Coursington Colliery

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Blakely, Samuel, 29 Jun 1913, (accident: 27 Jun 1913), aged 14, Dirt Picker, While waiting for work to start he had come down from the picking tables and was leaning on the buffer of a wagon near the screens. The shock of a second wagon coming against it threw him between the rails. The first wagon passed over him without hurting him, but the second caught his legs, inflicting severe injuries. He died in hospital after operation on 29th. A notice was posted forbidding lads to leave the place of work without permission

Bruce, Robert, 07 Jun 1910, aged 18, Coal Picker, Owing to a chain breaking the screening machinery was stopped. He went from his place of work and climbed up to near where there were some gear wheels, and was talking and smoking with another lad when the machinery started and his feet were drawn into the wheels. He had no right to be where he was

Conlin, John, 25 Nov 1907, aged 14, Dirt-picker, In order to take away the dirt picked off the travelling tables, a conveyer runs under the floor at right angles to the tables, and a hole 11½ inches by 8 inches is made between the tables, into which the dirt is thrown ; around this hole is fence 9 inches high to protect anyone from getting into the conveyer. Deceased wanted to get a shovel, and instead of going round for it, he reached across the opening and, stumbling, his right foot went down and was caught by the conveyer

McKenna, John, 03 Oct 1912, aged 18, Pithead Runner, He was assisting to lower some pump rods by means of a hand winch, and when turning the handle of the winch the gear was improperly changed by one of the men with the result that control of the winch was lost, and the weight being lowered, caused the handle to revolve rapidly and strike him on the head

Wallace, James, 10 Jun 1912, aged 21, Bottomer, He was pushing a hutch of timber through the cage when the cage was raised, without a signal being given, and crushed him against the head covering. The Winding Engineman had been looking through the door at some pumps, and the Pithead signal rang as he was closing the door. He thought both signals had rung together, and started his Engine. Not hearing the bottom signal, he should have rung down before starting

Watson, John, 11 Jan 1910, aged 24, Miner, Fall of roof at face