The mines in Carrara, like any other mine in the world, are occupational hazards, even with advancements in technology, the miners still have to contend with mechanical dangers such as the many powerful and sharp machines they need to operate daily, the hazards of driving large vehicles with heavy loads up and down steep mountains for transporting material, risking roll overs and falls, the occupational risks of breathing in a mixture of dust, oil, and metal, causing potential risks to respiratory health, and environmental hazards of working high up in a mountain, or if in a cave or on a cliff face, being crushed by what they are mining, or from collapse of the structure they are mining. The safety cost is felt by the miners, the economic cost is felt by the buyers, and the environmental cost is felt by everybody. In light of this, when sourcing marble, or any other mined stone, whether it is due to its properties or its look, should be sourced from areas with better labor laws, if possible, with better worker and environmental agencies, to lessen the impact that mining these materials costs. If anything, also finding ways to reduce the amount of material required can also help keep the cost of the project down, helping the consumer, and allow for less overall mining, also helping the miners safety and the worlds ecosystems.
Swanson School of Engineering 