Mine safety measures

[Uben]

After watching the Chilean rescue and the American miners rescue, I fail to see why mining companies do not pre-drill a 6" hole from the surface down to every "safe room" they have in mines. It would allow them almost instant access to anyone trapped in a safe room, the place they are instructed to go to in case of a collapse. They could pass life-saving oxygen and water, as well as food and medical supplies thru a 6" pipe that would sustain them until a rescue hole could be drilled. I know it would be an expense, but aren't human lives the most important thing?

[MineralMan]

1. Sounds like a very good idea to me.

[grantcart]

2. I think the UMWA has much less expensive and more effective

suggestions about increasing the number of safe rooms and making them harder.

Frankly if all mines in the US were represented by the UMWA it would significantly increase the safety record of the industry.


But rather than picking this method or that method all mineral and petroluem extraction companies should be nationalized and made into a national enterprise.

I say this because when disasters strike (and as we pick off the low hanging mineral and petroleum fruit disasters will become more common and not less as mines and wells have to go deeper and deeper) the market never accounts the full cost to the communities and the country. If it was nationalized then the true cost and benefit would be borne by everyone.

Also if it is reasonable to say that the air above the surface belongs to everyone and cannot be individually owned then why not the area below the surface?

[prole_for_peace]

3. Why do you hate America?

If companies had to insure worker safety it would cut into the profits and their huge bonuses

:sarcasm: kinda

[BeFree]

4. heh

Why not lay a 30'' inch round pipe down as the hole is dug?

You want a sure escape route? I sure as heck would.