Coal Mine Disaster Case Study

Many workers got hurt while working in the factories and mines. The Cherry Coal Mine Disaster created a need for the Workers Compensation Act, which compensates workers who are harmed while working. On November 13, 1909, at 7:00 a.m., 481 workers, men and boys, descended into the Cherry Coal Mine near Cherry, IL, a few miles northwest of La Salle, IL on Illinois Highway 89. Some sections of the mine where 500 feet below the surface. That day the electrical system broke down, and the mine was lit by kerosene torches that were on the walls. This was not unusual, the electrical systems often broke down in mines at this time. That morning, hay had been dropped into the mine for the mules that were stabled underground, they pulled carts and other things. The hay had been placed
They finally heard the sounds of a search party. Twenty-one men were still alive and were rescued. Twenty-five days after the fire the mine was sealed. The compensation for the miners and rescuers had to be answered. The worker's compensation and employer's liability act were not on the Illinois statute books at this time, and the mine company had gone into bankruptcy. They agreed that the settlement of claims would be based on the standards in the Workmen's Compensation Act recently passed in the British Parliament. In June of the following year, a relief commission was set up and they distributed about 1,800 dollars to the families. In 1910, the Illinois legislature established stronger fire and safety regulations for mines. A year later, the state adopted a liability act, which eventually developed into the Illinois Workmens' Compensation Act (Stout). The Workers Compensation Act has evolved into many similar things. The railroad and airline industries used FELA, the Federal Employers Liability Act, to compensate workers who are injured or killed. Mother Jones and many others helped the workers get their