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:
Should the use of the "canary in the coal mine" be restored?
New electronic detectors will replace the bird because they are said to be cheaper in the long run and more effectiveYou 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?
THE COAL MINER'S  clipped from en.wikipedia.orgMiner'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
SATURDAY 12:30am Final Press Briefing  clipped from news.bbc.co.uk1986: Coal mine canaries made redundant 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 |
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