Apr 11, 2010

The WV Mine Disaster: Where Was the "Canary in the Coal Mine"?

These song birds were pleasant and faithful guardians of miner's until just a couple decades ago and people might be surprised to find out just why canaries were replaced by modern sensors, which apparently were little help at the recent mine disaster and explosion due to gas at Montcoal. One of the leading reasons for banishing these feathered friends of miners was this:

New electronic detectors will replace the bird because they are said to be cheaper in the long run and more effective
You read that right. Modern technology is "cheaper in the long run" than canaries. Cost-cutting is only justifiable if mine safety is not sacrificed. One wonders if the 29 who were killed would have suffered that fate if canaries were singing down there with them. Modern technology apparently gave no clear alarm for the miners to heed in time.

Should the use of the "canary in the coal mine" be restored?
clipped from www.msha.gov
THE COAL MINER'S
CANARY
Picture of boy holding canary in bird cage
clipped from en.wikipedia.org
Miner's canary
Canaries were once regularly used in coal mining as an early warning system.[1] Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and methane in the mine would kill the bird before affecting the miners. Because canaries tend to sing much of the time, they provided both a visual and audible cue in this respect. The use of so called miner's canaries in British mines was phased out in 1987.[2]
clipped from www.wsaz.com

BREAKING NEWS: Four Missing Miners Found Dead Inside Mine, 29 Killed During Monday's Blast
During an early morning news conference, Governor Joe Manchin announced that the four missing miners were found dead inside the mine. A federal investigation into what caused Monday's explosion will begin next week.
SATURDAY 12:30am Final Press Briefing
clipped from news.bbc.co.uk
1986: Coal mine canaries made redundant
Miner underground with canary in cage
New electronic detectors will replace the bird because they are said to be cheaper in the long run and more effective
The canary is particularly sensitive to toxic gases such as carbon monoxide