Issue 12: Coal mine methane explosions
Underground coal mining is and has always been a dangerous job. In addition to the risk of asphyxiation and the danger of falling coal, there is the hazard of an explosion of methane gas, which is continuously expelled by coal seams and becomes potentially explosive when mixed with air. Mines must have good ventilation to prevent methane building up. In addition to that, initial methane explosions can trigger coal dust explosions causing further devastating effects.
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