Mine Safety Lamp 1973

This clip is from the training film, Koehler & Wolf Permissible Flame Safety Lamps, produced about 1973 by the US Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA). The film was used to train mine safety men about oxygen deficiency and provide a working knowledge of the flame safety lamp used to detect methane and oxygen deficiency. Prior to the invention of safety lamps, miners used candles with open flames. The use of small mammals or birds was used much later to warn of the presence of the deadly carbon monoxide present after underground fires or explosions, the so-called afterdamp. Such animals are much more susceptible to the gas, and will die before a human, so giving an early warning of the problem. The lack of good lighting was a prime cause of a painful eye affliction (nystagmus). Nowadays, safety lamps are mainly electric, and traditionally mounted on miners' helmets, sealed to prevent gas penetrating the casing and being ignited by electrical sparks. Although its use as a light source was superseded by electric lighting, the flame safety lamp had continued to be used in mines into recent years to detect methane and blackdamp, though modern mines now use sophisticated gas detectors for this purpose

Category:

Education

Tags:

• mine
• safety
• methane
• oxygen
• fire
• testing
• OSHA
• MSHA
• worker
• union
• industrial
• hygiene
• Hazwoper

[CGzep]

If you notice around 4:35 he incorrectly shows how to detect methane. he thrusts the lamp straight up. that is a NO NO. if there were any methane he would have killed all those guys.