Mortalité par accident dans les mines de charbon en Belgique aux XIXe-XXe siècles

Abstract

Thanks to statistical data collected annually by the Coal-mining Board, lethal casualty rates in Belgian mines could be recovered for the period 1821 to 1985. If an overall decrease is to be witnesses (from 33 deaths for every 10,000 coal- miners in the 1851-1855 period, the death rate fell to 6 in 1981-1985), this increase in safety was achieved slowly and gradually thanks to the development of technology and regulations. The comparison of Belgian statistics with those of France, Great-Britain, Prussia and the United States, shows the latter two countries lagging behind the former in terms of mine safety. The major explanation for this fact lies in the absence of a professional tradition among the work force in the United-States and Prussia. Finally, the development of rescue techniques has also to be taken into account in order to explain the reduction of mortality after 1890.