Bedlay Colliery

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Allan, Robert, 18 Jan 1911, aged 37, Bottomer, When putting a loaded hutch forward to put into the cage at a mid-landing in the shaft he went in front of it and drew into the side the cage was not at. He and the hutch fell into the shaft and forced out two of the iron rods forming the cage seat and he fell to the bottom of the shaft a distance of 480 ft. He should not have been in front of the hutch ; if he had been at the back it is probable the accident would not have occurred

Banks, John, 04 Sep 1905, aged 20, Engineer, While shifting a heavy casting belonging to a steam crane which was being put up, it canted and fell over on him

Docherty, John, 12 Sep 1912, aged 69, Wagon Greaser, He attempted to take a train, consisting of 17 empty wagons, down to the washery, and while doing so he stumbled and fell among the wheels. It was no part of his duty to interfere with the wagons except to grease them while they were stationary

Gordon, Michael, 21 Oct 1910, (accident: 27 Sep 1910), aged 42, Repairer, While assisting at an endless rope haulage terminus two hutches which had not been properly snibbled came down and crushed him against the lower part of the body. Died October 21st

Love, William, 20 Oct 1923, 12.30 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 47, Brusher, Killed by an explosion of firedamp [More information ...]

Marshall, William, 05 Mar 1914, aged 37, Labourer, The deceased, along with others, had just emptied some wagons of dross for the coke ovens, and, as it was raining very hard, they improperly got underneath the wagons to shelter. A locomotive shortly afterwards started to move the wagons, and in attempting to get from under the wagons deceased was so injured that he died the same day

McCormick, Thomas, 22 Mar 1911, aged 40, Shot Firer and Stone Mine Driver, He was engaged driving a stone mine from the Haughrigg seam to the Cloven seam, and the shot holes were bored by means of a Floatman Percussion Drill. During the shift several shots had been charged and fired, and three remained to be charged shortly before the accident. The explosive used was Samsonite, and each shot was charged with nine cartridges, and the charge fired by means of a battery. The shots were duly fired by deceased, who was the authorised person. No one was present when the accident occurred, but all the evidence pointed to the fact that, at the time, deceased was picking off the loose material made by one of the shots, when his pick struck some remnants of the unexploded charge, causing it to explode. On the front of the hole pick marks were clearly visible

McGeachie, Samuel, 24 Aug 1922, 10 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 30, Miner, Deceased was carrying out his ordinary work at the face when he was killed instantaneously by the fall of a wedge-shaped stone, weighing about 12 cwts., which came away from a keen glassy back in the roof. The specified distance between the last row of props and the face was exceeded at the place where the accident occurred. In all probability the accident would have been prevented if the timbering rules had been observed. No timber was displaced by the fall.  The place had not been inspected by a fireman for nearly five hours

McNaught, Thomas, 23 Jul 1909, aged 14, Labourer, Caught by a runaway full hutch and pushed into creeper which was unfenced, and it caught him

Mullan, John, 09 Nov 1905, aged 45, Sinker, When working with a pick to recover a charge of gelignite which had missed fire he exploded the detonator and primer

O'Neil, James, 22 Jun 1908, aged 20, Electrician, He fell from a girder in the power house, a height of 17 feet, having climbed up to discover a fault in the cable

Phillips, George, 31 Mar 1910, aged 39, Safety Lamp Cleaner, Fell into pit water pond when supposed to have been washing his hands

Torry, James, 20 Oct 1923, 12.30 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 30, Brusher, Killed by an explosion of firedamp [More information ...]

Wilson, Robert, 17 Aug 1909, aged 18, Bencher, Race of eight full hutches was being sent down incline. Not being coupled, six ran down into empty race at bottom, and caused two remaining full hutches to run back on Wilson