TABLE (12). LIST of OWNERS of COLLIERIES where FATALITIES OCCURRED in 1906. ACCIDENTS FROM FALLS OF ROOF AND SIDE. The following table classifies the accidents as to where they occurred : These form 61.7 per cent. of the loss of life from underground causes, and 56.8 per cent. of the loss of life from above Falls of Side.-Seven fatalities: five occurred in the working place at the face; two occurred on roads, one whilst passing along, one whilst repairing. One took place whilst taking out a sprag, standing in front; in two cases overhanging stone ought to have been pulled down; in two cases the fall occurred from neglect to sprag. I give an illustration showing to what extent men will undermine coal without placing sprags. At the Ellesmere Colliery in the Trencherbone seam, a fireman entered a working place and found coal undermined 3 feet, a length of 20 feet, not a single sprag or support set. The man was clearing away holing dirt, the fireman said "Now Jim thou's been holing here without sprags. The man denied it, said he was just clearing it away and then he was going to pull it down. The fireman said, "Well mind, I'll come back again and see if thou does." In 50 minutes the fireman returned to the bottom of the brow, could hear the pick being used, hid his lamp under his vest, got to the face, put his hand on the shoulder of the man engaged holing, "Thou art here again, Jim," charged him with holing without sprags, withdrew the collier, asked the collier's mate to look at the place (he was engaged on the other side of the place) but this man refused. Got a day wageman to see him measure the extent of undermining, and fenced off the place for the manager to see it. I had a written statement of the fireman read to the collier who admitted its accuracy save in one small point, he stated that when the fireman first visited him, he was clearing away small coal that had fallen and not holing dirt. A prosecution followed, with conviction and fine of 10s., plus 10s. costs. With regard to the ages of the deceased, one was 53, two were 48, one 47, one 46, one 32 and one 17. Falls of Roof-Twenty-two deaths. In nine cases there were pronounced slips or faults; in four cases props were being drawn with a short hammer, in every case there was such risk that a gablock and chain should have been used; in one case a Sylvester appliance was being used but deceased stood by the prop being taken, whereas he ought to have been along with his assistant at the Sylvester. The ages of the deceased were: one 65, one 60, one 58, one 56, two 54, one 53, one 31, one 45, one 40, one 37, one 33, two 31, one 29, one 28, two 25, one 23, two 22 and one 18. So that eight were over 50 years of age, ten were over 40, fourteen were over 30 years of age. I give an illustration to show how the timbering is neglected. At the Newtown No. 2 pit, in the Trencherbone seam, a collier was found working with a space of 18 feet by 11 feet without props, the timbering distance being 4 feet from prop to prop and 4 ft. 6 from face. He was prosecuted, convicted, fined 10s. and 10s. costs. It may be here briefly mentioned that thirteen convictions of workmen for not setting props within the specified maximum distance caused them to have to pay £18 Os. 6d. in fines and costs. Lord Ellesmere had four convictions, £2 18s.; Thomas Fletcher & Sons, Ltd., had three, £4 1s.; New Moss Colliery, Ltd., had two, £3 1s. ; Astley & Tyldesley Colleries, Ltd., one, £2 11s. 6d.; Clifton & Kersley Co., Ltd., one, 19s. 6d.; Wm. Ramsden & Sons, Ltd., one £2 10s.; Wigan Coal & Iron Co., Ltd., one, £1 19s. 6d. For not setting sprags there were four convictions, £5 18s. Lord Ellesmere had two, £2 8s. 6d. ; Wm. Ramsden & Sons, Ltd., one, £2 10s.; Denton Coal Co., Ltd., one, 19s. 6d. In the list of fatal accidents, Appendix I., I have fully described each fatal accident, it is unnecessary to further elaborate. It is an extremely unpleasant fact, that the marked increase this year in the number of accidents is largely under this head. I am still firmly of opinion that if enforced, the new regulations as to timbering are bound to lead to a reduction in the loss of life from falls of ground. I do not agree with the view held by some, that the fixing of a maximum distance has led to carelessness of the men in the exercise of their judgment, in securing the roof where weakened by slips and faults. I well remember, before these regulations were established, it was the refuge of a careless workman that in his judgment a prop was not required. Often attempts to secure a conviction failed by reason of this defence. Surely, if the maximum distance be one reasonable to the ordinary working requirements of the seam, the systematic propping of the roof, whether the roof requires SHOWING THE NEGLECT OF A COLLIER TO SPRAG UNDERMINED COAL, SCALE 4 FEET TO INCH. 3.0" 3. 2" FACE 21.0" PLAN John Gerrard B |