Mining health concerns

Mining has always been known as a profession with a great deal of danger involved. When thinking of mining, often it is coal mining that is pictured, but mining health concerns can be prevalent in other types of mining as well, including uranium mining, copper mining and zinc mining, just to name a few.

In underground mines such as coal mines the first mining health concerns are for the quality and quantity of the air. Miners are dependent upon air being pumped down into the areas where they are working or upon gas masks or breathing apparatus of some type. The mining tunnels can hold pocket of gases which are harmful to breathe as well as having the potential to be combustible. In olden mines the practice was to ignite these pockets then the miner would lie down quickly and let the burning gases race over his body. Now, fans provide much safer means of ventilating areas underground.

Another of the mining health concerns was the black lung disease. This is still unfortunately quite common amongst miners although less frequent now. It was not until 1968 that the public attitude toward this disease and toward other mining disasters began to change and to focus on bringing improvements to the entire industry. The Black Lung Act specified a date by which black lung disease must be eradicated and provided for testing and diagnosis to enforce the law. It also required the owners of the mines to bear all medical, therapeutic and potential death benefits to families of those suffering with Black Lung Disease.

Another of the mining health concerns is the danger of fire or explosion underground. Again, it was not until the major mine disaster in 1968 in Farmington West Virginia in which 78 miners lost their lives that the public was made aware of the dangers and environmental hazards of the mining industry.

Open pit mining such as that found in copper, iron gold and molybdenum pits is done with there are commercial size and quality deposits near the surface in an area. Mining health concerns for open pit minds range from on-the-job accidents, usually involving mining equipment, to cave ins. Lung and bronchial passageway diseases are often found to be more compromised among those who work in a constant environment of airborne particles and dust. Studies drawing a definite correlation between cigarette smoking and mining as an occupation related to number of sick days taken annually show a positive correlation.

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