The underground coal miner must constantly monitor the roof and be aware of the possibility of serious injury or death from a rock fall. During each of the years between 1995 and 2001, more than 500 injuries were caused by roof falls in underground coal mines. It doesn't take a massive roof fall to hurt a miner. In data from 1997, the average size of a rock causing an injury was 35 inches long by 20 inches wide by 4 inches thick and weighed 283 lb.
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