In a society based on exploitation, human nature deteriorates.

Piotr Kropotkin

On August 3, ten workers were trapped in the Agujita or Pinabete mine in “Las Conchas”, municipality of Sabinas Coahuila. The criminal policies of the companies, the corruption and/or the omission of the authorities have claimed many victims: between 2000 and 2019, more than two thousand five hundred minors were permanently disabled. In memory of the Pasta de Conchos tragedy, 65 workers died, in Barroterán an accident occurred -also on August 3, 2012-, in which 6 miners lost their lives; From 2012 to 2015, 200 Grupo México miners died – in 2012 alone, 23 workers lost their lives in the mines -…

The activity in the coal mines makes Coahuila the State with the most permanent handicaps: it is truly dramatic that in only one State the coal mines are the constant cause of the tragedy: in June 2021 in the Rancherías de the municipality of Muzquiz, seven miners lost their lives.

It is also known that, despite the risk that the activity involves, the salary of Mexican miners is about 15 times lower than that of their American and Canadian counterparts, also knowing the poor working conditions, the lack of equipment and the absence safety and hygiene. . .

The coal-mining region of Coahuila has repeatedly had to deal with mining accidents, which have resulted in injuries and deaths; We know that this could be avoided if better security measures were in place, in addition and above all, mechanisms that guarantee compliance.

Most accidents are concentrated in the so-called “pocitos”, these are informal mines, holes in the ground from which coal is extracted with very little or no safety measures, so the first objective of ‘Comprehensive security policy should be the total closure of these business units, in addition to severe penalties for companies that continue this abusive practice.

But in addition, it is impossible to omit the responsibility of the Secretary of Labor of the Federal Government since, among his attributions, the examination of safety in the mines is counted; It is evident that his policy has not been very proactive in his visits, to verify compliance with the observations and requirements that have been made at each mine in the past, to apply sanctions when they are not respected and to temporarily close or definitely exploitation. mines that do not have the necessary conditions to operate optimally.

Finally, and just as relevant, foresight: there is always the possibility of accidents occurring, but the ideal is that there are investments for an immediate reaction, which implies that Sabinas or Rosita always have drilling machines, dewatering pumps, and personnel trained to respond to landslides or floods in mines, because early action increases the chances of saving miners alive.

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