There was an even worse job before this type of lift was common, usually done by children or smaller women, where they would crawl in a small shaft and move a cart with coal on a track. They would become covered in coal dust, and because of the flame of the lamps they would often do it unclothed so they didn't catch on fire.

This very famous photographer died earlier this year. His whole career was photographing miners in Brazil and the striking conditions they're exposed to. The picture didn't stop happening, it was just pushed to the periphery.

Miners from the Charbonnage de Mariemont-Bascoup, a coal mine in Belgium.