Broxburn (Oil Shale)

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Anderson, Robert, 15 Dec 1888, aged 15, Drawer, Went into fenced-off inset, where there was gas, with naked light

Anderson, Robert, 01 Mar 1909, aged 36, Oversman, The mine starts from the surface, and the mineral is hauled by an engine and dook rope. A loaded rake had been hauled a short distance up a steep gradient, when a chain bar of one of the tubs broke and 8 tubs came back, and deceased was fatally crushed

Armstrong, William, 25 Jun 1881, aged 29, Miner, While riding up the mine, between two water barrels, his head struck the roof. It was against orders to ride on the incline

Beith, Andrew, 07 Jul 1887, Contractor, They went into a place which had not been examined, and gas fired at their naked lights [More information ...]

Bisset, David, 02 Mar 1883, aged 14, Engine keeper, Crushed by gearing of pump, which he was oiling while in motion

Black, Henry, 18 Mar 1880, aged 55, Miner, Fall of shale while holing. Stooping

Bonnar, James, 24 Mar 1891, 2 p.m., aged 22, Drawer, Crushed by tub

Brogan, Michael, 27 Mar 1905, aged 32, Miner, The holing is in the centre, and bottom shale is taken away first, afterwards the top shale, which generally overhangs and is supported by sprags. Deceased was found under the top shale which came away from a "dry" parting. There were no sprags up to the shale

Bryans, J., 18 Aug 1877, aged 24, Brusher, Run over on engine plane

Chesney, Hugh, 02 Apr 1908, aged 34, Miner, Deceased was engaged stooping, and while taking shale off the face, a fall of roof took place off the waste throwing out several sets of timber, and completely burying him

Danks, Francis, 23 Aug 1882, aged 48, Overman, Explosion of firedamp. Danks and Neil, without thought, went with naked lights into a place which they knew was unventilated. They all lived more than a week after the accident, and could explain how it happened [More information ...]

Ellis, Joseph, 14 Jan 1897, aged 30, Miner, Deceased was mending the holing of shale, in which two shots had just been fired, when it fell over on him; the shale was not spragged

Ferguson, David, 25 Jan 1898, aged 44, Chain runner, While ascending an in-going-eye mine on a loaded rake of tubs, deceased's body came in contact with some "crowns" on the roof

Given, David, 03 Sep 1924, 12.30 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 38, Drawer, He was engaged filling a hutch with loose shale off the corner of a stoop, about 54 ft. back along the drawing road from the working face. A slab of shale weighing about 15 cwts. fell from the side on to him, causing such injuries that he died shortly afterwards. The shale which fell must have been overhanging at least 2 ft. and no support was set to it. The faceman had not examined the place before instructing Given to fill the loose shale, and no official had given instructions for work to be done at this point

Immery, John, 23 Aug 1882, aged 24, Miner, Explosion of firedamp. Danks and Neil, without thought, went with naked lights into a place which they knew was unventilated. They all lived more than a week after the accident, and could explain how it happened [More information ...]

Kelly, Michael, 15 Dec 1886, aged 56, Trimmer, Crushed by waggons at screens

Kennedy, Robert, 07 May 1909, aged 27, Roadsman, The drawer at the top of a "Cuddie brae" allowed his loaded tub to run too far, and and as the blocks were out it ran on to the brae, deceased was proceeding down at the time, and on hearing the shout to stand clear he stepped right in front and he was carried to the bottom, and fatally crushed

McCord, Hugh, 03 Oct 1905, aged 37, Miner, Deceased was taking down the top shale when it fell away and fatally crushed him

McLauchlan, William, 03 Oct 1900, aged 21, Miner, Deceased was working off some loose shale at the face of a five yard room in a 6 ft. seam, when about 1½ cwts. of the shale came away unexpectedly from some lypes and struck him on the head, causing injuries which terminated fatally immediately afterwards

McNee, James, 07 May 1897, aged 50, Miner, Deceased was driving a 12-feet place in the "Curly" seam, about 6 feet above the stooped waste of the "Broxburn" seam. The fireman detected a break in the roof which he considered to be dangerous, and requested him to set a prop to it. Deceased demurred, but as the fireman insisted, he agreed. While he was setting the prop, the roof suddenly gave way, killing him instantly

McVey, John, 15 Oct 1907, aged 42, Miner, Deceased was pinching off bottom shale, when the roof suddenly collapsed and buried him

Murray, Daniel, 12 Jun 1899, aged 13, Trapper, Deceased was sitting leaning against a a prop on the inside of a sharp curve where a level road joined an engine plane at right angles. A set of nine loaded tubs was being lifted by the haulage rope, and, owing to the extra strain due to one of the rear tubs having become derailed, several of the leading tubs tilted over towards the inside of the curve. One of them struck deceased, crushing his head against the prop, and killing him instantly

Neil, John, 23 Aug 1882, aged 26, Fireman, Explosion of firedamp. Danks and Neil, without thought, went with naked lights into a place which they knew was unventilated. They all lived more than a week after the accident, and could explain how it happened [More information ...]

Pratice, Robert, 22 Aug 1905, aged 38, Miner, The top shale fell away suddenly on deceased, killing him instantaneously

Shanks, George, 04 Oct 1906, aged 32, Miner, Deceased was found 16 feet from his working place injured on the head by being struck with flying shale from a shot. The shot was in the bottom portion of the seam, and was charged with 1 lb. of gunpowder, and it appeared deceased had been delayed after the fuse was lit and failed to reach a place of safety when the shot exploded. His lamp was found near the shot, which indicated that probably the light had been extinguished by the spitting of the fuse, and he had dropped it and put off some time searching for it

Sibbald, George, 24 Sep 1924, 5.40 p.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 28, Roadsman, Deceased and another roadsman had been timbering in a level where a miner was working. They left the place for some material and whilst they were away the fireman visited the level and lighted a shot. There were three approaches to the place and the miner and the fireman each guarded one, whilst the drawer was sent along the third. He did not remain to guard the entrance to the level, but took his tub. out to the brae. The two roadsmen returned and were approaching the shot when it exploded. One was killed and the other received a compound fracture of one leg. If the drawer had kept guard as was intended the accident could not have occurred, but the fireman did not give him explicit instructions

Sneddon, Henry, 29 Oct 1931, Killed by a fall of shale

Sneddon, Richard, 08 Oct 1888, aged 57, Oversman, Struck with tubs, on incline

Steven, John, 23 Aug 1882, aged 18, Miner, Explosion of firedamp. Danks and Neil, without thought, went with naked lights into a place which they knew was unventilated. They all lived more than a week after the accident, and could explain how it happened [More information ...]

Stewart, John, 17 Nov 1891, 6.45 a.m., aged 50, Miner, Fall of top shale

Wallace, James, 04 Sep 1908, aged 15, Pony-driver, Deceased drove a pony between an incline foot and the main dook. The roadway had a slight dip outbye, and tubs had to be spragged, and, while proceeding outbye with a loaded rake, something occurred which threw deceased off the first tub on which he sat, and he was found dead under the second tub

Wilson, William, 07 Jul 1887, Oversman, They went into a place which had not been examined, and gas fired at their naked lights [More information ...]