Dangers of Mining

Title: Photograph of Miners Lighting Fuses
Type: Photograph
Date: 1935
Source: Minnesota Historical Society

Description: These miners are lighting explosive charges in a mine.

Activities:

1. What might make lighting an explosive's fuse by hand a dangerous job?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: A faulty fuse might burn faster than expected, and having an open flame near an explosive is always dangerous.
2. Since there are several fuses to be lit, what can you assume about how fast the fuses burn?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: The fuses must burn slowly enough so that the workers have time to get to all of them. Fuses could also be cut to longer lengths, which would take more time to burn.
3. Are these men wearing and special clothing that will protect them from the blast?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Not really. Their helmets and heavy work clothes are typical of what miners wore. Once the fuses are lit, they must get as far away from the blast as possible.