Mine safety in coal mines, which in turn can initiate more extensive coal dust explosions. For this reason, rock dusts such as limestone dust are spread throughout coal mines to diminish the chances of coal dust explosions as well as to limit the extent of potential explosions, in a process known as rock dusting. Coal dust explosions can also begin independently of methane gas explosions. Frictional heat and sparks generated by mining equipment can ignite both methane gas and coal dust. For this reason, water is often used to cool rock-cutting sites. Miners utilize equipment strong enough to break through extremely hard
Louisville sewer explosions Louisville sewer explosions The Louisville sewer explosions were a series of explosions on February 13, 1981, that destroyed more than of sewer lines and streets in the center of Louisville, Kentucky. The explosions resulted in extensive damage to property and infrastructure and four people were injured, but none of the injuries were serious and there were no fatalities. The blasts were caused by the ignition of hexane vapors which had been illegally discharged from a Ralston-Purina soybean processing plant located near the University of Louisville. The plant, located on Floyd Street, was a long-standing landmark built early in the century