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Post by Polly on Jan 25, 2005 21:44:04 GMT -5
Last weekend, we had the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the Knox Mine disaster (22nd January 1959). 12 men were lost (one of the men was a Scot btw), when the Susquehanna river broke through the workings. It was a terrible day for Pennsylvania...not only because of the loss of life , and not only because the deaths were needless (the chambers should not have been cut so close to the river, but the company wanted the coal, old story!), but also because it effectively ended the industry in NE Pennsylvania. It was a moving commemoration, especially as we still have the opportunity to talk to some of the survivors. But, one thing shocked me. When the water broke through, the men working were told to get out, but weren't told why they should get out. Because, it is said, that the foreman didn't want to scare them. I was wondering about that. Surely if the men had known it was a break through of water they were dealing with, some of them at least might have stood a better chance of getting out. Your thoughts?
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2005 11:37:51 GMT -5
I don't think it really matters Polly, when you are given the order to evacuate, you do so in an orderly and fast manner. Generally in a fire situation, you are told to "don your self rescuer" and make your way to such and such fresh air station, then proceed by which ever way the official at that station orders you. As of an inrush of water, doesn't really make a difference, just make your way out as quickly as is possible without panic. I'm surprised that the men were not informed of the reason for evacuation. I found miners rarely panic, we accepted the job as it was, potentially dangerous and with many "built in hazards" Thats why we were trained to the highest levels of safety. As Daz will say, we broke the rules according to conditions, if it were safe to do so, we bent the rules, if it weren't, we stuck rigidly to them.
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