Coal miners typically descend thousands of feet into the earth to their work sites. Risks they face in underground environments can be dangerous if safety measures are not followed diligently. Miners can be exposed to extremely heavy air pressure and to dangerous gases like carbon monoxide and methane. Proper ventilation will prevent harmful conditions, says Fulton Schools Professor Edward Kavazanjian, a geotechnical engineer, but mine operators must follow established procedures that make practices to protect workers’ health a priority. Kavazanjian also commented about the issue in a 2010 article in The New York Times.