Stay Out. Stay Alive.

According to MSHA, there are about 14,000 active mines and as many as 500,000 abandoned mines in the U.S. alone. Real dangers exist in exploring or playing on mine property. Dozens of people are injured or killed each year due to hazards at active or abandoned mine sites. In an effort to prevent these injuries and fatalities, MSHA has created a public safety campaign called, “Stay out. Stay Alive.” This campaign is made up of nearly 70 federal and state agencies, private organizations, businesses and individuals.

Cities and towns continue to develop into the countryside or remote areas, increasing the possibility of contact with an active or abandoned mine site. The goal of this campaign is to educate communities on the importance of mining and its existing hazards. Partners of the "Stay out. Stay alive." campaign visit schools and communities all over the nation to achieve this goal.

Mining is a fundamental component of American economy, providing many of the minerals that are essential to national prosperity. Everything we depend on is either made from minerals or requires minerals for its production. Mines are located in every state and the size of the operation can vary from small to extensive operations that use some of the largest industrial equipment ever built.

Some of the dangers present at active and abandoned mine sites include:

Surface mines: The surface of vertical shafts could be hidden by vegetation, covered with rotting boards or completely unprotected. Falling into one of these could mean falling hundreds of feet. Hills can collapse, there are steep cliffs and changing landscape.

Underground Passages: These can contain lethal concentrations of deadly gases, unused explosions or the risk of cave-ins.

Water-filled Quarries: These cause the most mine fatalities. They can be dangerously cold, contain sharp hidden objects, slippery slopes and shallow ledges. DO NOT SWIM in quarries.

Most importantly, be sure to obey all warning signs and be aware of your surroundings. The men and women who work in our Nation's mines are trained on safety, but for any unauthorized explorer, these areas can be extremely dangerous. For more information regarding the "Stay out. Stay alive." campaign, visit: https://www.msha.gov/sosa.