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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=031sYuMLPWM

THE GLOBE AND MAIL :

Ferri Hassani, a professor of mining engineering at Montreal’s McGill University:

While the danger level of mining varies with the type of mineral being extracted and the depth at which the work is done, the chances of surviving an accident and being rescued often depend on the extent to which safety standards have been enforced and how prepared mine workers are to respond in an emergency,
Economic forces also play a role, Dr. Hassani said, when demand for a mineral creates an inducement to cut corners, and when high commodity prices lure smaller, poorer-equipped operators into production, sometimes by reopening mines previously closed due to safety problems.

Obscured behind the elation of the Chile rescue is the fact that “the safety was not there, and the mine was shut in 2007” due to previous deaths, he said. When the price of copper soared, the mine was reopened.

At the time of the accident, Chile had less than 20 inspectors for an industry that employs 170,000. In Ontario, where 22,000 miners work, there are 175 inspectors, Dr. Hassani said.