IC 7562 Report of the Health and Safety Division, Fiscal Year 1949

Through education, investigations, and studies and an expanded coal- mino inspection program the Bureau continued to dischargo the responsibility placed on it by Congress 39 years ago for promoting safety and health in the mineral industries. Although much still remains to be dono, definite progress was made in combating physical and psychological hazards in mines and plants. Accident-prevention cours os for coal-mine supervisory officials and special courses for coal-mine safety committeeman were inaugurated. First- aid, mine rescue, and other safety training was conducted for those engaged in all branches of the mineral industries. Assistance was given in recovery work after mine explosions and fires. Studies to reduce the danger of roof falls, the greatest single cause of fatal mine accidents, resulted in the development and adoption of new coal-mine roof-support techniques. Knowledge of the explosion and health hazards of mine and plant dusts and ways of pre-. venting them were advanced. Electrical equipment was tested for safety of operation in gassy coal mines, and emergency mine communications apparatus was developed and tested. More progress was made in the study of controlling flood waters that threaten life and property in the Pennsylvania anthracite region. More coal-mine inspections were made than in any previous year, and an impressive number of improvements resulted from the Federal inspectors' recommendations, even though many of them went unheeded. A program of con- trolling fires in inactive coal deposits on the public domain and private property was instituted during the year.