Show TENTATIVE TENTA IVE MINE SAFETY RULES FOR THE STATE OF california by G chester brown the state of california through the industrial du accident commission has established a mine safety department dealing with rules lules and regulations for the safe oppre operation tion of mines in this state these tenta tentative tive rules were discussed at length by mine operators at a hearing held by the industrial accident commission in san francisco on june 11 12 and 14 and the spirit of cooperation shown by the operators was gratifying indeed these rules will become permanent and effective after more hearings are held sections 51 72 inclusive elusive in of the work mens compensation insurance and safety act effective january 1 1914 give the industrial du accident commission power to make and enforce safety rules and regulations to prescribe safety devices to fix safety standards and to order the reporting of accidents in order to secure reasonable mine safety rules a committee of three mine operators and three practical miners was appointed to meet with mr air H M mining engineer ineer of the commission to formulate the proposed rules the mine employees were unable to attend the meetings of the committee coni cittee so that most of the work was done by the three operators applin appointed leq from the california metal producers association c cia lia tion and by the mining engineer of the co commission the employees made a few suggestions by mail committee on mine safety rules Rd representing presenting california metal producers association A P anderson pacific coast manager united states smelting smelling Sm elting refining and mining company G W metcalfe Alet calfe manager mammoth copper r company alternate to mr air anderson arthur B foote superintendent the north star mines representing Represent in g mine aline employees james giambruno ambruno Gl secretary amador county miners union no J C williams secretary grass valley miners M iners union no 90 A al arendall secretary se randsburg brandsburg Rands burg miners iners 1 union no 44 representing industrial accident commission ii H AT Wolf lih mining engineer united states bureau of mines the industrial accident commission of the state of california consists of A J pillsbury will J french and harris will J french in charge of the safety department john R brownell superintendent perin of safety offices are main alining engineer engan eer california industrial binai ac accident aident commission talked in the underwood building francisco A safety market street san museum is maintained in this his t building with an attendant in charge to exola explain athe the various safety devices to visitors the industrial ijas has an exhibit commission du accident at the panama pacific international exposition which is not only instructive but of interest to the laymen as well as to the manufacturer the tentative mine aline safety rules are contained in a booklet of some sixty six pages and cover all working conditions met with in california mining both on the surface and underground the employees as well as the operators are held accountable for the observance of the rules and it is expected that the carrying out of the requirements quire ments of mine safety will materially decrease the number of accidents in mines in this state heretofore a few laws covering escape ways explosives and mine bell signals have been passed by the state legislature but have not been enforced further public hearings of these rules will be held by the commission to make certain changes suggested by interested parties the number of accidents reported to the industrial accident commission during the fifteen from janavry 1 1914 to march 31 1915 are as follows there were temporary injuries to the number of permanent injuries to the number of 77 fatal injuries to the number of 63 dependents to the number of 45 partial dependents to the number of 13 causes of fatal accidents asphyxiated Asphyxia ted 0 11 in 15 months month f from r 0 M J jan a n 1 t to o march 31 falling down shafts 9 skip accidents falling out of skip or struck by it 7 rolling rocks and cave ins 7 flying rocks from blasts and premature explosions 6 exposed belt and shaf tings 8 caught between cars and run over 3 drowned dredge accidents 3 electrocuted 2 flying rock and water in sluices and giants 2 fell from wagon i 1 fell astride a timber i drill flew back into abdomen I 1 ore bin collapsed i 1 ladder pulled loo loose seand and man fell down shaft i 63 age of those fatally injured 20 years and under 5 30 years and under 14 40 years and under 21 50 years and under 9 u 60 years and under 6 c 70 years Y cars and under not specified as yet 3 0 63 ct the average age of those killed in n mines 88 ae w was as about 38 years this is also the aver ave r age age of those permanently injured cause of permanent injuries 9 exposed parts of machiels mac hiens u falling from elevation 4 glass insulator infection I 1 hand axe 1 misuse of explosives 7 flying fragments 11 falling of loose objects ig 15 caught between cars cause not yet specified g 11 17 giving a total of 77 agreeing with the list of permanent injuries the main purpose of the safety provisions of the law is to prevent the deaths and the anaconda standard is asil ewell above experience in the safety department shows that a large percentage of accidents can be prevented |