Mining 1830 - 1920
W. Griem, 2006 - 2021
Mine Safety
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Text: Introduction
Mining accidents
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Intro Mining History
Accidente: De: "La Vie Souterraine Du Les Mines et les
Mineures" (Paris 1867) - Foto grande
- 1 -
Treutler (1882):"I was impressed by the large number of blind people who
met here. They didn't need to beg, but they sat quietly in front of
their..."
Simonin (1869): Mine accident due to collapse.
Total figure in Simonin
Introduction to mining history 1830 - 1920
Massification of mining, the increase in the use of machinery, and the deepening rate, the rate of accidents increased. Besides, the consciousness of latent dangers such as gases, dust (silicosis), and others arrived.
The mines were very unsafe according to today's
standards, mainly because of a lack of resources and a lack of
expertise. Literature of that time took this topic often up. The French
book "La Vie Souterraine du Les Mines et les Mineures" (Paris 1867)
shows quite impressively and drastically the non-compliance with the
safety regulations on the part of the miners.
However, we must
assume that the miner was very careful to work safely and, if possible,
without an accident in the shaft. He knew that rescue was almost
impossible in the deep labyrinths of that time. There were hardly any
hospitals; they were far away and undoubtedly expensive.
The
treatment methods and medications were, as one might imagine, not always
helpful. It should have been clear to every miner that only accident
prevention protects. Of course, many accidents have been provoked by the
lack of technology or poor construction and working materials (ladders,
explosives, etc.) and a lack of geological knowledge or extremely long
working hours.
In the literature (e. g. Treutler), in Copiapó, a
more significant number of blind men lived, which is interpreted as an
indication of frequent explosions. Also, the public showed great respect
for these people, and there was generous support from the population.
(see below *1)
One of the miners' central demands during this
time was, therefore, to secure the mine. The accidents damaged the miner
and his professional future. Mine safety quickly became a significant
issue in the development of trade union organizations.
Of
course, the major mining accidents had a significant impact on general
security policy. For example, in the Radbod coal mine in 1908, about 348
miners were killed. This accident finally led to a reorientation in
occupational safety, and the authorities introduced a control body. In
Chile, accidents were also frequent in the mines during this period.
Paul Treutler describes a blasting accident at the Cobriza mine in Tres
Puntas around 1853. [Accidente en la mina
Cobriza]
Several achievements can easily recognize
the European, especially English, influence.
That is reflected in a
letter that a miner from Cornwall, England, wrote in a letter to his
parents:
"We have got some of the Tuckingmill safety in our mine,
but I have seen some rope yarn in other mines. They do call it safety
fuse; it is brought from England the natives are afraid of it."
List of some mining accidents | ||
Year | Mine | Information |
1376 | Rammelsberg / Germany | More than 100 dead in mine collapse. [Aquí: Rammelsberg, Harz (Groddeck, 1879)] |
1866 | Yorkshire /Inglaterra [Coal] | Explosion of firedamp gas [388 fatalities] |
1869 | Freital / Alemania [Coal] | Explosion of firedamp gas [276 fatalities] |
1878 | Harz, Germany [Ag, Cu, Pb] | Breakage of the iron Guide rod of the "men machine" o Fahrkunst [11 fatalities] - [Here: Men machine (Leo, 1861)] |
1892 | Bohemia, Pribram / Mine - Ag | Fire at 950 meters deep [319 fatalities] |
1906 | Courrieres, France [Coal] | Mine explosion [1099 fatalities] |
1908 | Radbrod, Germany [Coal] | Mine fire, flooding of firefighting workings [348 dead]: Start of a new mine safety policy in Germany |
1913 | Gales [Coal] | Explosions [439 fatalities] |
1917 | Germany, Bochum [Coal] | Fall of the cage from 400 meters height to the pique. [41 dead] - Aquí: Safety Cage (Simonin 1869) |
1942 | China, Benxiu [Coal] | Coal particle explosion potentially the most serious accident in mining history [1549 dead]. |
1946 | Germany, Bergkamen [Coal] | firedamp gas - Explosion [405 dead] |
1946 | Mine Riedel, Germany [Sal] | Explosives warehouse accident [86 fatalities] |
1960 | China, Shanxi [Coal] | 682 fatalities |
1963 | Lengede, Germany [Fierro] | Flooding of the mine due to tailings dam breakage, 29 dead, 11 miners were surprisingly found alive, 14 days after the accident they returned to daylight. |
2010 | San José, Chile [Cu] | 33 miners trapped in a 700-meter deep shaft; rescue achieved 69 days after accident [no fatalities]. - [Aquí: Accident San José] |
W.Griem / www.geovirtual2.cl |
Foto:
Accident: From: "La Vie Souterraine Du Les Mines et les Mineures" (Paris
1867) - Foto grande
Literature and Links
Bibliographical reference
TREUTLER, PAUL (1882): Fünfzehn Jahre in Südamerika an de Ufern des Stillen
Ozeans. - 3 Bd., Seite 50; Weltpostverlag, Leipzig.
Full letter in English: thanks: Thanks to Sharron P. Schwartz
(University of Exeter) - for the permissions.
http://www.ex.ac.uk/cornishlatin/Lettertuckingmillminer.htm
Literatura:
PHILIPPI, RUDOLPH AMANDUS (1860): REISE DURCH DIE WUESTE ATACAMA AUF BEFEHL
DER CHILENISCHEN REGIERUNG IM SOMER 1853-54 UNTERNOMMEN UND BESCHRIEBEN.
VON DR... NEBST EINER KARTE UND XXVII TAFELN HALLE Eduard Anton 1860
Fuentes:
Historia del Partido Socialdemócrata en Alemania (en alemán)
http://www.dh-museum.com/lemo/html/kaiserreich/innenpolitik/spd2
SIMONIN, L. (1867): La vie Soutterraine ou les mines et les mineurs. - Paris,
Libraire de L. Hachette et G.
Mining Atacama
History of Atacama
History of mining 1830-1920
Intro
epoch 1830-1920
Technical innovations
Scientific innovations
Social conscience
Educational impulse
●
Mine safety
Globalization
Records of the period::
Gilliss: Apires
and barreteros
Work conditions of miners
Los Mineros (Tornero 1872)
Apires y barreteros - Tornero
General Geology:
History of Geosciences
Mining
Historical sketches mining
Chapter "History of
Geology"
Historia de las geociencias
Mining history of Atacama
Mining
from 1830 to 1920
List of minig districts of Atacama
Mining in Atacama
Chañarcillo
Tres Puntas
Carrizal Alto
Cerro Blanco
Lomas Bayas
Cabeza de Vaca
Visitors and
scientists
List of visitors
R.A. Philippi in Atacama
Paul Treutler
in Atacama
Charles Darwin, Atacama (1835)
Ignacio Domeyko y Copiapó
Kunz en Copiapó
Hugo Kunz en Chañarcillo
Gilliss Mineros en Chañarcillo
Visitantes y Autores
Listado de Visitantes
R.A. Philippi en Atacama
Paul Treutler en Atacama
Charles Darwin, Atacama (1835)
Ignacio Domeyko y Copiapó
Kunz en Copiapó
Hugo Kunz en Chañarcillo
Gilliss Mineros en Chañarcillo
Additional
information
Timeline Atacama
Mining history of Atacama
The railroad history of Atacama
Cartas y Mapas de Atacama
Cartas históricas de Atacama
Listado de personajes de Atacama
Others
The railroad history of Atacama
History
of Atacama
Mining history of Atacama
Geología Atacama
Climate of the Atacama Region
Virtual viewpoint Atacama
Literature and links:
List of bibliography:
Here
Bibliographical reference
●
SIMONIN, L. (1869): Underground
life, Mines y Miners. - 522 páginas, Translated by H.W. Bristol; London;
Chapman & Hall; 1869. (Collection W. Griem) -
see page with more links
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