Episode 17: Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster

About this episode

The episode discusses the Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster, highlighting the causes and impact on workers.

The Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster turned a West Virginia hydro project into one of the worst industrial tragedies in U.S. history. CC and Kitty trace how silica-rich rock, dry drilling, and brutal labor conditions led to a wave of acute silicosis among mostly Black migrant workers, and why the true death toll is still disputed. SOURCES: https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/the-hawks-nest-tunnel-disaster-summersville-wv.htm https://bridgestunnels.com/location/hawks-nest-dam/ https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/hawks-nest-tunnel-construction-leads-disaster https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237452642_Summary_of_NIOSH_research_completed_on_dust_control_methods_for_surface_and_underground_drilling#pf2 https://www.assp.org/docs/default-source/psj-articles/vpspencer_0223.pdf https://www.nber.org/system/files/chapters/c2256/c2256.pdf https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-05-mn-4579-story.html https://mapwv.gov/shpo/docs/PDFs/ArchitecturalSurveys/RFA-25.pdf https://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Portals/50/docs/regulatory/Navigable%20Waters%20of%20the%20US.pd

Topics covered

• Hawks Nest Tunnel
• industrial disaster
• silicosis
• labor conditions
• Black migrant workers

Keywords

• West Virginia
• hydro project
• death toll
• acute silicosis

Mentioned in this episode

Places: West Virginia, U.S.

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