WORKING IN A COAL MINE By Hannah Garriott

Coal is a fossil fuel. You can steam coal to use as an energy source for trains and other mechanical equipment such as hydro power production. You can also use it for heat.

Everyone worked in the coal mines including children under the age of thirteen and pregnant woman. This was because Britain started to industrialise itself, therefor needing more power and energy.

One main danger while working in coal mines was that there was fire damp. It was an explosive gas that could cause a major explosion if one spark was exposed to this gas. It was common to find in mines when they were deeper. Another danger was to be exposed to sudden floods. Usually the rats would sense that a flood was about to happen and scurry out of the mines. Another huge concern to minors was that some of the tunnels were not supported enough and would collapse and suffocate the minors. Some tunnels would have wood supports in the tunnel so they would not be able to collapse.

5-Unable to find. Jamaica is a well-known for being the fourth largest Bauxite producer (counts for about 8.8 % of the world’s production). They have calcium carbonate, limestone, marble, ground calcium carbonate (GCC) an alumina (counting for about 7.4 of the world’s prediction). They also produce salt, silica sand, stone, agates, jasper, carnelian, mineral and spring water, and clay.

They have collaborated with the Government of Jamaica through the Mines and Geology Division with their agency GET Ltd is creating a Mineral Resource Development Project in Jamaica. They are doing this to get special equipment for further mining and also they request supplies for rock lab. Jampro, Alpart and Kaiser are some of Jamaica’s biggest mining companies. At Alpart their building/school is open to the community and other schools. For employing students they fallow a safety course and get rewarded for their good safety precautions. They have wanted to be an ultra-safe school and they have.

Jamaica seems to have a reasonable amount of laws in their labor law system regarding safety. The employees are well aged and are not pushed into working extra hours. Union: action of joining together. Unions raise wages of unionized workers by 20%. They are more suited for those who have not gone to college or if they have health problems. Unions help workers get a higher pay and a guaranteed benefit in retirement. They also help workers receive health benefits.

I could not find weather the employees were to an association or organization. I was able to find that someone’s fee for a union was about $53.00 but there was no resource I could find for Jamaica’s union fee.

un-unionize workers were called scabs. In Canada if a scab crosses the picket line they would be arrested and fined and put in jail. In other countries people would be beaten and punished (yes this would hurt)

For miners there are various dangerous health problems. Air quality, limited ability to move (leading to blood clots), dust, heavy metals, gases, fumes, and loud noses are just some of the problems as working as a miner. They (U.S. Mine Safety) have been trying to improve working conditions like strong regulations and safer machinery. The price to up grading to these safety precautions is quite expensive but they are prepared to pay the price (or else they could end up paying even more for injuries).

Today :Vancouver island The Raven underground coal project is located on Vancouver Island by Baynes Sound, near Fanny Bay. Run by compliance and partners. The project is to make a underground coal mine that would not harm the wildlife around it )(like shellfish and other aquatic animals).

About 150 transportation jobs would be open to citizens. This Would be a good job to take for the people living around the mine. The jobs would last for 17 years with a good pay. Many people are looking for jobs in B.C. and look for money more than their safety.

Myra Falls is a coal mine located in Campbell River. They would be in competition against the Raven Underground Project, since they also produce zinc, copper, gold and other metals. The Myra Falls are protesting against the opining of the project, because they would loose most of their business

One of the concerns about this mine Is that it could severely harm the shell Fish nearby. Raven underground coal mine is only 5km away from the countries Biggest shell fish production. Roberta Stevenson is the one who own the shellfish Growers association.

My opinion is that the Raven underground coal mine should be allowed. It provide many of jobs and isn’t that much of a threat for the environment. Also in the future, we will end up needing more energy for all the inventions we will create. If in the future we won’t need to rely on coal as an energy source than it would be a good tourists attraction.

URLs attached to paper