Dangers in the mines

Flooding

• This was caused by heavy rain, if the miners hit an underground spring, or if water could not be pumped out of the mine fast enough. This caused many deaths; miners either drowned or were trapped in an air pocket and suffocated.

Cave-ins

• These were caused by the earth’s movements, weak pit supports or disturbance caused by miners. Miners were either crushed by or trapped away from the shaft and suffocated.

Lung disease (Black Spit)

• Was caused by breathing in coal dust in the atmosphere. This damaged the lung lining causing the lungs to not function properly. This made the miners weak and breathless which meant they couldn’t work and eventually they died.

                     Poison Gases

• Carbon Monoxide (choke-damp)

  The lack of oxygen, caused by poor ventilation, in the air couldn’t be detected. Miners suffered from lack of oxygen.

• Methane (fire-damp)

A highly flammable gas found naturally under the ground. A candle flame could cause an explosion, many miners were killed.