1940 — Nov 29, OH-PA Coal Co.’s Nelms #1 Mine gas/dust explosion, NE of Cadez, OH–31
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 10-11-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–31 US Bureau of Mines. Final Report of a Gas and Dust Explosion in the Nelms Mine…
—31 United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Nelms”
Narrative Information
US Bureau of Mines. Final Report of a Gas and Dust Explosion in the Nelms Mine…:
“A gas and dust explosion occurred in the Nelms mine of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Coal Company at Nelms, Ohio, about 1:20 p.m., November 29, 1940, while 135 men were underground. The 31 men in the 7 and 8 east section of the mine were killed from carbon monoxide poisoning and burns but the remaining 104 men escaped uninjured and unassisted from the mine., It is believed that the explosion was initiated at or near the face of room 13, driven from 8 east air course, by an ignition of gas from a permissible mining machine or an electric drill, both of which were definitely in a non-permissible condition. It is believed that the electric drill was the most likely source of ignition. The explosion undoubtedly was propagated by gas and dust.” (p. 1)
Lessons To Be Learned From This Explosion
“There are four outstanding lessons to be learned from this explosion:
- The rapid advancement with mechanical mining results in an increased liberation of gas
and an increased amount of dust, in any given period. This condition is naturally enlarged where double and triple shifting is followed, and in order to provide reasonable protection for the employees, it is necessary that there be sufficient air in circulation at all times to dilute and render harmless the gas which is being liberated, and that measures must be taken to allay the coal dust at its source.
- In order for sufficient ventilation to reach working faces, it is necessary that adequate air
courses be provided and kept free of obstructions; that airtight stoppings, preferably of incombustible material, be erected; that overcasts be used instead of doors; and that where doors are used, they should always be erected in pairs to form air locks.
- Permissible equipment, unless properly maintained, will provide no protections against
ignitions of gas, and may even more hazardous than open equipment in that it may be the cause of a false sense of security.
- Propagation of explosions cannot be prevented unless all openings are adequately rock-
dusted to within about 40 feet of the face, and be so maintained. One of the reasons why the explosion area was not rock-dusted as it should have been may be because there is insufficient time between shifts when triple shifting is done to properly rock-dust under the methods and equipment now used.” (p. 41)
Sources
US Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior. Final Report of a Gas and Dust Explosion in the Nelms Mine of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Coal Company at Nelms, Harrison County, Ohio, on November 29, 1940. Accessed 10-11-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/nelms_1940.pdf
United States Mine Rescue Association. Mine Disasters in the United States. “Ohio and Pennsylvania Coal Company Nelms Mine Explosion.” Accessed 10-11-2024 at: https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/nelms_news_only.htm