“SAFETY IN LONGWALL MINING” 1970S COAL MINE SAFETY TRAINING FILM XD49364

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This safety training film was created by MESA, the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration, circa 1970s on longwall mining. Longwall mining is a form of underground coal mining where a long wall of coal is mined in a single slice.
The film begins with images of men shoveling coal into a mine cart, close-up on mine blast (0:27). Bulldozer operating in mine. Mining coal crusher, footage of mining saw cutting through coal. (0:55). Title shot “Safety in Longwall Mining” (1:00). Shot of longwall mine (1:10). A shearer or power loader removes coal from a wall. Numerous angle shearer operating along track with water spray method to control dust. (1:36). Narrator commentary on how while longwall mining is new to American operators it is one of the most widespread in of world (1:44). Explanation of shearer and pan line. Footage of equipment operating (2:15). Overhead shots of shearer in operation (2:40). Shots of the conveyor belt bringing coal (2:44). Explanation and footage of hydraulic chucks or shields at work and getting advanced as coal is cut (3:00). Animated animation and accompanying explanation of how longwall mining works (3:30). Breakdown of advancing system (3:40) and retreating system (3:50) of longwall mining with accompanying explanations and animation. Animation of pan conveyor and roof supports are advanced as shearer operates (4:20). Description of gob and how it is formed. Also known as goaf or goff. (4:39). Double ranging drum shear shown in action and explanation of when is used (4:55). Shots of double ranging drum shear spiral drums and dust controlling water spray systems (5:10). Armor flexible conveyor or heavy chain scraper conveyor is shown in action (5:30). Head gate entry shot and coal getting dumped onto a gate chain conveyor also known as stage motor (5:35). Feeding to entry belt conveyor (5:40). More footage of conveyors (5:50). Footage and explanation of powered self-advancing roof supports (6:00). Explanation of the benefits and dangers of chalk roof support method. Footage of chalk roof support. (6:15). Commentary on why dangers of chalk roof supports have led them to be replaced by a newer shield type support (6:29). Footage of shield type supports advancing as well as commentary on the importance of keeping the distance between support and wall to a minimum (7:05). Added benefit of shield type support giving protection from the gob. Shots of shields getting advanced (7:55). Shots of canopy or gob shield and travel way. More description of benefits of shield supports (8:05). Discussion on increased dust and methane emissions from longwall mining. Methods to control dust and methane include use of cowls, ventilation, and water spray (8:33). Footage of water spray on shearer (8:40). Animation of air getting directed out of shaft through the gob into the bleeder system (8:48). Close up footage of methane detector and explanation of it (9:10). Footage of operator taking methane reading (9:20). Footage of coal ship, collier, carrying coal. Commentary on necessity in modern world of high productivity mining (9:32). Footage of outside of coal mining, and commentary on why longwall mining is getting adopted in the United States (9:50). Footage of miners at work, while discussion of importance of safety (10:30). Hydraulic shield are shown advancing (10:40).Dangers of pinch points causing foot accidents, close up of bottom of advancing shield wall (11:01). Danger of hydraulic hoses breaking and footage of hoses (11:20). Jacks can fall loose on to a workman, shot of hydraulic Jack (11:30). Rope and chains and come-alongs can break, footage of chain getting winched (11:35). Dangers of muscle strains and pinched fingers on workers as they construct cribbing. Footage of worker constructing cribbing (11:45). Danger of moving supplies in limit space on longwalls. Footage of workers moving along the shaft wall (12:06). Clean up and repair can involve workers in hazardous situations, accompanying footage (12:40). Roof hazards and footage of roof (13:10). Shots of hinged face shields deploying and hydraulic props being used for additional support (13:40). Shots of repair and maintenance activity (14:30). Dangers of working around electrical equipment (14:55). Miners with original audio of conversation (15:30). Permissible fluorescent lights (15:52). Improved communication systems shown with original audio (16:00). Footage of outside coal conveyor (16:46). Credits to U.S. Department of the Interior MESA Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (17:04).
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@Rusty1220]

I retired from the deep coal mines and worked several years operating longwall mining machines. 5 ft high coal, very rough cramped conditions. Extremely lucky never had any accidents except 5 stitches in a finger and another time rock fell from roof and hit me in the lower back near my pelvic region. I was in the belt entry when that happened and not on the longwall face. Only missed about two days of work due to injuries in my entire mining career. About every person was injured at one time or other on my crew from electricity burns, steel cables breaking and hitting a person, 4,000 to 6,000 pound pressure lines busting lose and flipping around and hitting people, rock fell between longwall shield and cut a guys thumb off, rock fell between shield broke shift superintendent’s leg, another person or two on my crew were seriously injured in car wrecks while driving to or from work. And other things that are too long to list. The company was a good company and wanted the workers safe but s**t happens anyway. Would I go back and do it all again? Hell no.

[@grumblekin]

Civilization was built with the sweat and blood of iron men like you. Thank you for giving us life sustaining electricity!

[@davidmccormick4319]

5ft high and you felt cramped? Our seam height was anything between 12 and 20 inches, averaging 18 inches. Most of our work was done lying down. Check out “The Last Pit” on you tube.

[@chuckshartz2722]

@David McCormick it sounds like that low of a seam wasn't for you. I, personally, think it's completely insane mining a seam that's that low. I just do not see where it's even worth the hassle and the risk

[@jai344]

you are the inspiration for many mining enthusiast .

[@Kasejeb]

@@chuckshartz2722 look at the seams mined in Russia. Barely 12 inches, came in the face with your shovel the wrong way you’d have to walk out turn it around and come back in.

[@mikepxg6406]

I worked in 2 deep mines one 2200 ft the other 3033 ft deep in UK. Our coal seam at these collieries was only 3 feet on average but the coal was extremely good quality. All mines closed now in UK plenty of coal left. We will need that coal again sooner rather than later I think.

[@highpitwilma]

True!..trouble is..all our generations of instintive mining skills passed down...have been lost..many are now deceased,many like myself are too old now..I am afraid we will have to import foreign Miners to train any [if any!!] of our young generation,who,I think,will laugh at the thought of getting into a cage on the end of a rope..!![and refuse!!]..it's a wonder they didn't have flush toilets and a canteen on this face!..never seen owt like it before! ..This ain't gud aad Britain..!

[@tjasagustin3342]

Coalminers, submarines, naval staff, most hardworking and extremely courrages angels between us.

[@przemysawfilipczak6991]

"Safety in longwall" is a oxymoron ;) I work in the mining industry in Poland. Years of development of various security systems, unfortunately, will not eliminate the human factor, so we must respect everyone who works underground and count on their assessment of the situation. We recently had an accident in Silesia caused by methane and coal dust. It's not just a job. Glück auf!

[@chuckshartz2722]

The problem, especially in union mines, is safety is more a crutch to get out of doing work, a weapon to use against others. For inspectors, safety is too much a source of revenue generation, as well as a weapon to use against mine superintendents and foreman with whom they have a grudge

[@trapperjohn6089]

It’s funny listening to coal miners that appear in videos trying to talk in Laymans terms and not swear every other word. I swear I heard someone in the background say, “mown back a cunthair. Ah ite, whoe “

[@coaldigger1998]

Man I was a underground coal miner for 45 years and understand where you are coming from. Just retired and have to watch my mouth. Still try to use my light to look for crap. I know you understand.

[@coloradostrong]

Awesome video. And not 1 of the usual whiners that go on about the "distracting time count in the middle of the display".

[@carlosparacio5679]

🤣

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Wow such hard working men standing in the coal dust without any protection god bless everyone and their families

[@chuckshartz2722]

The smart miners use air stream helmets to protect themselves from the coal dust. They look like a hockey goal keeper's helmet and are equipped with an internal battery-powered fan - that way the miner doesn't feel stuffy while wearing the helmet Another thing that smart miners do when working on the longwall is stand on the opposite end of the shearer which the direction of ventilation is traveling... that way all the major amounts of float dust that's emitted is ahead of them at all times

[@yauwohn]

I always wore dust masks when on the face, started in the UK coal industry in 1964, and even today my lungs are clean.

[@johnt.4947]

That has to be a maintenance nightmare!

[@yauwohn]

Nope. Most coal faces I worked on were Longwall advanced systems, fairly easy to maintain

[@MrStaybrown]

The crews do all the maintenance themselves unless you want to wait 30 minutes for mechanics to wake up, show up and say Yup It's Broke..and pass on the work.

[@johnt.4947]

@@MrStaybrown Sounds like union to me. No offense intended.

[@MrStaybrown]

@John T. not offended at all, yes it's union. I came from non union work and became union at a LW, so I know the difference.

[@redrobbo1896]

​@@johnt.4947 You know John, the UMWA made it possible that we didn't have to live in company towns or housing and we weren't paid in company scrip. God bless the UMWA. I'm sorry you can't see the benefits of a union, I hope some day you see the light.

[@madhursamrit7117]

Very well explained the basic of longwall coal mining

[@damianbutterworth2434]

We make the conveyor parts at work. Nice to see them working in action.

[@COIcultist]

The rotary shearer was known as the Anderton Shearer in the UK after the man who invented it (Ahem??? It might have been a glory grab by the boss) I worked in Anderton House at one point, and there was a sculpture of a miner with a lump of coal atop an Anderton Shearer drum. This sculpture is now in St Helens. What is described as an armoured flexible conveyor AFC. The same three letter abbreviation but the conveyor is known as an armoured face conveyor or more commonly "Panzer" in Britain. It isn't just used on coal faces, but is used for the loading point in coal stockyards. I was going to write something about who invented self advancing supports, but I can't find supporting(???)facts. This film was about safety, so it wasn't mentioned, not only does the roof fall but the floor can rise as well. I've no idea how it was done, but at one colliery I worked at called Parkside the methane was tapped off and sold to a local chemical company.

[@hughmacfarlane9662]

Hi cultist , you are close saying Anderton, but it is actually Anderson . The manufacturer was Anderson Strathclyde ( Motherwell , Scotand ) . Hard to see on video but I think if is the Anderson double ended ranging drum shearer ( D.E.R.D.S. ) . As to the self advancing roof support system , Gullick of Wigan ( Lancashire. England ) had a system (R.O.L.F. ) remotely operated longwall faceline , that was designed to be manpower free . If memory correct , I think the operation was controlled by 1 man out in the Maingate ( conveyor heading ) , also I assume that Mechanical and Electrical staff would be nearby . I saw a film of it in operation away back in the 1970's. Obviously other companies may have had similar set-ups. I have never met anyone who had any involvement with it . I don't think it ever was tried apart from the initial experimental faceline . I bet it was a nightmare for technical maintenance lads. Edit : the roof supports in film are not Gullick supports . By the amount of hoses , they were probably manufactured by a company that makes spaghetti 😄 . Accident report : strangled by hydraulic hoses.

[@jeffkeeley4594]

@@hughmacfarlane9662 W e had an Anderson Strathclyde double end ranging drum shearer backed up by Gullick four ram chocks at Angus Place Colliery in NSW (Aust) from about 1980 for ten or eleven years. Definately the way to get coal out.

[@hughmacfarlane9662]

@@jeffkeeley4594 Hi Jeff, yes, they were good shearers. I liked the AB16 longwall shearer., worked on them from 1964 to 1986 ( overhaul , installation and maintenance ). They could spew the coal out. All history in the UK now. best regards from Scotland .

[@mikepxg6406]

It was actually called an Anderson Strathclyde Shearer. Not Anderton ! I worked at 2 UK mines as an electrician and had to maintain these underground. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHSYaplrf65spNU

[@yauwohn]

John Anderton, Colliery Manager of a colliery in Lancashire England developed the power loader. Nobody knows who actually invented it, it developed in stages over a few years. I believe it was John who came up with the drum, then experimented with the plough for the drum which made it a power loader,

[@inesvonkohlenreibach866]

Glück auf! ⚒️

[@waswolltihr1526]

For all non German speakers "Glück Auf" is a German miners salute.

[@triple6758]

200 year supply of this stuff in the US yet. Mitigation is key. Self harm trying to replace it is crazy. That will come in the next millennium, probably by accident.

[@peterkrokodilos6460]

My wife drives a coal mine. She loves it.

[@trickolas78]

Congratulations

[@benjaminray2425]

What?

[@andy3949]

All that dust and no respirators? Hard core! Must be like smoking ten packs of smokes a day!

[@benjaminray2425]

It actually isn’t that bad. We usually have very good ventilation and dust suppression systems. Most of the “dust” you see in the air is just water vapor. The humidity is 90%+ down there, so you can sometimes see your breathe at 60°. Sweat will steam off your body, sometimes to the point where you can’t see 5’ in front of you lol

[@hughmacfarlane9662]

Right at the end of the vid' , you will see one of the most common causes of bad injuries. This bad habit of putting you hands on top of the spillcapes ( spillplates ). Back when mechanisation (big time ) was introduced in the 50s - 60s in the UK , loss of fingers and hand injuries became quite common, due to bad practices like this. When I started working in longwall facelines shearers were not pulling on a chain , but by 5/8" ( 16mm ) wire rope , and it was a highly efficient guillotine .

[@yauwohn]

Those haulage chains were pigs when they broke!! I was glad when the rack and pinion haulage came out.

[@hughmacfarlane9662]

@@yauwohn never had one break in 15 years . Previous to chain they used wire haulage rope and when they snagged on conveyor then sprung free , your mates wouldn't work near you until following day. And a nightmare when they broke , one of the most frightening experiences I ever had. The chains were a godsend . The varying systems of rack a track were a further excellent improvement

[@highpitwilma]

@@hughmacfarlane9662 Around 1961-ish,at Choppington B pit..[The HighPit],in Northumberland,England UK,some bright spark thought about modifying an ordinary old fashioned AB 15" Coalcutter,by creating a new cutting end with a shearer drum on it, and modifying the haulage end to use the rope haulage throughout the face..the first prototype Longwall Shearer I ever saw when I was 17 yrs old..I was a heavy transport lad,and my job was to take all the machine parts inbye with my pit pony,no Limbers/shafts..only using tracing chains attached to the horse's collar at each side..the seam went hard to the rise,and there were no rails in the Mothergates..everything had to be trailed inbye across rough shot ground..well,no sooner was this crazy machine started up,and the rope snapped injuring a few men..they kept trying..it killed men..they kept trying..10' high at one down to five feet high at the other end of the face..roof coming away,soft ground..nine feet long old fashioned Dowty props with bolted on "Elephant's feet" on the bottom of each prop to spread the base to stop them sinking into the bottom..more men hurt by them releasing and falling on them..lots of broken legs and arms..more fatalities..as a 17 yr old lad,I brought more men out on my tram and pony..badly injured..at that pit than I ever saw at any other pit I worked at. In 1971 I worked on 200 yard long faces with old fashioned five legged Dowty chocks with Adjacent control,and also Batch control..a Bumper could push the advance lever to batch..and six chocks would release ,advance,and set..one at a time in sequence..so one Bumper could advance thirteen chocks and never move from where he was crouched under a safe canopy..36" high,and standing like a palace..we used to say!!..a godsend!!..That was at Bates Colliery in Blyth,Northumberland..where we left 100 million tons of clean Virgin coal 5' high..never worked by any other pit..and I was driving a Roadway through a 36' thick Blue Whinstone Dyke to reach these untapped reserves..but didn't make it....cos thatcher the hatcheter ordered us to switch off,leave all the gear,and pull out..cut the cage ropes..leaving two £30 million pound Doscoe Roadheaders 12 miles inbye,in the Plessey seam,and six £100 million pound fully mechanised and working coalface installations to rot..plus millions of pounds worth of cables transformers,switchgear,pumps,rails..Deisel Locos...multiply that by all the pits in the country where they cut the ropes and sent the cages crashing down the shaft...and I think you will find the equivalent of the Chancellor's Purse on Budget day lying underground!!...what a find for Archeologists in hundreds of year's time..if we live that long..and the world isn't destroyed by other idiots like thatcher the hatcheter.....

[@highpitwilma]

I forgot to add that there were rails laid in the tailgates only,not in the Maingates.The Dowty props were really six foot hydraulic props with three feet long extensions welded on to the bottom of the props,and they were so heavy,more men than enough were hurt just by lifting them around to advance the face supports..no face chocks..just Dowty props and big heavy bars..which used to fly out like arrows under tremendous roof pressure..causing injuries a lot of times.The improvised cuttin drum had no spiral,the picks were just cutter picks..no Tungsten Carbide Tips!!..welded to a makeshift drum made from a 3' diameter steel pipe section..with pickboxes welded on..there were no SMRE in those days!![Safety in Mines Research Establishment]...or if there was we didn't know about it..I only learned about it in 1971,on a Deputy course,I was a Deputy for 7 yrs,and jacked it in and went back into the N.U.M...that was the worst seven yrs of my life..I must have been a good one somehow cos the men at Bates accepted me back into their union, in 1978..never happened in history of mining for a poacher turned gamekeepr to go back to poaching...they said!!Now,all the above stories were at Choppington High Pit,from 1959,straight from my school desk,aged 15 yrs,till just before the pit closed in 1966.My Father started down the High Pit Choppington,in 1929,aged 14 yrs,straight down the pit,working as a young Putter,leading full tubs of coal away from the Hewers..[before Longwalls they were working " Arc-Walls",where a Hewer physically got the coal with pick and shovel only..no drillers,no shots fired ,no windy picks..pure hard muscle work,where men aged before their time and died young also..],and when I got word to start there in 1959,my Father went mad,and said ya not gaan doon that pit..it's aal rough and ready,there was mair men killed and injured than at any other pit in the area,and there were 76 pits in Northumberland when I was a young lad..there were 8 pits around my home town of Bedlington alone.Well,my Father cooled down and said,Billy lad,a never wanted ye ti gaan ti the pits,but ye med ya mind up..ye med ya bed hard,ye'll hae ti lie in it..and that I did..at 16 yrs old I was working underground with two older men for a month,supervision..then I was on my own,doing a Man's job,working as a team with my two older Marra's,then when they went onto facework,I was in charge of two new trainees..and I was still just 17 yrs old!!I was coalcutting and Hand filling coal on longwall faces at 19 yrs old..in the roughest wettest pit in the County..how do I know?..cos in the mid-sixties,the Labour Government started closing all the smaller older pits,and transferring pockets of their workforces to other pits..and the High pit workforce went from 300 men to 600 men almost overnight,a dozen men from that pit...another dozen men from this pit..gradually,and every man that was transferred to the High Pit,from all the other drier pits..said that this was the worst and wettest,,and roughest,most dangerous pit they had ever been down..it was just "A Tetty Pit"..yep,a started writing me book about me mining experiences,in 2009,and still not finshed,600 pages...all written by pen and ink..in longhand...at 79 yrs of age,a dinna think aam gaana get it finished!! 12-0 midnight...time for bed Zebbity sed...!!...p.s...and we criticise other countries for using child labour...recently a 17 yr old murdered someone..they couldn't reveal his name under the CHILD protection act...WHAT THE HELL WERE WE???????....DOWN THE MINE AGED 15 YRS,TRAINING,YES,BUT STILL ON THE END OF A CAGE ROPE AND GOING A THOUSAND FEET DOWN A PIT SHAFT..TO TRAIN..IMAGINE 15 YR OLDS NOWADAYS GOING OUT TO WORK UNDERGROUND..OR WORKING IN AN 18" HIGH SEAM AT 18 YRS OLD..FILLING 13 YARDS OF COAL ONTO A CONVEYOR BELT, LYING ALL DAY ON THEIR SIDE IN FREEZING STINKING BLACK WATER RUNNING DOWN THE FACE LIKE A RIVER..HEH HEH...i DON'T THINK SO!!

[@jamielacourse7578]

What would '70s documentaries be like without Bongo drums in the soundtrack? Gotta love 'em.....

[@Rusty1220]

But I did like coal. Bought a Chevy Volt (electric) car in 2013, still drive it today, and it has been powered by West Virginia coal every since. I like the idea that it does not use foreign oil. I plug in at my house to charger. Nearly all the electric in my state is produced from local coal. But If I drive extended distance the car is capable of using gasoline if necessary to produce the electricity.

[@outlawflyer7868]

Foreign oil or not, coal burning is toxic to our health. A coal miner isn't gonna live long and u contradict yourself by owning an electric car to help the ozone but don't mind big power plants pumping out mad pollution. Pollution is pollution no matter where it comes from. We need to stop relying on oil all together. It's necessary in some cases. But until electric cars can go 1000 miles on one charge and only takes as fast as one can eat a cheesburger to charge, I will continue to use my gas power vehicles. I admire the coal workers and what they for the US economy at that time but it's nesring the end of the road for the miners and those whi live in coal mining towns need to be trained to do other jobs which should be supplied by the government by giving free trade schools.

[@Rusty1220]

@@outlawflyer7868 I bought the electric car because I have always been into technology. The electric cars today are powerful, plenty of speed, low maintenance, and extremely cheap to fuel. The electric cost is similar as if paying around $1.00 for gallon of gasoline. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison together producing electric cars back around 1910 era. But the battery technology was not yet ready, electric service was mainly found only is cities, thus if you went out into the country side you could get stranded. But today a lot has changed, although I live in WV if I drive around 40 miles, I will generally see 3 totally electric cars go by. Most people do not recognize the total electric Tesla’s, Ford Mustang Mac 3’s or the Chevrolet Bolts. New battery breakthroughs have been made and even better batteries will be showing up in production models soon. These electric cars are powered by nuclear power, hydropower, natural gas, windmills, solar, burn oil and coal. Depending on what the local electric is being made from. If you drive from coast to coast your car will have used every one of these power sources. Also every house and building is a potential fuel station for you, although I not always practical. My house has an emergency backup natural gas Generac Generator, for in case the commercial power grid goes down. So if all the electric in the whole state went off I could still charge up my car at home and be able to drive around in an emergency. I also have a total electric car besides the Chevy Volt. My wife has driven this car for two years, and has never stopped at gas station except to get snacks. Sorry, about my overly lengthy talking. I am not trying to save the planet I just love great products. My other favorite vehicle of all times have been the F 150 pickups, with a big 5.4 liter V8 Engine, which is great for pulling trailers, I get 12 miles per gallon of gasoline. It has a 30 gallon tank so now it takes $150.00 to fill up the tank if it is on empty. The new F150 Hybrid may be the best of both worlds. Anyway, life is good. ,

[@zitaconstructionllc2230]

This is the one and only positive logical argument to drive electric car I have ever seen.

[@miathemalinoisgsdx1320]

By the mid 80s the chock operator would not be standing / kneeling under the chock he was advancing, A fairly simple innovation meant that the levers on the chock he was under operated the chock next door but one or two which would isolate him from any debris falling between supports as they were advanced.

[@dutchcreekco]

I worked on a longwall in Colorado in the 80s. 5 years. We did operate chocks on either side of the controls. Also worked in the chocks. Crazy dangerous to be in front when moving

[@new_comment]

Time to move the wall, tell your family they won't see you while you're awake for at least 3 weeks.

[@carlosparacio5679]

Wow. Man power was so expendable back then.

[@conantdog]

A real hell on earth to feed the family.

[@jamiewyatt1862]

Not really ! My dad loved his time at the pit , he'd go back tomorow if they were still open !!!!

[@davidmccormick4319]

You worked underground did ya?

[@mystyredz]

Did they used to have metal frames inside these coal mines at the time?

[@BeingFireRetardant]

Got black lung just watching this...

[@christopherrabaldo3377]

Well, that's railroadin'.

[@brianbourquin7178]

What mine was this filmed in?

[@caseymurphy244]

I worked at a plywood plant year's ago. A union job. Physically demanding. And didn't pay worth the shit. Looking back on it. Spent 12 year's there. Started out at $11 something. When I left I think it was about $14 ?. Point is. I'm wondering how much they make? I would hope it's high $20s to $30 something? But I doubt it.

[@coaldigger1998]

I started in a underground coal mine in 75, about the time this film was made. I was making 4.65 a hour. I retired in 2019 making 26.88.

[@caseymurphy244]

@@coaldigger1998 l see the wayhouser Mill here in Montana is starting out $ 22 an hour. Rotating 12-hour shifts

[@Orc-icide]

I wonder how many of those workers died of black lung...

[@jimmissenda6590]

Longtail mining has caused significant road damage I Western PA.

[@johnmills34YT]

Then why are the roads fine in WVa? Pa just sucks for road mainteance.

[@zerofox7347]

1:32 “longwall mining originated in England towards the end of the 17th century“ Really? The late 1600s? 🤔

[@grahamnimmo4656]

It didn't. It was in the 20th century

[@keithmoore5306]

anymore they just remove the mountain over it to get at the coal! it's called topping!

[@publicmail2]

I'm guessing miners had poor dental?

[@trapperjohn6089]

Great dental. We mostly all chew tobacco.

[@keithmoore5306]

most chew tobacco due not being able to smoke in the mines due to methane!!

[@MrStaybrown]

Ok dental plan, but meth&Copenhagen, take a toll, add mountain dew also.

[@freeskier175]

He said "shaft" -butthead

[@Oliverdobbins]

Absolutely fascinating and slightly terrifying. After all that hard work and ingenuity in getting it to the surface, it’s almost a pity that we really should stop setting fire to it.

[@twstf8905]

Haha of _course_ not one of these guys is wearing a respirator lol or attempting to protect themselves from the coal dust, whatsoever. Even in a video called; "Safety in Longwall Mining." 🤣 >cough< >cough< _"I think I got the black lung, pop!"_