MSHA Urges Public to 'Stay Out and Stay Alive'-- Seeks to Deter Recreational Activities on Mine Property
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009 |
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For
the 11th consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA) launched its annual "Stay Out — Stay
Alive" public safety campaign to warn outdoor enthusiasts — especially
children — about the dangers of playing on mine property. Since 1999,
nearly 300 people have lost their lives in recreational accidents at
mine properties. Almost half of all victims are 15 to 25 years of age,
and the most common cause of death is drowning in a quarry.
"No
matter how attractive they may appear, active and abandoned mines are
not playgrounds. If you're not trained or authorized to enter the
property, stay away," said Michael A. Davis, MSHA's deputy assistant
secretary of labor for operations. "As we near the end of another
school year and prepare for lots of outdoor activities, children and
young adults must be aware of the potential dangers that exist."
During
the month-long campaign, which runs from April 27 to May 25, MSHA and
its partners will visit schools, scouting groups and other venues to
talk to young people about the dangers of playing on active and
abandoned mine property.
Old surface mines, which are popular
spots for ATV enthusiasts, contain hills of loose materials or refuse
heaps that can easily collapse and cause deadly rollovers.
Underground
mines can have hidden shafts, flooded or airless sections, or deadly
gases; tunnels can cave-in; and unused or misfired explosives can be
set off by the slightest disturbance or touch.
Water-filled
quarries — the mines that claim the most lives every year — have
slippery slopes and unstable rock ledges, and the water may conceal old
machinery and sharp objects left behind after a mining operation
closes. Even expert swimmers may encounter trouble in the dangerously
cold and deceptively deep waters. Drowning is far and away the most
common cause of recreational accidents on mine property, accounting for
two out of three fatalities over the past 10 years.
Dozens of
federal and state agencies, private organizations, businesses and
individuals are active partners in "Stay Out — Stay Alive." For further
information about the national campaign, visit www.msha.gov.
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