Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija
Local / Original ID Number
510:IDR;RZ-442
Type of Object
Mine
Description
Short description
The protective set against mercury vapours consists of a protective half-face mask, expandable rubber pipe (length 58 cm) and a filter. The half-face mask is black and has a shield for nose and mouth. It has two head straps attached on each side. In the middle of the half-face mask is a pipe, which is connected to the filter. Its colour is grey and green and has an elliptical shape. It has an Hg mark at the bottom.
Measures
Filter: length 13.4 cm, width 10 cm, height 17.5 cm; shield: length 11.5 cm, width 5 cm, height 14.5 cm.
Materials
Aluminium, rubber, plastic.
Dating
Second half of the 20th century.
Author / Producer
Manufacturer information is not known.
Picture attachments
Original use
The mask served as miners’ protection against mercury vapours and other harmful gases. The Idrija Mercury Mine workers were exposed to those vapours and gases in the pit and the smelting plant. Due to the numerous cases of poisoning among miners and smelters, in the first twenty years after 1945, the first protective measures were shorter working hours (6) and worker exchange. After 1975, carbon shale excavation was increased in the Idrija ore deposit. It was rich with native mercury, which evaporated and poisoned pit air. On these worksites and in the smelting plant, the Idrija Mercury Mine implemented numerous measures for raising healthcare awareness of employees: introducing personal protective means, mercury concentration measurements and the use of calcium polysulfide solution – CaSn on the worksites, pit ventilation, healthcare control etc.
Present use
The protective set against mercury vapours is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. It is stored in the depot. It may be used for temporary museum exhibitions and various forms of promotion of mercury heritage.
Original location
The Pit of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
Predmet je primerno ohranjen. Dodatni posegi zato niso potrebni. Varovanje v prostoru je urejeno.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum;
- Kobal, Alfred Bogomir, Dizdarevič, Tatjana. Varstvo delavcev, izpostavljenih živemu srebru v Rudniku živega srebra Idrija po drugi svetovni vojni. Idrijski razgledi, 41/2, 1996, p. 15–27.