Cabs and Canopies

From ETHW

Between the mid 1960's and 1970's, over 800 roof collapse fatalities occurred as the result of miners operating open face underground coal machinery. This led to the creation of senate bill 30 CFR 75.1710-1: Canopies or cabs; self-propelled diesel-powered and electric face equipment; installation requirements. The bill created a timeline of implementation that required coal mines, commencing in 1974, to implement the use of cabs or canopies and required all coal mines to have implemented the changes by 1978. William Aljoe, editor of USBM Information Circular 8996, estimates that as of 1983, almost 200 canopy saves had been reported to the Mine Safety and Health Administration.