The United States Department of the Interior Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA) (0:10) presents “Coal Miner Today” (0:14), a film introducing various coal mining tasks, the men who perform them, and how to enable a safe and healthful environment.

Miners arrive to work holding white pails (0:32). After boarding the mantrip (0:42), they enter the mine through an opening called a portal (0:59). The tunnel is surprisingly white, due to rock dust, a powdered limestone applied to the sides, roof, and floor to reduce the possibility of coal dust explosions (1:05).

Two miners look at a map (1:45). The men walk from the mantrip to their working places (1:49). The solid exposed surface of the coal seam being mined is called the face (2:00). The object is to extract coal from the face quickly, efficiently, and safely.

First, the roof is sounded; a miner strikes the roof with a hammer to gauge the roof’s density (2:21). He checks for methane gas (2:36), and uses a flame safety lamp to check for oxygen deficiency. (2:48). Brattice ventilation curtains are hung to direct air to the working face (2:55). More permanent air deflectors, or stoppings, are built out of cement blocks (3:04).

Steel safety jacks help support the newly exposed roof (3:12). A timberman installs wooden timbers for further support (3:25).

Another roof reinforcement method is “roof bolting” (3:40). The bolting machine provides automated, temporary roof support to protect the operator (4:02), who drills holes into the roof into which he will insert metal bolts (4:10). The idea is to clamp together the several layers of roof strata to form a more solid composite beam. Roof bolts often eliminate the need for timbering, allowing for more room for men and machinery. Special drilling equipment use hollow drill rods through which dust and cuttings are extracted (5:13).

The cutting machine operator undercuts the face of the coal, so it can be blasted down readily (5:26). A horizontal drill, or auger, drills holes into the solid coalface (5:38). The shot firer places explosive charges into these holes (6:04), using a non-sparking tamping stick to push them in (6:21). He tamps them closed with a plug of non-combustible materials (6:28). Called stemming, this helps prevent blown out shots and makes the explosives more effective. He calls out, “Fire! Fire! Fire!” (6:59). An explosion (7:05).

The smoke clears; the loading machine operator loads the coal (7:15) into electrically powered shuttle cars (7:24). He transfers coal to the main transportation system (7:39). This system may consist of rail haulage such as a train of mine cars (7:54) or conveyor belt haulage (8:00).

Continuous mining is relatively newer and more efficient (8:12). A continuous mining machine rips coal from the face (8:26), and loads it onto conveyors or into haulage vehicles in one continuous operation (8:38). This eliminates the need for cutting, drilling, and blasting operations. Water sprays help suppress dust (9:14).

The longwall system is another more recent system (9:22). The coal seam is removed in one operation by a type of cutter-loader with blades that are pulled along the length of the working face by a power-driven chain (9:36). The broken coal is carried from the face by an armored flexible conveyor (9:46). Steel hydraulic jacks called chocks support the roof (9:52).

Adequate ventilation is very important. A ventilating fan draws air throughout the mine workings (10:03). A section foreman measures air velocity with an anemometer (10:23). To reduce the explosibility of settled coal dust, entries are rock dusted with powdered limestone (10:44). A machine distributes dust over the interior surfaces of the mine (11:00).

The section foreman leads the men working under him. Three section foremen in helmets nod in agreement (11:17). However, all of the occupations of the coal mining industry are important: the work of timbermen (11:39), electricians (11:43), trackmen (11:45), maintenance men (11:50), repairmen (11:52), and the general laborer, or mine workmen (11:56). From 12:19, a montage of the many faces of miners at work. They crawl back onto the mantrip (12:25).

Mining involves hazards, but they can be identified and eliminated when safety is made the prime concern of the mine operator, federal and state governments, and the miners themselves.