Cobbinshaw (Oil Shale)

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Devlin, John, 09 Mar 1907, aged 38, Miner, The fireman in making his inspection for the back shift found deceased lying dead about 12 feet from his working face. An examination of the place showed that a shot had been fired, and all the appearances pointed to the deceased having gone back on a shot

Herbert, Thomas, 22 Jun 1912, aged 33, Miner, He apparently remained kneeling on part of a shot after lighting the fuse, and received the full force of the explosion in his face

Keenan, John, 19 Feb 1914, (accident: 12 Jan 1914), aged 54, Miner, He was in the act of taking down his machine tree, set under a piece of shale, 6 inches thick, which overhung from the face, when 6½ ft. by 4½ ft. of the shale fell on him, and injured him so severely that he died on February 19th

McArdle, Robert, 20 Jan 1912, 10.15 a.m., aged 40, Fireman, McArdle, with Scanton and another man, was engaged in stopping the mouth of a mine which was giving off gas. They were working with safety lamps, and were fully aware of its presence. When the stopping was within 2 feet of the roof it seems possible that an unbonnetted safety lamp was put into a strong current of air, which was playing on the stopping, and this forced the flame, perhaps lengthened by firedamp, through the gauze of the lamp, and ignited the gas. The lamps used at this mine were not provided with bonnets. The result of the explosion which followed the ignition of gas was to blow out the stopping with such force that the large stones in it struck and killed these two men, and injured the other one [More information ...]

Murray, John, 30 Jun 1905, aged 63, Miner, Deceased was found dead in his working place ; death due to natural causes [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Robertson, Walter, 09 Oct 1899, aged 42, Miner, While assisting to place in position the shaft of a pumping engine, it canted and crushed his foot. Lock-jaw supervened

Scanton, John, 20 Jan 1912, 10.15 a.m., aged 28, Repairer, McArdle, with Scanton and another man, was engaged in stopping the mouth of a mine which was giving off gas. They were working with safety lamps, and were fully aware of its presence. When the stopping was within 2 feet of the roof it seems possible that an unbonnetted safety lamp was put into a strong current of air, which was playing on the stopping, and this forced the flame, perhaps lengthened by firedamp, through the gauze of the lamp, and ignited the gas. The lamps used at this mine were not provided with bonnets. The result of the explosion which followed the ignition of gas was to blow out the stopping with such force that the large stones in it struck and killed these two men, and injured the other one [More information ...]

Smith, William, 14 May 1914, aged 46, Miner, The fireman, finding there were "lypes" on both sides of the place in which he was working, instructed him to set some bars to secure the roof. He and another man were carrying out these instructions when a fall of stone from the "lypes" occurred and killed him instantly. The place was dangerous, and if the precaution of setting temporary timber under the roof to protect the men during the time the bars were being set, had bean taken, it is probable, the accident would have been prevented

Ward, Manus, 22 Jan 1895, 12.30 p.m., aged 30, Miner, Fall of oil shale