Each year you are bound to hear of accidents that occur in mines where the staff are wounded or killed.  There are many hazards in mines that are deadly.  The biggest danger is caused methane gas, which is formed from organic matter that is decomposing.  Methane gas, which is present in most, if not all, mines, is extremely dangerous.  Because it is light compared to air, it rises to the roof of the mine thus crowding out oxygen.  Methane kills in two different manners.  One is through asphyxiation, or just simply suffocation.  This occurs when you breathe in too much of it.  When exposed to flames and sparks, methane also explodes.  It can result in very severe burns and even destroy life.  By observing some crucial guidelines, miners can be able to maintain their own safety while in mines.

One is making sure that the mine has sufficient ventilation.  This is without a doubt the most effective and simplest method of dealing with such hazardous fumes and gases as methane.  It is important that the ventilation plan approved for the mine be followed.  Where the levels of the hazardous gases are high, miners should use respirators.  They may help them breathe more easily and thwart suffocation.  The one thing miners that must never do while mining is smoke.  Any other sources of ignition must also be kept away.  Where welding has to be carried out, a methane test should be carried out before the task begins.  The test is sure to indicate if the methane gas levels are elevated.  Accordingly, potential explosions will have been avoided.  It is very important that methane monitors be installed in the mines.  These help monitor the concentrations of methane at a given time.

Other ways to maintain safety in mines include conducting frequent examinations.  Carrying out regular checkups is the only way you may be able to ensure that safety gadgets such as methane monitors work well.  In the mines, multiple escape paths in addition to evacuation plans must also be availed.  Additionally, the miners must be well trained in case of an emergency.  It is useless to have an evacuation plan but not train the workers what to do in the event of an accident.  To ensure that the miners are prepared for tragedies, drills ought to be carried out on a regular basis.  Miners can be able to maintain their safety by wearing such protective clothing as overalls, boots, goggles, gloves and adhering to the set safety guidelines.