GETTING TO KNOW WHAT THE MINERS DID BEFORE THE SHIFT BEGAN
The clock struck 5.30, it was a brand-new day for every miner!
The miners woke up, got ready, and left the house. They used either train or bus to go to the mine
As they arrived at the Mine, they went straight into the changing room and started their routine before the shift.
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They changed from casual clothes (left) into uniforms (right)
Getting themselves ready was a very essential part of their daily working life. As it was very dangerous to work underground, for example due to the dust or air issues, being well-equipped was the answer! However, time was also money thus each miner only had five minutes to get ready.
First thing first, put the tokens
Right before they changed, miners needed to put their own tokens on the board. It was like taking attendance. The tokens on the board meant that the token’s owner was working underground. Each of the token had a set of numbers on it to signify the miner’s identity in the mine.
This procedure was very important to identify the workers underground if there was any accident happened on that day. Otherwise, they would not know who were inside and not.
Next, put on the uniform
Do you remember the chandeliers I mentioned earlier? They were actually clothes hangers allocated for every miner. Each of the miner used this object every day of their working life. Literally, they could not live without it.
Now, it was time to gather essential tools
After they put on their uniforms, they needed to gather their lamps and dust masks before they stepped into the elevator and went underground.
One was the lamp. Here is the lamp charger:
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Can you imagine doing all of these procedures in only five minutes? Indeed, every miner’s day was extremely structured. They had to follow all the procedures and rules established by the mining company. Then after they changed and got their gear, they were ready to queue to take the elevator underground to start mining!