collected, June 5-6, 1944 Analyses of air samples given in table 1 show that ventilation was inadequate in the 4 west section as the air contained less than 20 percent oxygen and more than 0.5 percent carbon dioxide. *1. The fan should be installed on the surface in a fireproof housing and be offset at least 25 feet from the nearest side of the mine opening. 2. Ample pressure relief or explosion doors should be provided. *3. The quantity of air reaching the last open crosscut in any pair of working entries should be at least 6,000 cubic feet a minute. *4. Entry stoppings should be constructed of incombustible material. *5. Main doors should be erected in pairs to form air locks; they should not be provided with latches. *6. A split ventilation system utilizing air crossings should be used instead of doors for conducting ventilation in all main passageways. *7. Intervals between crosscuts should not exceed 60 feet. 8. Gob-wall or tight board stoppings should be used in room crosscuts. *9. Places should not be worked on an air current that has passed through abandoned workings that are not or cannot be regularly inspected. *10. Haulage and hoisting openings and main and intermediate haulageways should be on intake air. It is recognized, particularly in view of war conditions, that changes in ventilation to comply with this standard are of such magnitude that it would be impracticable to carry them out at present. However, such changes should be made as soon as feasible. *11. All entries, rooms, or sections that cannot be well ventilated and inspected, or are not used for coursing the air or transportation, should be sealed by strong fireproof stoppings. 12. Mine examiners should not use locomotives for transportation when making inspections. *13. Air in which men are required to work or travel should contain at least 20 percent oxygen and not more than 0.5 percent carbon dioxide. MINE DUSTS AND ROCK DUSTING Accumulations of coal dust were noted along haulage roads and in rooms. Dusty atmospheres were prevalent during cutting and loading operations. No means are used to allay this dust. Dust samples collected during the previous inspection indicated that additional rock dusting was required. No samples were collected during this inspection; additional rock dusting has not been done, so the condition is unchanged. *1. Water or a wetting solution should be applied to the cutter bars of mining machines and the loading heads of conveyors to allay the dust. *2. All open, unsealed places in the mine should be thoroughly rock-dusted to within at least 40 feet of the faces so that the incombustible content of the resultant dust will be 65 percent plus an additional 1 percent for every 0.1 percent of methane in the mine air. *3. Dust accumulations should be loaded into cars and removed from the mine. HAULAGE The surface haulage tracks are well maintained. However, frogs, switches, and guardrails are not blocked; some of the switches are not equipped with switch throws. This also applies to conditions underground. Car droppers do not wear safety belts when handling railroad cars at the tipple, as previously reported. Haulage roads throughout the mine are generally dirty. Clearance is inadequate and shelter holes are not provided. A clearance of 12 inches is being maintained on the trolley wire side as recommended. Cars are still being pushed and trip riders ride on the front end of trips. Trip riders also jump on and off moving trips. As previously reported, no trip lights are used, and tocomotives are not equipped with gongs and do not carry jacks or other suitable rerailers. Men continue to ride on the trolley wire side of man-trips, and some employees were noted leaving the trip before it came to a full stop. 1. Track switches on the surface and underground should be complete with switch throws; the rod extending from the bridle bar to the throw should be covered so as to eliminate stumbling hazards. 2. Frogs, switches, and guardrails should be blocked; this applies to surface and underground. 3. Car droppers handling railroad cars at the tipple should wear safety belts. 4. Haulage roads should be kept free of coal spillage and debris. |