1963 – Dec 16, Carbon No. 2 coal mine, methane gas/coal dust explosion, Helper, UT — 9

–9 NIOSH, CDC. Mining Disasters (Incidents with 5 or more Fatalities). 2-26-2013 update.
–9 US Bureau of Mines. Final Report of Major Mine-Explosion Disaster of No. 2 Mine…
–9 US Mine Rescue Assoc. Mine Disasters in the [US]. “…Carbon No. 2 Mine Explosion.”

Narrative Information

Bureau of Mines: “This report is based on an investigation made in accordance
with provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act (66 Stat. 692; 30 U.S.C. Secs. 451-483).

“A gas and coal-dust explosion occurred in the No. 2 mine of the Carbon Fuel Company near Helper, Carbon County, Utah, about 12 m., Monday, December l6~ 1963. A total of 21 men
was in the mine at the time of occurrence; 9 perished almost immediately, 1 was injured by the forces and required hospitalization, and 11 escaped uninjured….

“Bureau of Mines investigators believe that the explosion originated at the face of No. 4 dip entry, fifth west dip section, where an explosive mixture of methane, air, and coal dust was ignited by frictional sparks from the bits of the continuous miner cutting in top rock, or by arcs or sparks
from electrical equipment that was in nonpermissible condition. The main forces of the explosion traveled outwardly from the face of No. 4 dip entry throughout the. fifth west dip section, fifth west section, three abandoned rooms east off the dip section and dissipated as they moved along the well, rock-dusted fourth west main entries and main slope.

“The fifth west dip entries had been developed about 100 feet on Federal land.

General Information

“The No. 2 mine of the Carbon Fuel Company is situated in Hardscrabble Canyon about 2½ miles off U. S. Highway Nos. 50-6 and about 4 miles northwest of Helper, Carbon County, Utah. Autotrucks were used to haul the coal from the tipple to the railroad loading ramp at Martin, Utah, about 2½ miles from the mine. The loading ramp was served by the Utah Railway Company. Coal that was not transported by railroad was loaded into autotrucks at the mine tipple and delivered to the consumer or distributor….

“A total of 30 men was employed of which 21 worked underground on the day shift and 3 maintenance men worked underground on the afternoon shift. The mine was operated 3 or 4 days a week and the average daily production was 1,000 tons of coal, mined and loaded mechanically, and transported by shuttle cars and belts….The coal is of high-volatile bituminous rank….

“Probable Point of Origin: Bureau of Mines investigators believe that the explosion originated at the face of No. 4 dip entry in the fifth west dip section.

“Factors Preventing Spread of Explosion: The explosion was propagated by the float coal dust atop the rock dust in the return airway (No. 4 dip entry). Heavy application of rock dust in the fifth west dip entries and in the fourth west entries was. the principal factor that prevented further spread of the explosion.

“Summary of Evidence: Conditions in the mine during recovery operations and the investigation that followed, together with information made available during the previous Federal inspection, interrogation and discussions with officials and employees of the Carbon Fuel Company provided. evidence as to cause and origin of the explosion. The evidence from which the conclusions of the Bureau of Mines investigators are drawn is summarized as follows:

“1. The explosion involving methane and coal dust occurred about 12 m. Monday, December 16, 1963. The time of occurrence was arrived at by the fan chart and statements from men in other areas of the mine.

“2. The victims died in a relatively short time from carbon monoxide poison and burns. All received first to third degree burns, one a fractured right skull and compound fracture of the left hand, one a severe concussion, and one a possible skull fracture.

“3. Methane was being liberated in the face areas, and had been found infrequently with a flame safety lamp in the fifth west dip section. Methane was detected in, the disaster area about 1:15 p.m. the day of the explosion ‘and an air sample collected at the face of No. 4 dip entry after ventilation had been reestablished contained 0.26 percent methane….

Sources

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Safety and Health Research.. Mining Disasters (Incidents with 5 or more Fatalities). NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2-26-2013 update. At: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/statistics/disall.htm > and http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/statistics/content/allminingdisasters.html

United States Bureau of Mines (Lester D. Knill and Joseph Freeman). Final Report of Major Mine-Explosion Disaster of No. 2 Mine, Carbon Fuel Company, Helper, Carbon County, Utah December 16, 1963. Salt Lake City, UT: Bureau of Mines, US Dept. of Interior. No date. Accessed 8-3-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/carbon_1963.pdf

US Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Carbon Fuel Company Carbon No. 2 Mine Explosion. Helper, Carbon County, Utah, December 16, 1963.” Accessed 8-3-2022 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/carbon.htm