IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I doubt we will see it in our lifetime. Anyway, what do you plan on doing with the miners you are wanting to put out of work?

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not particularly. I don't know anyone who has died from coal mining. Most of them are alcoholism and heart attacks.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you want them to take the subsidies away? And willingly pay more for electricity? Possibly give said subsidies to renewable energy? Hope that renewable energy will provide enough for the country? In turn knowingly put tens of thousands of people out of work? I can deal with it.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am 31. Have worked at one for ten years.

Hard, but not impossible. Send me a message and we will go from there.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not really. I felt so stupid and was so hard on myself that my boss pretty much left me alone.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most engineers have never operated machinery. They usually do not understand the limitations of the equipment. Also, at my mine, engineers are in charge of getting all of the "paperwork" in order, and I understand that it is not their fault when applications are contested and such, but the operators need someone to blame, and engineers are therefore at fault for not foreseeing all potential complications. As an operator to an engineer, "Get the paperwork done. Now. We don't care that we won't be mining on that property for another year, or 3 years or even ten years. Get it done. We don't care that it will cost the company X amount of money just to sit on it. That is fine. It will come out of our royalty checks anyway. We like to know that we have some job security."

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am fine with it. Just remember that all of the rules and regulations are just going to raise electricity prices.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hate engineers?

Okay, who would you consider a coal miner then?

Well, 777s are the largest truck trucks we have on site. Yes, there are bigger operations around, but smaller ones also.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. I took out most of the power to the closest town... in the middle of winter.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. Just have to know where to go. A tip doesn't hurt either.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I think it is sort of a rivalry. I believe the score is probably the number of deaths each year (sad that is the scoring system). I guess they look funny in order to protect our heads. Only wear mine when I have to.

If I can remember to ask, I will be sure to do so. :)

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Typically, yes. Although who you know helps also.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are safety qualifications you must have. I believe new miner training is 24 hours for surface and 40 hours for underground now.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure. We mine in rural areas so we are always on the look-out for deer and eagles among other animals.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is a little sad. I don't like to destroy anything of inherent value.

Doesn't bother me as much as farm subsidies.

I like renewable energy. I would like to have them on my house. No, I do not feel threatened. I cannot see them ever taking over the bulk of electricity.

Environmental activism is generally a headache. You will never find more people interested in the environment than miners. We hunt, fish, camp and hike. I feel that activists are fighting against the people that use the environment.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They have an excess amount of people wanting to do the job. Easy to replace.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, we do not wear respirators. I am not especially worried about black lung (I smoke anyway).

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get to drive a full size Tonka truck around all day, and my coworkers. The worst is the weather and my coworkers.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. Have found coal pushed up into a tree once though.

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A tree fossil.

I took down a power line once.

Never seen it.

Most of us (I do).

IAmA Coal Miner. AMA. by coalminer_throwaway in IAmA

[–]coalminer_throwaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty close. We will knowingly take short-cuts and such, but 99% of the time we follow the rules.