How safe is working in a coal mine?

It is generally a fairly risky job. Any number of things could go wrong, and most coal miners come from families that have been mining for generations. For years, miners didn't wear protective breathing apparatus, which resulted in "black lung" disease; an occupation hazard that can cut your life dramatically short.

You're drilling deep into the earth's crust, in the dark, with the possibility of falling rocks, equipment failure, or explosions. I've read there is a strong sense of kinship and camaraderie among miners; you are entrusting your life in your coworkers and foreman (and women).

But it pays well, and when you are raising a family and need money, there will always be people willing to do the work. Think about all the Chinese people who emigrated to Panama to work on the canal. They uprooted entire families and settled in a completely foreign area; solely to earn a living.

I think someone needs to bring better technology and engineering into the mining industry so that we don't keep having these horrific mining disasters where multiple people are killed or trapped. Or at least impose stricter rules and regulations for businesses that fail to meet required safety standards; a financial penalty isn't adequate punishment for a corporation that holds people's mothers and fathers lives in their very hands. The cost of the fine or penalty simply becomes another expense of doing business. This is unacceptable.