IC 7365 Safety Record Of Mine No. 7, Island Creek Coal Co., Holden, Logan County, W. Va.

Since its beginning, the occupation of coal mining has been considered hazardous. It is true that there are hazards inherent in mining, but it is believed that most of them, at least, can be guarded against. Moreover, many man-made hazards can be eliminated by officials and workers adopting safer practices. Notwithstanding the hazards in coal mining, the fatal accident rate in the United States has improved. During the, period from 1911, to 1941, inclusive, the fatal accident rate varied from 5.35 to 2.22 per million tons of coal. With many handicaps during the war period, 1942-45, such as the lack of experienced manpower. and the, employment of untrained men, the increased average age of workers, and the shortage of equipment and supplies, the industry s ill further reduced its accident rate, so that it ranged from 2.30 to 1.724/ deaths per millon tons of coal. During 1944, 684,000,000 tons of coal was produced with a rate of 1.91, and during 1945, 631,000,000 tons was produced with a rate of 1.724/ deaths per millon tons of coal. The accident rate for 1945 was the lowest for the industry since records have been compiled.