Probably Caused by Smoking Articles

united states mine rescue association

Probably Caused by Open Lights

Smoking Articles as the Probable Cause: The table below lists 22 accidents which resulted in the death of 523 miners.  During their investigations, it was determined that “smoking and/or smoking articles” were found to be the probable cause of these accidents.  20 of these incidents resulted in 5 or more fatalities and are classified as disasters.  Further, it is acknowledged that more than the other 2 accidents with less than five fatalities appearing here also were found to include “smoking articles” as the probable cause.  The exact number is not known.
Date	Disaster	Location	Industry	Killed
12/07/1992	Southmountain No. 3 Mine Explosion	Norton, Virginia	Coal	8
12/08/1981	Grundy No. 21 Mine Explosion	Whitewell, Tennessee	Coal	13
07/07/1977	P and P No. 2 Mine Explosion	St. Charles, Virginia	Coal	4
12/30/1970	Finley Nos. 15 and 16 Mine Explosion	Hyden, Kentucky	Coal	38
03/05/1968	Belle Isle Salt Mine Fire	Franklin, Louisiana	M/NM	21
07/28/1967	Princess No. 1 Mine Explosion	David, Kentucky	Coal	4
05/24/1965	Kline No. 2 Mine Explosion	Robbins, Tennessee	Coal	5
08/27/1963	Cane Creek Mine Explosion	Grand County, Utah	M/NM	18
03/23/1959	Phillips and West No. 1 Mine Explosion	Robbins, Tennessee	Coal	9
12/21/1951	Orient No. 2 Mine Explosion	West Frankfort, Illinois	Coal	119
12/14/1951	Fidelity Explosives Detonation	Du Quoin, Illinois	Coal	7
07/24/1947	Old Ben Mine Explosion	West Frankfort, Illinois	Coal	27
10/26/1937	Jonesville Mine Explosion	Jonesville, Alaska	Coal	14
06/21/1937	Rupert Mine Explosion	Keystone, Ohio	Coal	6
01/18/1932	Parrott Mine Explosion	Parrott, Virginia	Coal	6
01/09/1928	Peabody No. 18 Mine Explosion	West Frankfort, Illinois	Coal	21
11/24/1927	Magma Mine Fire	Superior, Arizona	M/NM	7
06/06/1924	Loomis Mine Explosion	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania	Coal	14
06/02/1920	Ontario Mine Explosion	Cokeburg, Pennsylvania	Coal	6
07/08/1919	Lansford Colliery Explosion	Lansford, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
04/27/1917	Hastings Mine Explosion	Hastings, Colorado	Coal	121
11/16/1915	Northwestern Mine Explosion	Ravensdale, Washington	Coal	31
09/07/1895	Osceola Copper Mine Fire	Calumet, Michigan	M/NM	30
Open Lights as the Probable Cause: The table below lists 110 accidents which resulted in the death of 3,842 miners.  During their investigations, it was determined that “open lamps and lights, or naked flames” were found to be the probable cause of these accidents.  104 of these incidents resulted in 5 or more fatalities and are classified as disasters.  Further, it is acknowledged that more than the other 6 accidents with less than five fatalities appearing here also were found to have “open lights” as the probable cause.  The exact number is not known.
Date	Disaster	Location	Industry	Killed
02/27/1943	Smith No. 3 Mine Explosion	Bearcreek, Montana	Coal	74
06/13/1932	Splash Dam No. 6 Mine Explosion	Splash Dam, Virginia	Coal	10
03/30/1927	Saline No. 2 Mine Explosion	Ledford, Illinois	Coal	8
12/09/1926	Francisco No. 2 Mine Explosion and Fire	Francisco, Indiana	Coal	37
10/04/1926	Rockwood Mine Explosion	Rockwood, Tennessee	Coal	27
01/13/1926	Wilburton No. 21 Mine Explosion	Wilburton, Oklahoma	Coal	91
07/23/1925	Rockwood Mine Explosion	Rockwood, Tennessee	Coal	10
06/08/1925	West Kentucky No. 9 Mine Explosion	Sturgis, Kentucky	Coal	17
02/20/1925	City Mine Explosion	Sullivan, Indiana	Coal	51
04/28/1924	Benwood Mine Explosion	Benwood, West Virginia	Coal	119
03/28/1924	Yukon No. 2 Mine Explosion	Yukon, West Virginia	Coal	26
03/08/1924	Eagle Shaft Explosion	Castle Gate, Utah	Coal	172
11/22/1922	Dolomite No. 3 Mine Explosion	Dolomite, Alabama	Coal	90
11/06/1922	Reilly No. 1 Mine Explosion	Spangler, Pennsylvania	Coal	79
09/29/1922	Lake Creek Mine Explosion	Johnston City, Illinois	Coal	5
06/30/1919	Alderson No. 5 Mine Explosion	Alderson, Oklahoma	Coal	15
04/29/1919	Majestic Mine Explosion	Majestic, Alabama	Coal	22
09/28/1918	Royalton North No. 1 Mine Explosion	Royalton, Illinois	Coal	21
08/07/1918	Harmar Mine Explosion	Harmarville, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
12/15/1917	Yukon No. 1 Mine Explosion	Bluefield, West Virginia	Coal	18
11/29/1917	Old Ben No. 11 Mine Explosion	Christopher, Illinois	Coal	17
08/04/1917	West Kentucky No. 7 Mine Explosion	Clay, Kentucky	Coal	62
06/02/1917	Rend No. 2 Mine Explosion	Herrin, Illinois	Coal	9
12/13/1916	Fidelity No. 9 Mine Explosion	Stone City, Kansas	Coal	20
03/30/1916	Robindale Mine Explosion	Seward, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
03/28/1916	King Mine No. 98 Explosion	Kimball, West Virginia	Coal	10
02/29/1916	Davis No. 42 Mine Explosion	Kempton, Maryland	Coal	16
02/11/1916	Ernest No. 2 Mine Explosion	Ernest, Pennsylvania	Coal	27
02/08/1916	Lance No. 11 Colliery Explosion	Plymouth, Pennsylvania	Coal	7
07/27/1915	United Coal No. 1 Mine Explosion	Christopher, Illinois	Coal	9
05/24/1915	Smokeless Valley No. 1 Mine Explosion	Johnstown, Pennsylvania	Coal	9
03/02/1915	Layland No. 3 Mine Explosion	Layland, West Virginia	Coal	115
02/06/1915	Carlisle Mine Explosion	Carlisle, West Virginia	Coal	21
10/27/1914	Royalton North No. 1 Mine Explosion	Royalton, Illinois	Coal	52
04/28/1914	Eccles Nos. 5 and 6 Mine Explosions	Eccles, West Virginia	Coal	181
01/10/1914	Rock Castle Mine Explosion	Rock Castle, Alabama	Coal	12
04/23/1913	Cincinnati Mine Explosion	Courtney, Pennsylvania	Coal	97
08/13/1912	Abernant Mine Explosion	Abernant, Alabama	Coal	18
07/11/1912	Panama Mine Explosion	Moundsville, West Virginia	Coal	8
04/21/1912	Coil Mine Explosion	Madisonville, Kentucky	Coal	5
03/26/1912	Jed Mine Explosion	Jed, West Virginia	Coal	81
02/22/1912	Western No. 5 Mine Fire	Lehigh, Oklahoma	Coal	9
12/09/1911	Cross Mountain Mine Explosion	Briceville, Tennessee	Coal	84
11/18/1911	Bottom Creek Mine Explosion	Vivian, West Virginia	Coal	18
11/09/1911	Adrian Mine Explosion	Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
10/23/1911	O'Gara Mine No. 9 Explosives Detonation	Harrisburg, Illinois	Coal	8
07/15/1911	Sykesville Mine Explosion	Sykesville, Pennsylvania	Coal	21
05/10/1911	Boston Colliery Fire	Larksville, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
11/11/1910	Shoal Creek No. 1 Mine Explosion	Panama, Illinois	Coal	6
11/08/1910	Victor American No. 3 Mine Fire	Delagua, Colorado	Coal	79
11/03/1910	Yolande No. 1 Mine Explosion	Yolande, Alabama	Coal	5
04/20/1910	Mulga Mine Explosion	Mulga, Alabama	Coal	40
12/23/1909	Mine A Explosion and Fire	Herrin, Illinois	Coal	8
06/23/1909	Lackawanna No. 4 Mine Explosion	Wehrum, Pennsylvania	Coal	21
11/28/1908	Rachel and Agnes Mine Explosion	Marianna, Pennsylvania	Coal	154
08/26/1908	Haileyville No. 1 Mine Fire	Haileyville, Oklahoma	Coal	29
12/06/1907	Monongah Nos. 6 and 8 Mines Explosion	Monongah, West Virginia	Coal	362
12/01/1907	Naomi Mine Explosion	Fayette City, Pennsylvania	Coal	34
07/19/1906	Dixon-Pocahontas Shaft Explosion	Welch, West Virginia	Coal	5
11/15/1905	Braznell Mine Explosion	Bentleyville, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
03/18/1905	Rush Run/Red Ash Mine Explosions	Red Ash, West Virginia	Coal	24
05/05/1904	Locust Gap Colliery Fire	Locust Gap, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
07/10/1902	Rolling Mill Mine Explosion	Johnstown, Pennsylvania	Coal	112
05/19/1902	Fraterville Mine Explosion	Coal Creek, Tennessee	Coal	184
06/10/1901	Port Royal No. 2 Mine Explosion	Port Royal, Pennsylvania	Coal	19
05/01/1900	Winter Quarters Mine Explosion	Scofield, Utah	Coal	200
12/23/1899	Braznell Mine Explosion	Brownsville, Pennsylvania	Coal	19
12/09/1899	Carbon Hill No. 7 Mine Explosion	Carbonado, Washington	Coal	31
07/24/1899	Grindstone Mine Explosion	Grindstone, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
04/21/1899	Cook and White Mine Explosion	Madrid, New Mexico	Coal	5
09/24/1897	Williamson County Mine Explosion	Johnston City, Illinois	Coal	4
01/04/1897	Alderson No. 1 Mine Explosion	Alderson, Oklahoma	Coal	5
12/20/1895	Nelson Mine Explosion	Dayton, Tennessee	Coal	28
02/27/1895	White Ash Mine Explosion	Madrid, New Mexico	Coal	24
02/18/1895	West Bear Ridge Colliery Explosion	Mahony Plane, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
10/08/1894	Luke Fidler Mine Fire	Shamokin, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
08/25/1894	Gilberton Colliery Explosion	Ashland, Pennsylvania	Coal	2
05/10/1892	Roslyn Mine Explosion	Roslyn, Washington	Coal	45
05/22/1891	Pratt No. 1 Shaft Explosion	Pratt City, Alabama	Coal	11
01/27/1891	Mammoth No. 1 Mine Explosion	Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania	Coal	109
05/15/1890	Jersey No. 8 Cave-in and Explosion	Ashley, Pennsylvania	Coal	26
04/02/1890	Susquehanna No. 8 Mine Explosion	Nanticoke, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
03/03/1890	Colliery No. 3 Shaft Fire	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
02/01/1890	Nottingham Colliery Explosion	Plymouth, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
03/29/1888	Keith and Perry No. 6 Mine Explosion	Rich Hill, Missouri	Coal	24
11/26/1886	Conyngham Colliery Explosion	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania	Coal	12
08/30/1886	Fair Lawn Colliery Explosion	Scranton, Pennsylvania	Coal	6
01/21/1886	Orrel Mine Explosion	Newburg, West Virginia	Coal	39
01/12/1886	Almy No. 4 Mine Explosion	Almy, Wyoming	Coal	13
10/21/1885	Plymouth No. 2 Mine Explosion	Plymouth, Pennsylvania	Coal	6
09/08/1885	Otto Colliery Explosion	Pottsville, Pennsylvania	Coal	6
10/27/1884	Youngstown Mine Explosion	Uniontown, Pennsylvania	Coal	14
02/20/1884	West Leisenring Mine Explosion	W. Leisenring, Pennsylvania	Coal	19
01/24/1884	Crested Butte Mine Explosion	Crested Butte, Colorado	Coal	59
05/24/1882	Kohinoor Colliery Explosion	Shenandoah, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
02/10/1881	Robbins Mine Explosion	Robbins, Ohio	Coal	6
05/03/1880	Short Mountain Mine Explosion	Shamokin, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
11/02/1879	Mill Creek Colliery Explosion	Mill Creek, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
11/21/1878	Sullivan Mine Explosion	Sullivan, Pennsylvania	Coal	13
10/08/1878	Prospect Colliery Explosion	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania	Coal	4
01/15/1878	Potts Colliery Explosion	Locustdale, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
05/09/1877	Wadesville Colliery Fire	Wadesville, Pennsylvania	Coal	7
04/12/1876	Rush Run Slope Explosion	Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania	Coal	4
06/10/1873	Henry Clay Colliery Explosion	Shamokin, Pennsylvania	Coal	10
10/02/1871	Otto Red Ash Colliery Explosion	Branchdale, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
08/14/1871	Eagle Shaft Explosion	Pittston, Pennsylvania	Coal	17
04/03/1867	Bright Hope Mine Explosion	Clover Hill, Virginia	Coal	69
08/13/1860	Hoch Colliery Explosion	Forestville, Pennsylvania	Coal	2
05/07/1860	Reppliers Colliery Explosion	Minersville, Pennsylvania	Coal	2
08/21/1844	Greenback/Buckridge Colliery Fire	Shamokin, Pennsylvania	Coal	8
Regulations: Safety Laws of Pennsylvania for Underground Bituminous Coal Mines Section 268 — Prohibitions regarding endangering security of mine (b) Smoking prohibition. — Open lights, smoking and smokers' articles, including matches, are prohibited in bituminous coal mines. No individual shall at any time enter a mine with or carry into the mine any matches, pipes, cigars, cigarettes or any device for making lights or fire not approved. In all mines the operator may search or cause to be searched any individual, including his clothing and material belongings, entering or about to enter the mine, or inside the mine, to prevent such individual from taking or carrying into the mine any of the articles prohibited by this subsection. Section 504 — Unlawful conduct It is unlawful for a person to do any of the following: (4) Do any of the following on mine property: (vii) Possess or use alcohol, drugs or smoking materials in an unlawful manner on mine property. Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations 56/57.4101 — Warning signs Readily visible signs prohibiting smoking and open flames shall be posted where a fire or explosion hazard exists. 77.1102 — Warning signs; smoking and open flame Signs warning against smoking and open flames shall be posted so they can be readily seen in areas or places where fire or explosion hazards exist. 75.1702 — Smoking; prohibition No person shall smoke, carry smoking materials, matches, or lighters underground, or smoke in or around oil houses, explosives magazines, or other surface areas where such practice may cause a fire or explosion. The operator shall institute a program, approved by the Secretary, to insure that any person entering the underground area of the mine does not carry smoking materials, matches, or lighters. Reference: The National Museum of American History — Mining Lights and Hats