1928 — Aug 15, Irvona No. 3 Coal Mine Gas and Dust Explosion, Coalport, PA — 13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-16-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–13 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Mining Disasters: 1839 to…
–13 U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Coal Fatal…Explosion, Irvona No. 3 mine, August 15, 1928.
–13 United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Irvona, 1928.
Narrative Information
U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Coal Fatal…Explosion, Irvona No. 3 mine, August 15, 1928:
“A gas and dust explosion occurred in the Irvona No. 3 mine of the Irvona Coal and Coke Co., Coalport, PA., about 3:15 p.m., August 15, 1928. There were 102 men working on the shift, but some left the mine and only 14 were in the affected section when the explosion occurred. Eight men were killed by violence, five were overcome by afterdamp and one man, who was overcome, was rescued and resuscitated. The explosion was probably caused by the ignition of gas by an open type mining machine, another of the long list of electrical ignitions in closed light mines.
“The mine was not rock-dusted and the only watering was sprinkling on about a third of the trips of loaded cars.[1]
….
“The coroner’s jury reported as follows: ‘From evidence offered us we find that the accident was due to an accumulation of gas caused by insufficient ventilation and ignited by an open type mining machine. We further find that those in charge of furnishing materials and labor and looking after the safety of employees of the Irvona Coal and Coke Co. mine were grossly careless and negligent in not complying with the recommendations of the State mine inspectors and the requirements of the mining laws of Pennsylvania.’ [pp. 1-2]
….
“This disaster was caused by failure of the fire boss to perform his duties faithfully; by the failure of the machine man to obey instructions and heed warnings; and by the management who neglected to provide safe electrical equipment for the employees. As has been remarked so frequently in these memoranda, open type equipment in closed-light mines is dangerous and causes most of the explosions in this type of mine. In fact, explosions, started by electricity in closed light mines now occur with far too much frequency and regularity. [p. 2.]
….
“This explosion was directly the result of extreme carelessness on the part of the management and of the State Inspectors in allowing men to wear open lights and to use open type electrical equipment in a mine liberating gas and which had been classified as gassy by the State Department of Mines. The gas ignition four months previously should have served as a warning of the danger of using open lights and equipment but this warning was not heeded. There have been numerous gas ignitions in so-called nongassy of slightly gassy mines in recent months and there is decidedly good warrant to regard any or all mines as gassy if any gas is found at any time. It is criminal folly to wait until men are killed by gas ignitions before starting to take precautions and it is utter nonsense to expect machine runners to protect themselves or their coworkers by making or supposedly being required to make gas examinations before entering places to cut coal….”
Sources
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Safety and Health Research.. Mining Disasters: 1839 to Present. NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2-26-2013 update. Accessed 2-16-2025 at:
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NIOSH-Mining/MMWC/MineDisasters/Table
U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Coal Fatal…Explosion, Irvona No. 3 mine, August 15, 1928. Accessed 2-16-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/1928_Irvona_Mine_Report.pdf
United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. Irvona Coal and Coke Company, Irvona No. 3 Mine Explosion, Coalport, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1928, No. Killed – 13.” Accessed 2-16-2025 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/irvona_news_only.htm
[1] Both measures help control the amount of coal dust, which is explosive, suspended above floor level.