Former Moroccan Miner Reflects on 31-Year Career in French Coal Industry

Omar Tahiri, 81, remembers his 31 years of professional life. Arrived in France in the early 1960s, he fulfills his dream, that of working in the mines. At the time, mining companies were in search of manpower and rushed to the Maghreb. Omar serves in the mining industry in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. He sews the miners’ overalls for about twenty days. His know-how and the sought-after qualities (not to drink or smoke) by his superiors propel him to the position of machine operator. In this position, he works with caution. "You always had to be careful, not to lose your cool and listen to the advice of the supervisors. Otherwise you’ll run over someone," Omar tells La Voix du Nord.

Unlike his colleagues, he has managed to avoid several tragedies. He remembers the tragedy that had hit a neighboring district of his. "The roof of the gallery collapsing, or the firedamp explosions that carry away the men," it is described. "It’s like a tomato, says Omar. When you crush it, there’s nothing left. That’s why all the miners had metal plates with numbers, to identify them. Because you couldn’t recognize their face when it happened."

In the mine, Omar worked without fear. "I never thought about it, you absolutely mustn’t. Otherwise you don’t go there." The day was marked by the rotations between the teams of miners. The night activities are summarized as: oiling, checking the machines and the presence of gas in the galleries. A daily inspection to avoid human disasters.

In nearly 31 years of service, Omar has stood out for his professionalism in the mining basin of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on June 30, 2012.