united states mine rescue association

Smoking Articles as the Probable Cause:
Date	Disaster	Location	Industry	Deaths
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
06/21/1937	Rupert Mine Explosion	Keystone, Ohio	Coal	6
01/18/1932	Parrott Mine Explosion	Parrott, Virginia	Coal	6
11/24/1927	Magma Mine Fire	Superior, Arizona	M/NM	7
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:
Date	Disaster	Location	Industry	Deaths
03/30/1927	Saline No. 2 Mine Explosion	Ledford, Illinois	Coal	8
04/28/1924	Benwood Mine Explosion	Benwood, West Virginia	Coal	119
03/28/1924	Yukon No. 2 Mine Explosion	Yukon, West Virginia	Coal	26
11/22/1922	Dolomite No. 3 Mine Explosion	Dolomite, Alabama	Coal	90
11/06/1922	Reilly No. 1 Mine Explosion	Spangler, Pennsylvania	Coal	79
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 Fire and 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
08/04/1917	West Kentucky No. 7 Mine Explosion	Clay, Kentucky	Coal	62
02/11/1916	Ernest No. 2 Mine Explosion	Ernest, Pennsylvania	Coal	27
03/02/1915	Layland No. 3 Mine Explosion	Layland, West Virginia	Coal	115
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
03/26/1912	Jed Mine Explosion	Jed, West Virginia	Coal	81
02/22/1912	Western No. 5 Mine Fire	Lehigh, Oklahoma	Coal	9
05/10/1911	Boston Colliery Fire	Larksville, Pennsylvania	Coal	5
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
11/28/1908	Rachel and Agnes Mine Explosion	Marianna, Pennsylvania	Coal	154
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
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
05/19/1902	Fraterville Mine Explosion	Coal Creek, Tennessee	Coal	184
06/10/1901	Port Royal No. 2 Mine Explosion and Fire	Port Royal, Pennsylvania	Coal	19
01/27/1891	Mammoth No. 1 Mine Explosion	Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania	Coal	109
01/21/1886	Orrel Mine Explosion	Newburg, West Virginia	Coal	39
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