Mine safety

 

        We’ve talked about this before, but a sit-down session with Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) brought back into focus some issues that all miners, small or large scale, need to always keep in mind.

        There I go, using one of two words I say you should never use… always and never.  Okay, I used both!

        I guess this is the exception, because we’re talking safety here.  Historically, the newspapers regularly reported accidents occurring at the mines.  Fatalities, obviously, made big news. They also reported, however, loss of vision, smashed feet and hands, and a large variety of head wounds. The details were often gruesome, but here’s one that applies to placer miners and isn’t quite as grizzly:

        “Troy, Dakota Territory June 4^th, 1877

        Editor Times: -- During the forenoon yesterday, while John Lutz was at work underground, sluicing on claim No. 7, Bobtail Gulch, the earth fell in upon him, completely covering him.  The miners in the immediate vicinity ran to his rescue and succeeded in releasing him after being much bruised and mangled externally, and severely injured internally.  He was carefully conveyed to his cabin where he remained conscious up to about 5 p.m., when he expired.”

            Now I will ask you… how many times have you undercut an exposed wall of gravel, thinking to get that shovelful or two of good ore? Then, when you see multiple flecks or flakes… you take enough more to run a bucket ot two through the sluice.  Pretty soon, you’re flat on your stomach, head and shoulders deep getting just a shovelful or two more!

        Did you notice that dribble of gravel by your left hip? John Lutz probably didn’t notice it either before the rock caved in on him!

        Ignorance can kill… a classic example being when we toured a claim with US Forest Service and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  They know their stuff, right?  I can tell you which ones knew and which ones didn’t by how close they ventured to a historic shaft on Forest Service property.  Five out of nine surveyed the shaft from a safe distance, three ventured too close for safety, and one grabbed a wire fence straggling from an old rotted post and swung to and fro looking down the shaft!

        Speaking of old mines, we captured this photo of a historic mine and millsite over the weekend. We caution all to avoid entering such workings.  This property is extremely remote and a mine rescue would constitute several hours to just access the location!

        So stop, think and even listen!  If I’m digging and a few pebbles rattle down, I immediately address that potential failure and bring it down in front of me rather than allow it to drop on me!

        Also, you rock hounds out there… when you buy that rock pick you’ve been lusting after, be sure to buy those safety glasses to save your eyes!

 

        I’ll conclude this with something not always considered a safety risk in the Black Hills… livestock. We took this picture over the weekend after determining that a log fence provided substantial barrier for protection.  Grazing livestock should be respected as much as any wildlife you might find out there.  We’ve seen aggressive cows protecting their calf, and a bull is about as unpredictable as it gets!

        So no loader buckets of gold yet, but we’ll be mining safely when we do get there.