Has anyone ever worked in a coal mine?

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

If you have, please share your experience. There is a mine by me, says they are hiring and they seem to pay decently.

A couple of questions I have:

1. Are coal mines safe now? Serious question.

2. I'm 40.. of what physical degree of ability do you need to be to do the work?

3. Any idea what their day-to-day may be like?

I have honestly never thought of doing this, but, if anyone has any information or experience (did they not used to bring the canary in the shaft and if the canary died, it meant GET OUT there is no more oxygen?) Please do share.

 

[Passport1]

This fellow can tell you all about it.

 

[Zee09]

Black lung wasn't as deadly as they made it out to be...

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

The reviews say, it is perfect position for someone that wants to work all the time and never see family. They also say it takes a toll on your body.

 

[Leo99]

It's a big nope from me. Too claustrophobic.

 

[Wolf359]

This fellow can tell you all about it.

I guess Zoolander had a different take on it.

 

[Imp4]

Hard work.
Dirty work.
Bad for your health.
Decent chance it'll be unsafe.

 

[Chris142]

I like checking out old mines. Would not want to work in one. They now have electronic oxygen checkers, no need to kill a bird anymore.

 

[vavavroom]

You gotta start young so you can grow into the job. Get a pet canary. You also won't be posting much on any forum any longer.

 

[1uz_4me]

Informative documentary


EDIT: Wolf beat me to it

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

Maybe no coal mine for me.

And that's a shame because they seem to be offering a LOT of money.

 

[Wolf359]

When the federal government offers a program specifically for black lung, you know it's a real problem working in a coal mine. Also it's a somewhat boom or bust type jobs, sorta like oil fields, good for a few years while there's demand and then nothing but layoffs.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/dcmwc

 

[JohnnyG]

Growing up in Western PA, you'd think I would've met a lot of coal miners. That was not the case. Even my father worked in one for a while, and his father as an immigrant in a different part of the area.

This is a map (MANY maps) of underground coal mines in that area. Unimaginable!
https://www.minemaps.psu.edu/

I was also in a "demonstration" deep mine once for MSA (Mine Safety Appliance) prob no longer called that. The amount of work they do to ensure mine safety is absolutely mind boggling. Right down to proof testing rifle barrels!

Imagine what just the cable that supports an elevator in a shaft weighs.....when it's 2 miles long! They certify that for the deep mines.

 

[Passport1]

If you have, please share your experience. There is a mine by me, says they are hiring and they seem to pay decently.

A couple of questions I have:

1. Are coal mines safe now? Serious question.

2. I'm 40.. of what physical degree of ability do you need to be to do the work?

3. Any idea what their day-to-day may be like?

I have honestly never thought of doing this, but, if anyone has any information or experience (did they not used to bring the canary in the shaft and if the canary died, it meant GET OUT there is no more oxygen?) Please do share.

Growing up in Chicago I've been to this mine many times. Might be worth your time to visit the coal mine exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry before you take the job. The experience is interesting.

https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/coal-mine/

 

[eljefino]

Toured a coal/ lime mine. My 90+ year old grandpa hooked us up with one of his buddies. Did it as a favor to my wife, whom he adored. She's a geologist.

An Environmental geologist. The guy giving the tour paused dramatically when this was clarified.

We started in the site trailer. Took out some little brass badges-- V1, V2, for visitors, so they'd know we were missing if something happened. The manager then looked at his little peg board and started moving some other badges around-- "Rays out sick, and we fired Glen." So the odds of your being remembered are less than 100%.

We pile into an SUV and drive down the open pit part. Eventually it made less sense to see the sky so they started tunneling. They leave support beams and have a blueprint map of what they're doing, and where they're going. It was like one of those "flat earth" maps from the Rennaissance where they didn't know what was beyond a certain point, as they hadn't been there yet.

Mine was on the OH/PA border. They even had a state line sign down in the depths.

The pay must have been pretty good as most of the guys that worked there have boats. How do I know? They stored them all in unused caverns!

I say, do it, Joe.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

Well, they sure are offering a lot of money, but.. that's a coal mine!

 

[eljefino]

Think of the wierdos you'll meet. Life's a journey.

 

[Rand]

it works better if you are 5'6" some of those are pretty rough on a 6ft+

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

There was a guy on here several years ago who maintained vehicles at a strip mine in Wyoming. He made it sound like a cross between The Dukes of Hazzard and a demolition derby, with Ford pickups. He didn't say much about the mine work, except that employee turnover was high.

 

[Delta]

Maybe no coal mine for me.

And that's a shame because they seem to be offering a LOT of money.

Industrial maintenance; lots of money to be had there. I'm sure there's lots of warehouses with conveyor equipment that needs repaired and maintained near you. That's the field I landed in and we're struggling to get good people. If you are good with a wrench, we need you!