this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2025
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[–] nz_fish@sh.itjust.works 92 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 40 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

My god.*
So basically... literal wage slaves? (like "shudra"/"dalit")

And it's still going on today, no? FML

* just an expression, used with some permission

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 40 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They don't stay there - the elevator is just tiny.

I should hope an elevator like that wouldn't pass humanitarian or safety inspections in developed countries today.

[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 30 points 2 months ago (2 children)

They call the US a developed country, and I’d bet that there are a number of ~~companies~~ agencies who are ~~dying~~ killing to bring back those tiny elevators in the name of Efficiency.

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We're doing progress, but in reverse!

[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 21 points 2 months ago

So congress. Got t. 👍

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The US calls the US a developed country.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 months ago

Developed doesn't mean good. The US had its industrial boom, and is now in an industrial decline period. It is therefor developed.

[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

Judging by the other person in the thread, the workers are just in a hurry to get home and are choosing to over pack to get out quicker. If you want some elbow space, wait at the back. It honestly doesn't look much different from elevators at any office building, but at least miners physically can't WFH.

[–] shneancy@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

wait hang on, you asked god/s to give you permission? or a religious friend?

[–] notaviking@lemmy.world 35 points 2 months ago

If you want to know how stuffed a cage can be, try boarding a mine cage after the shift is over, everyone wants to get out as soon as possible. People at the back usually take bracing stances because the shit will be squeezed out of them. Ours we stand, no squatting, but there are still two or three levels.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 31 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

It's end of shift. You cram into the bottom level of the tiny cage lift with 30 of your closest friends. Just as the lift starts to go up, there's a woosh and the car drops down into the service pit, up to the second level of the lift. All sides are solid rock. An explosion far above, then a long splattering noise as 3000 feet of steel rope drops onto the roof of the cage. The cage roof gives in under the weight of nearly 5 tons of steel wire and the bundle slips into the top level, slowly crushing the men there. First a trickle, then a waterfall of blood cascades down through the cage as the screaming, gurgling men above are crushed. You are crouched, knees up to your chest, shoulder to shoulder with the other men in the cage. No prospect of standing, stretching, or moving. The air is already heavy and wet with coal dust and the close breaths of the other survivors on your level. There is no trace of light, only a pure and compressed darkness. It will be hours before any rescue reaches the cage, if any is coming at all.

[–] bcgm3@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Cool, I was just wondering what I should should dream about tonight.

[–] Arancello@aussie.zone 27 points 2 months ago

No wonder the volunteered for military service.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 27 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Like how do they board and deboard? Move it flush with the ground for each level?

[–] tooclose104@lemmy.ca 40 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Work at an underground mine, and the answer is yes. The hoist is operated by a person that has manual control of the cage and there is a cage tender that uses a belling system to tell the hoist operator what to do. The people hoist at mine is 3 tiers, but somewhere around 10-14 feet height of standing room for each tier and with full doors so you can't fall out.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

How deep is the mine you work at and how long does it take the elevator to go up and down?

[–] tooclose104@lemmy.ca 13 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I think the bottom station is around 6400 feet, I've only gotten off around 5000 feet but that's about 2-3 minutes down and probably 4 up. It's fast enough down that my ears don't adjust on their own and I have to manually pop my ears about 2-3 times on the way.

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Scary stuff, whatever you're mining, thanks. I couldn't do it.

[–] tooclose104@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No praise needed, it's gold and I'm not doing the hard work. I'm in a support role and work on surface. But thank you anyways!

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yes, fellow surface-dweller, I see. I've been in a few caves and didn't like the experience. Maybe man-made tunnels are different but I ain't gonna go find out.

[–] tooclose104@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

Fresh heading? Gotta scale that to get rid of loose rocks and beware moving machinery. Established area? Already scaled, metal screening installed, and possibly shotcrete added which makes it pretty safe. There's offices down there, with AC and whatnot. Just no plumbing in the traditional sense. It's pretty neat, but I definitely still prefer surface.

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I imagine they squeeze themselves in and out.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Squeeze yes, I'm talking if they have to jump down (or jump up to load).

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

I would imagine so. What's a little twice-daily six foot drop on the knees of these poor bastards up top?

But maybe it chugged down one level at a time to avoid potential collisions from dropping workers. Can't say that I'm well-read on the subject - or that I really know anything about the subject at all other than that safety regulations in the past were utter dogshit.

[–] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No thanks, I'll take the stairs instead.

[–] moseschrute@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Why does he take his shoes off. Even if this is someone’s apartment, wouldn’t you take your shoes after after climbing the stairs?

[–] absentbird@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

For stealth

[–] cdf12345@lemmy.zip 14 points 2 months ago

Just like Metropolis

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 14 points 2 months ago

This is what greedy unions took away from you.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Back when men where men (in a can)

[–] Dorkyd68@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Where men? Idk but let me know if you find any

[–] bcgm3@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

I'm a were-man. Man by day, but under a full moon, I transform into a man.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 2 points 2 months ago

In can, in the past

[–] bstix 5 points 2 months ago

I bet they were mining for karma on Reddit.

[–] vane@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Vintage open space. I like how HR is looking at them.