There were rumblings of criticism when rescuers were prevented from rushing in to the Pike River coal mine in New Zealand, following an explosion that trapped twenty-nine men.
It is now abundantly clear that this was the right decision. Had a rescue attempt been mounted at that time it is almost certain that the rescuers would be amongst the dead.
This mine has become an ongoing disaster. Explosions have continued as a volatile mixture of poisonous gas and methane roils through the galleries and now there is a fire burning in the coal seam that may take years to extinguish.
It is time to put an end to further risk and seal the mine, abandon attempts to retrieve the bodies and make Pike River mine a memorial grave for those that died there.
Underground mining is one of the riskiest jobs on this planet. Every miner reporting for duty faces the prospect of entering a tomb from which they may never return. No mine can be made totally safe because a huge range of risks is permanently present.
For that reason, mining pay is high because of the risks involved.
Coal is one of the most dangerous minerals mined because of the ever present risk of gas - and the fact that it is a combustible product. Hopefully, one day coal mining may be phased out because a less dangerous form of heating and industrial use may have made it redundant.
Unfortunately, many more miners are likely to die before that day arrives.
No comments:
Post a Comment