Show Wintertime Is Dangerous Time for Trespassers on To many people of our great recreation area winter means skiing skating and snowmobiling ing to many o 0 others t the h e r s winter means zero sub-zero temperatures blizzards and slippery roads But to mining companies operating operating operating oper oper- near the these s e recreation areas winter means a anew new concern concern concern con con- cern for the safety of the trespassers trespassers trespassers tres tres- passers on the property of the mining operation The site of a winter mining operation inevitably seems to attract overcurious s people to its grounds The mining areas of Utah are popular winter havens for ski and snowmobile enthusiasts not only from metropolitan metropolitan metropolitan met met- are areas a s but also from the neighboring states as well Since many of the these s e metropolitan metropolitan metropolitan met met- expatriates who will visit our mountains during the winter snow season have never neverseen neverseen seen seena a mine a temptation to trespass on the grounds of the mining operation is often difficult difficult difficult dif dif- dif dif- to resist But one should n never e eve v e r let his curious nature run rampant with his better judgement Be Before for e trespassing on the ground of a mining operation one should con contact t act the proper mining officials and request permission to visit the pro pro- perty Without proper advice and guidance the layman ayman r runs ns the risk of inadvertently expos exposing exposing exPos exPos- ing himself to many potential hazards To be forewarned is to be forearmed Ho How much does the ordinary John Doe oe know about tailings ponds Does he know k now that tailings ponds do not completely completely completely com com- freeze over in winter altho they may appear to do so Does he know that the finely ground material contained in tailings basins remains suspended suspended suspended sus sus- for long periods of time and is similar to quick sand Do hunters trappers children children children child child- ren and snowmobile enthusiasts know that ice surfaces on fresh freshwater freshwater freshwater water basins are never safe for walking skiing or the operation of snow equipment And does the ordinary John Doe know about the old abandoned mine mineshaft mineshaft mineshaft shaft and abandoned mines It is easy to discern from the aforementioned information why m mining i n i n g companies companie es especially especially especially es- es discourage winter trespassing on mining property If one reflects a moment upon the philosophy of Kant who said Reality can only be apprehended in t terms e r m s of its appear appearances ces one will surely understand why winter trespassing trespassing trespassing tres tres- passing on mining property is isso isso isso so vehemently discouraged In the winter a fresh blanket of snow can make the thin ice surface of a tailing pond appear much t thicker icker than it really is A fresh blanket of snow can also obscure the opening of an anold anold anold old abandoned mine shaft If Ifs s such ch unexpected hunt visitors visitors hunt hunt hunters ers ers trappers skiers snowmobile snow snow- m mob mobile o b i l 1 e enthusiasts curious children and tourists are not forewarned about the e p potential ten ial hazards that exist on mining property serious s e r i 0 u s accidents would be very difficult to avoid In the past mining companies have made a concerted effort to discourage trespassing by posting warnings and danger signs at locations where po potential potential potential po- po mining hazards exist But safety is a reciprocal con con- cern A warning or danger sign benefits no one if it is ignored Trespassers who refuse to heed the warnings of danger signs frequently s suffer u ff e r the cona con con- a 1 sequences that result from ar arrogant arrogant arrogant ar- ar ignorance Mining is a big operation in Summit the County-the equipment the investment and the payroll are very important Safety has always been one of the biggest concerns for mining companies The mining m i n i n g companies have attempted to fulfill their part of the task in helping to protect protect protect pro pro- trespassers from mining area rea hazards by fencing off dangerous areas covering abandoned mine m i n e shafts unu anu posting w warning ar n i n g and danger signs But the mining company can only do so much the rest is up to the potential ser NO MAN CAN PROTECT ANOTHER MAN FROM HIMSELF HIM HIM- SELF The above article condensed from the National Safety Council Council Council Coun Coun- cil Safety Newsletter Newsletter- |