Their job was simple:
to open and close the wooden doors (trap doors) that allowed fresh air to flow through the mine
. They would usually sit in total darkness for up to twelve hours at a time, waiting to let the coal tub through the door. It was not hard work but it was boring and could be very dangerous.
What was life like as a coal miner?
In spite of the dangers, coal mining provided employment and steady income (as long as the mines were not on strike). Mining was
frequently a family affair
, with father and one or more sons working together. Schooling was a luxury in this era; if economic need demanded it, then boys left school and went to work.
What did coal miners do in the Victorian times?
Coal was very important to the Victorians because it was their main source of power. They used it for:
driving machinery, moving locomotives and steamships, cooking and heating
.
What was it like working in a coal mine?
Working in coal mines is dangerous —
miners have to deal with toxic gases
, plus the threat of being crushed, drowned, or injured from fires and explosions. Some miners love it. It can be a family tradition, it’s exciting, and the pay is usually pretty good.
What were the conditions like in the coal mines?
Coal miners would have to, in some cases,
trek miles down dark and cramped mine shafts
to get to where the coal was being mined. Workers would spend 10 hour days hunched over and crawling, without a single opportunity to stand up or stretch. Additionally, the underground mines were hot and damp.
Do coal miners still get black lung?
Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), commonly known as “black lung disease,” occurs when coal dust is inhaled. Over time, continued exposure to the coal dust causes scarring in the lungs, impairing your ability to breathe. Considered an occupational lung disease, it is most common among
coal miners
.
Do coal miners make good money?
The salaries of Coal Miners in the US range from $11,105 to $294,800 , with a median salary of $53,905 . The middle 57% of Coal Miners makes between $53,905 and $133,947, with the top
86%
making $294,800.
How much did child coal miners get paid?
Children in the mills usually worked eleven or twelve hour days, 5-6 days a week. Windows were usually kept closed because moisture and heat helped keep the cotton from breaking. Crushed and broken fingers were common in the coal mines. Most children working here were boys earning
$0.50-$0.60 a day
.
How much did the miners get paid?
Miners Industry According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary of all miners in 2019 ranged from
$56,320 to $48,180
, depending on the specific role.
How many hours did child miners work?
In the coal mines the average age of beginning work was 9. Children as young as 5 or 6 would work
more than 12 hours a day for 6 days a week
and the work was often very dangerous.
How much money do coal miners make an hour?
| Annual Salary Hourly Wage | Top Earners $62,000 $30 | 75th Percentile $55,000 $26 | Average $49,893 $24 | 25th Percentile $37,000 $18 |
|---|
How many hours a day do coal miners work?
Friedman said that miners often work
47 or 48 hours per week
, clocking multiple 10- to 12-hour shifts, which is above the national average for workers, which is about 38 hours per week.
How deep do coal miners go?
Coal that occurs at depths of
55 to 90 m (180 to 300 ft)
are usually deep mined, but in some cases surface mining techniques can be used. For example, some western U.S. coal that occur at depths in excess of 60 m (200 ft) are mined by the open pit methods, due to thickness of the seam 20–25 metres (60–90 feet).
How many coal mines did Labour close?
Clement Attlee’s Labour government closed 101 pits between 1947 and 1951; Macmillan (Conservative) closed 246 pits between 1957 and 1963; Wilson (Labour) closed 253 in his two terms in office between 1964 and 1976; Heath (Conservative) closed 26 between 1970 and 1974; and Thatcher (Conservative) closed 115 between 1979 …
How old did you have to be in 1900 to work as a coal miner in Victorian England?
I think it was the rats.” Until the mid-nineteenth century, the British state accepted that children
as young as five years old
were an acceptable part of the industrial workforce.
What jobs did children have in coal mines before the 1900s?
In coal mines, children would crawl through tunnels too narrow and low for adults. They also worked as
errand boys
, crossing sweepers, shoe blacks, or selling matches, flowers, and other cheap goods.
