George H. Deike, Sr. was a founding father of mine safety. In 1914, George Deike and his partner, John T. Ryan, Sr., established Mine Safety Appliances Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During George Deike’s lifetime, Mine Safety Appliances became the largest mine safety supply company in the world. Through its development of innovative safety products, Mine Safety Appliances saved countless miners’ lives and led the mining industry into an era in which mine health and safety are of primary concern.
George Deike received his degree in mining engineering from Penn State University in 1903. After graduation, he worked for a number of mining engineering firms in central Pennsylvania. In 1910, he joined the fledgling U.S. Bureau of Mines and became active in its mine rescue efforts. In the course of this work, George Deike conceived of many developments that could be undertaken to eliminate the multitude of hazards that existed in coal mines at that time. He began to develop his primary professional goal in life—to prevent mine disasters rather than clean up after them.
George Deike and one of his colleagues at the Bureau, John T. Ryan, Sr., discussed their ideas regarding mine safety and discovered that each had independently compiled a list of vital safety equipment needed by the industry. They seized the opportunity and in 1914 formed the Mine Safety Appliances Company, which began vigorously to develop methods of avoiding methane and dust explosions in mines.
One of Mine Safety Appliances’ early achievements was to secure Thomas Edison’s help in developing an electric cap lamp to eliminate the explosions associated with open-flame lights in coal mines. The company went on to develop breathing apparatus for use in rescuing trapped miners, dust respirators, rock dusting equipment, fire fighting equipment, self-rescuers for emergency escape from mines, instruments for evaluation of mine atmospheres, and many other products that provide better health and safety for mine workers.
As President of Mine Safety Appliances for most of the time from 1914 to 1953, George Deike was a principal influence in guiding the company to world leadership in the manufacture of mine safety equipment. By the time he stepped down as President in 1953, Mine Safety Appliances was marketing safety products in nearly every country in the world.
George Deike showed a tremendous level of concern for his employees, which resulted in uncommon loyalty. He served on the Board of Trustees of The Pennsylvania State University for 33 years. He received AIME’s Erskine Ramsay Gold Medal Award in 1955.
George Deike, Sr. built his company into a position of world leadership, an accomplishment noteworthy in itself. However, George Deike’s greatest contribution to society came from the profound effect that he, his partner, and his company had on mine safety throughout the world.
