xt7tx921cv3c_5 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7tx921cv3c/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7tx921cv3c/data/87m1.dao.xml unknown 0.63 Cubic feet 2 boxes The Sherrill Martin papers (1937-1954, undated; .63 cubic feet, 2 boxes) primarily comprise Carrs Fork Coal Company newsletters (1940-1945) containing line-drawing illustrations by Martin accompanying articles and letter-format lectures on mine safety by general superintent P.A. Grady. archival material English University of Kentucky This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed.  Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically.  Physical rights are retained by the owning repository.  Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws.  For information about permissions to reproduce or publish, contact the Special Collections Research Center. Sherrill Martin papers Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--Perry County Illustrators. Mine safety -- Illustrations. Newsletters World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--United States All Employees Letter text All Employees Letter 2014 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7tx921cv3c/data/87m1/87m1_1/87m1_1_5_6/6241/6241.pdf 1946-1947 1947 1946-1947 section false xt7tx921cv3c_5 xt7tx921cv3c Allock, Kentucky `
Feb, 27, l947
AllrjgQQOYEES: _ .
Of the lll men reported killed in the coal mines nf Kentucky during
1946, 70 or 65 per cent of them met their death under a fall cf slate or roof,
Q 55 of them were killed at or near the working face and 17 were
killed on the entry._ The men killed near the face included 25 miners, 6 V
conveyor men, 5 machinemen, 5 drillers, 4 pfficials, 5 machine helpers, and 5 ‘
Joy workers. The men killed on the entry~+,~k in`3 timbermen,;l,trackman, 2
foremen, 2 miners,_2 brakemen,_2 slate men, ‘ slate boss, l wireman, l pumper
and one driver,
Two of the slate falls had two ·1¤ rs under each of them and another 4
fall got a machineman and his helper.,
The size of the fall that killed a man or men was reported in 40
, cases and_the average piece measured l2é feet lcng, 7& feet wide and ll inches
thick. 42 of the fatalities were charged to insufficient timbering, and the_
` average size of the slate that fell would have remained supported if more pasts
had been set under it., In many instances, the victim was removed from under
slate with posts no where in evidence, and the previous visit of the section
· foreman had not compelled safe action to be taken.-
Eight men were killed when they knocked posts or jacks and had not
set other posts as a safety measure. _ ` ,
Seven were killed by a second fall while they were cleaning up a
first_fall. ,They neglected to sound the top and set temporary timbers tn make
themselves safe, _
_ Four were killed by falls when they went back after shooting, ‘
before the smoke had cleared, and without making a careful examination as they
approached the face. _
‘ Three were killed by entry falls when wrecked cars knocked posts A
from under loose top, slate that should not have been left resting on timbers.
Three were killed by entry slate as they either walked or rede the
T man—trip away from their working places. Supervision was held accountable, "
y Had proper steps been taken in the way of timbering and the setting
} of safety posts at the working faces, the removal of top that timbcring could
i not make safe, and the kind of supervision that would have compelled the taking _
i of necessary precautions, most, if not about all, of the accidents would have
V been prevented. _
5 With your cooperotien we need not have such fatalities in •ur°
mines, and we beg of YOU not to take unnecessary chances.
CARRS FORK COAL COMPANY, INC.
pj ,4,;,0 fi
P• pin Gr·'ldy
General Superintendent.

 Alloek, kentucky
March 28, l‘L*46
ALL EMPLOYEES:
Our newspapers and radios have lately been telling us a lot about mine
safety. we wonder if they know, like you and I, just how mine workers are
injured and killed, and the underlying causes of such accidents. Let us look
at the record of a ten year period and see how each lOO men killed in the
mines of Kentucky met their death:
FALLS QF SLATE 60 The Carrs Fork Coal Company is in favor of
CARS AND MOTORS l4 any law, or of any means that can be adopted
ELECTROCUTIONS 5 to promote greater safety in our mines. we
MAJOR EXPLOSIONS 4 were for the laws passed at Frankfort, both
MINING-MACHINES 2 as to safety and health and greater work-
CARS AND FACE 2 man's compensation benifits.
RR CARS & TIPPLE MGH. l
ALL OTHER CAUSES l2 We want the laws that were recently enacted
to stand for the good that they can do, and
TOTAL IOO not be pawned off as something that will
approach a cure—all for injuries and death
in a coal mine. In this more harm than good
can be done.
From the record you can see that the greatest cause of accidents is from falls
of slate. The law has always stated that the operator must furnish timbers in
suitable size and sufficient quantity, that frequent inspections must be made
by a foreman, and that the miner shall not remain in a place unless it can be
made safe. In spite of all this, each year from 50 to 60 per cent of all the
men killed met their death under a slate fall. WHY? Every practical miner
knows the answer. He knows of so many that were killed because they took the
chance that should not have been taken and neglected to protect themselves in
a way they should have been protected.
The Carrs Fork Coal Company, in common with other mines, employ section fore-
men to prevent the careless miner from taking chances and to insure greater
safety in their work. We want them to feel unhampered in this work at all
times. when they insist upon a miner or any other workman performing his work
in a careful and safe manner, surely every right thinking person should be
with them; we feel that the man’s wife and children are. So for Safety reasons
and Safety only are we opposed to any movement that will keep the foreman from
doing his full duty along this line,
The next greatest cause of accidents is in the handling of cars and motors. Our
record has been good among our haulage crews. We want to keep it this way, and
we will insist on our foreman stopping dangerous practices whenever found.
Going on down the list of CAUSES, every employee that works in and about a mine
can be alert to all of the hazards, and by his thinking and working prevent
injury and death from coming to him. We want your full cooperation, and by
getting this we can have a record that all can be proud to acclaim.
A Careful Worker is always out in front of any Law that can be written into
our Statute Books. ‘
Sincerely yours, _
O2"?/°·<é4$Q-—
P. A. Grady
General Superintendent. _