I'm planning on delving deeper into the mines of moria, good idea y/y?
Hello, Anon! I recently came from inspecting the Mines of Moria and can tell you that the mine is closed due to significant safety violations and will not be able to reopen until those issues are addressed. I have included a brief overview of some of the more significant violations that have caused us to come to this conclusion:
30 CFR § 48.5 - Training of new miners; minimum courses of instruction; hours of instruction.
A significant number of miners were operating without the necessary 40 hours of training before beginning work duties.
30 CRF § 56.15002-56.15005 - Personal Protection.
There was a severe lack of personal protective equipment including a lack of hard hats, protective footwear, eye protection, and safety belts and lines where there is danger of falling.
30 CFR § 57.17010 - Electric lamps.
Nowhere in Moria were electric lamps provided, nor was there sufficient alternative light source provided. All workers underground need to have individual light sources in order to make sure they are working safely.
30 CFR § 57.11051 - Escape routes.
Two or more separate, and accessible escapeways are needed for all underground operations, and these escapeways need to be properly maintained and clearly marked. While there were two routes of escape from the mine, they were not easily accessible, clearly marked, or maintained.
The first escape route was blocked by a doorway not visible in daylight and locked by a puzzle in a language that most of the mine operators do not speak.
The second escape route was only accessible by a bridge barely wide enough for workers to cross in single file.
30 CFR § 57.11050 - Escapeways and refuges.
In the event that an escapeway cannot be accessed within 1 hour of travel, sufficient refuge chambers must be provided within 30 minutes of any working areas.
As it takes a total of 3 days of travel to cross the mine workings, a significant number of refuge areas were needed. Management at Moria failed to provide a sufficient number of well-constructed refuge chambers that would provide sufficient protection against the hazards in the mine workings.
30 CFR § 50.10 - Immediate notification.
The operator shall immediately contact MSHA at once without delay and within 15 minutes at the toll-free number, 1-800-746-1553, once the operator knows or should know that an accident has occurred involving: (a) A death of an individual at the mine; (b) An injury of an individual at the mine which has a reasonable potential to cause death; (c) An entrapment of an individual at the mine which has a reasonable potential to cause death; or (d) Any other accident.
MSHA was not notified within 15 minutes of the first death that occurred in the Mines of Moria, thus putting the operation in significant violation.
30 CFR § 57.11002 - Handrails and toeboards.
The walkways in Moria were severely lacking in substantial construction, were poorly maintained, and lacked any handrails and toeboards.
30 CFR § 57.4161 - Use of fire underground.
Fires shall not be lit underground, except for open-flame torches. Torches shall be attended at all times while lit.
Moria was found to be in significant violation of this standard by having an open pit directly to a hell plane, which unleashed its flames, entirely unchecked and unattended, into the mine workings.
I hope this helps you understand the severe safety violations that were present while the Mines of Moria were in operation.
I would strongly urge you to not enter the abandoned mine workings. Remember: Stay Out, Stay Alive. Exploring or playing at active and abandoned mine sites is dangerous, and potentially fatal.
