Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Dangerous mines



Today we have learned how dangerous is working in underground mines. Miners are exposed to gas leaks (especially methane) and if the working conditions are not safe, collapses can happen and the miners can get trapped. Precisely today an accident has happened at a coal mine in Colombia. At least 20 miners have been killed. Working underground requires specific safety rules that have to be respected and qualified workers who follow the instructions. Minig accidents are more fequent in the least developed countries. 

Here you have some links where you can get more information about mining: 

- Infomine website: this site provides a lot of information about mining around the world. If you click on "Mines sites", you will have access to a world map with the most important mines. You can know what minerals they extract and the type of mines (open- cast/open- pit or underground mines): 


- Chinese mines are among the most dangerous in the world. This BBC report explores the reasons for this dangerousness: 


- On this link you can get information about the world´s worst mining disasters: 


- Finally, a piece of news about today´s mining accident in northest Colombia: 


3 comments:

Silvia said...

This work is very dangerous I saw in a film that many miners have to finish work before 65 years old because they were with problem in the lungs

Paqui Pérez Fons said...

Yes, they do. Many of them suffer from silicosis, an illness that affects lungs and reduces their ability to breath. THis illness is causes by prolonged exposure to silica (quartz) dust.

There are some good films about miners. I like a lot "Brassed off", about a mine in the U.K that is going to close. The mine has a band and it will disappear when the mine closes. You should watch it.

Have a good night, Silvia.

Laura Meco said...
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