Mining Equipment Rentals

In Somerset Pennsylvania you’ll find Quecreek Mine Rescue Memorial Site. If you think your job sucks you might have a whole new perspective after touring this mine disaster memorial.

Here you’ll find statues and road side markers in coal and mineral regions throughout the US where miners died from flooding, explosion, fire, toxic gas, cave ins, and a host of other inadequate safety reasons for the high fatalities in the industry.

But there’s some great news here. On July 24th 2002 there were 18 miners from the Black Wolf Coal Company working in Quecreek Mine. They were working with a map that was not accurate so they inadvertently broke through a wall that resulted in the #1 Mine being filled with water trapping 9 of the miners.

Rescue began immediately and above ground GPS was used to try to determine their exact whereabouts. Once they were located a narrow hole was drilled down 240 feet to where the miners were so that air could be forced into the chamber to hold the water back. Then pumps were set up at the entrance to remove the water. After 77 hours all of the miners were retrieved alive and suffering from only minor injuries.

Today Quecreek Minor Rescue Memorial is located at the site where the rescue shaft where the minors were hauled to safety. You’ll also find a 7 foot bronze statue of a minor with a small slope down to a cylinder grate next to him. There are many artifacts around the field all with signed to explain their importance. This is a is an amazing place recognizing both the good and bad in mining rescues.

Source: Article Click