A dangerous job worth recognizing

Acknowledged by the state of West Virginia first, Miner’s Day becomes a national holiday when designated by Congress in 2009. National Miner’s Day is celebrated on December 6 and is an anniversary for a mining accident where hundreds died.

On December 6, 1907, an explosion in a mining station occurred in Monogoah, West Virginia. According to Britannica, “more than 350 miners” were killed. The explosion caused the entrance of the mine to collapse and keep both miners and poisonous gasses trapped inside. The cause of the accident is unknown because the conditions at the time were poor. Poor conditions increase a number of different accidents to occur. The WV Public Broadcasting site says, “In the following weeks, three other major mine disasters occurred nationally.” This led to thousands of miners losing their lives within that month. During the early 1900s, several mining accidents started to happen, which sadly increased the number of lives lost.

Miners have put in hard work daily in their occupation since the early 1800s. Although the Bureau of Mines was established in 1910, their rules and restrictions weren’t consistently enforced in the beginning. It wasn’t until the mid-1900s where miners got some sort of protection. The Coal Mine Health and Safety Act was passed in 1969. Eight years later, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 was passed.

For being considered such a key role in the development of the country, miners don’t get enough merit. As stated in the official National Miner’s Day website, this national holiday let’s us “appreciate, honor, and remember” the people who mine and who have mined.