Annual Review – Mineral Industry Health and Safety, 1955

With statistics still incomplete, it appears that the safety record of the mineral industry for 1955 will do well to hold its own in comparison with 1954. On the one hand, metal mining shows an improvement in its record, due in part to intensive campaigns for preventing ground fall accidents. Coal mining, on the other hand, is showing a poorer record in 1955 than for the preceding year. While no major disasters occurred during the year, increased fatalities resulted from ground fall, haulage, and machinery accidents. It seems probable that increased job training may serve to improve the situation. Health: Utilization of diesel equipment continues to increase in noncoal mines, in spite of existing prejudice. In 1955 two types of diesel-driven tractors and one shuttle car were approved by the USBM. Where diesel engines are used controlled ventilation is mandatory in order to keep the CO content under 20 ppm, but such ventilation is not difficult to achieve with normal equipment.