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Small-scale technologies and European coal mine safety, 1850–1900

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  • John E. Murray
  • Javier Silvestre

Abstract

type="main"> This article considers new technologies and fatal accident rates in European coal mining from 1850 to 1900. Its contributions are twofold: to recover and emphasize improvements in small-scale mine technologies such as safety lamps and ventilation, and, second, to deny any role at this time for later macroinventions such as electrification and mechanization. We discuss the influence of these safety-improving technologies as well as government regulations on different kinds of fatal accident rates. It is proposed that an important and overlooked source of the reduction in fatalities from certain kinds of accidents was the introduction and diffusion of a variety of safety-related technologies, none of particularly large scale.

Suggested Citation

  • John E. Murray & Javier Silvestre, 2015. "Small-scale technologies and European coal mine safety, 1850–1900," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 68(3), pages 887-910, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ehsrev:v:68:y:2015:i:3:p:887-910
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/ehr.12080
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy W. Guinnane & Jochen Streb, 2012. "Incentives that saved lives: Government regulation of accident insurance associations in Germany, 1884-1914," Working Papers 1013, Economic Growth Center, Yale University.
    2. Treble, John G., 2001. "Productivity And Effort: The Labor-Supply Decisions Of Late Victorian Coalminers," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 414-438, June.
    3. Burhop, Carsten, 2008. "The level of labour productivity in German mining, crafts and industry in 1913: evidence from output data," European Review of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(2), pages 201-219, August.
    4. Greasley, David, 1982. "The diffusion of machine cutting in the British coal industry, 1902-1938," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 246-268, July.
    5. Murray, John E. & Nilsson, Lars, 2007. "Accident risk compensation in late imperial Austria: Wage differentials and social insurance," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 568-587, October.
    6. Greasley, David, 1990. "Fifty Years of Coal-mining Productivity: The Record of the British Coal Industry before 1939," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(4), pages 877-902, December.
    7. Peter Kirby, 2012. "Attendance and work effort in the Great Northern Coalfield, 1775–1864," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 65(3), pages 961-983, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. John E. Murray & Javier Silvestre, 2020. "Integration in European coal markets, 1833–1913," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 73(3), pages 668-702, August.
    2. Javier Silvestre, 2022. "Productivity, Mortality, and Technology in European and US Coal Mining, 1800–1913," Studies in Economic History, in: Patrick Gray & Joshua Hall & Ruth Wallis Herndon & Javier Silvestre (ed.), Standard of Living, chapter 0, pages 345-371, Springer.
    3. John Murray & Javier Silvestre, 2018. "Transatlantic technology transfer: Coal mine ventilation, 1870-1910," Working Papers 18011, Economic History Society.

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