鉄柱とカッペ Iron Pole and Kappe

「石炭の掬込みは少なくなったが、それ以上にきつい鉄在打ちがありました。何を持っても重量物ばかりで、怪我の発生率が高くなった。例えば手足をつぶしたり、一時に力を入れるからキックラセンキ（ぎっくり腰）になる場合が非常に多い。しかし一時に十数名の命を奪うというような大きな崩落がなくなったことは、確かに大きな進歩だと思う」（炭鉱に生きる ー炭鉱労働者の生活史ー より）

炭鉱と言うと、まず事故を想像する。
坑夫たちはこの鉄柱とカッペ（梁）に命を預けていた。鉄柱だけでも、大人2人でやっと持ち上げることができる重量がある。

–

“Although there was less coal shoveling, there was the even harder work of setting steel props. Everything we handled was heavy, and the injury rate went up — crushed hands and feet, for example, and because you exert all your strength at once, you very often threw out your back. Still, I think it was certainly a great step forward that there were no longer the large cave-ins that took the lives of more than ten people at once.” (from Living in the Coal Mines: A Life History of Coal Miners)

When we think of coal mines, accidents are the first thing that comes to mind.

The miners entrusted their lives to these steel props and kappe (beams). The steel prop alone is so heavy that two adults can barely lift it.

協力：芦別市・星の降る里百年記念館
In cooperation with Ashibetsu City Hoshi-no-Furusato Centennial Memorial Museum