why don't miners have portable oxygen tanks located whever they work?

Question

if divers can breathe under water, miners should never be without oxygen while underground.

Answer 1

Uh - they do. They have some form of auxilary breathing systems for emergency use, i forget exactly what they are called. Its not really a oxygen tank, but a emergency system of some form. But nothing is perfect and nothing lasts forever. Considering when a mine caves in it usually takes several days to get to the person, there really isnt any form of oxygen tank that would last that long anyways.

Answer 2

They are supposed to have some oxygen supply and "safe rooms". but they run out of air after a while. So do divers.

"Current MSHA and NIOSH regulations and guidelines require that miners have access to self-contained self-rescuers: equipment that either supplies oxygen to the miner or converts air exhaled by the miner into oxygen. They typically last about an hour, depending on the miner's physical activity, health and age. Such access means that miners wear the devices on their belts or over their necks.

NIOSH has been searching for better and more modern ways of supplying self-rescuers, Kovac says. In June 2005, months before the Sago mine explosions, NIOSH hosted a workshop where the National Mine Association, United Mine Workers Union and several mine equipment manufacturers came together to brainstorm on what would make a better self-rescuer one that would be lighter in weight and smaller in size. They came up with several models: One is a hybrid unit that can switch over to a purifying filter to remove carbon monoxide so that the miner can breathe filtered air. The other would be a piggyback unit that automatically replaces a dwindling oxygen supply with a new one."

Answer 3

Each mine should drill down ahead of where the vein is going to be mined next and then when the miners get to that point if an incident occurred they would already be ready to pump water out, send down oxygen,and provide food and communication. They always wait until there is a cave in before they decide to drill down. Can some one tell my why this isn't done unless they think the miners lives aren't worth the expense!

Answer 4

M-k...-Let's say they DID, & the 6 miners currently trapped in that Mine in Utah survived the roof collapse long enough to use them... What then? It's usually DAYS (if not weeks) before rescuers finally arrive. Do you REALLY want them to die a more prolonged death??! Those Oxygen tanks are only good for a few hours...-After THAT, you're still in the SAME "hole" you started out in. Mining is a DANGEROUS occupation...and all the precautions in the World aren't going to keep these tragedies from happening. :(

Answer 5

Because oxygen tanks would be heavy... and they have work to do.

Using the equipment they have and the work they are doing, Oxygen tanks would be a work hazard. If one of them exploded it would be far worse than a simple cave in since the gases have nowhere to escape to, the miners would be burned alive.

Answer 6

I rather have been getting 2 messages. the 1st one says the question has been deleted. once I attempt back, it says they are taking a breather. i think of they want the oxygen tank, espresso maker and somebody who's accustomed to what they are doing. Breathe, drink espresso and then think of. lol

Answer 7

I think they might have some, but they probably only last about few hours. They're going to be down there for 3 days or more I think. They're trying to drill holes to get some air down there.

Answer 8

I think their should be more done to keep these miners alive. their jobs are important, but their lives are priceless. and there should be cautions, regulations on safety.

to the first answer= are you kiddin me? is that what we are reduced to? work over life? disgusting!