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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	William Longstaffe
	Letter of Appreciation from the Minister
	Date:	1927
	Colliery:	Dawdon Colliery
	Occupation:	Shaft overman

 

An unusual accident of considerable interest occurred at Dawdon Colliery, Durham. An explosion or ignition of vapourised oil and perhaps some coal dust occurred in a compressed air main, 18 inches in diameter, between the compressor house and a receiver near the top of the downcast shaft. The air main which was badly corroded, fractured with a loud bang and a considerable amount of sparks and flame were seen. Some of the resultant poisonous gases were given oft at the exhaust of a compressed air driven endless rope hauler which was in operation at the time in an engine room near the shaft bottom. The engineman was overcome by the noxious gases and was rescued mainly by the efforts of a shaft overman, who however, collapsed later. Other five persons employed in or near the shaft siding were affected in varying degrees, more or less slight. The affected men were soon brought to the surface where three of them received medical attention. All very soon recovered with the exception of the haulage engineman who was removed to hospital where he regained consciousness nearly 17 hours after the occurrence. The flash point of the oil used was satisfactory. It is highly probable that the explosion was brought about by frictional heat generated in the air main owing to the presence of three or four right angle bends in a very short length from the discharge part of the compressor. The inlet air was not filtered and undoubtedly carried a considerable amount of dust into the compressor, necessitating a larger supply of lubricating oil than was really necessary.

Since the accident, air filters have been installed and most of the bends taken out of the discharge main from the compressors with very good results. I would urge upon all colliery managers who have air compressing plant at their mines thoroughly to investigate the lay out. Many of the older installations are not well designed, have no filtering arrangements and have numerous bends in the discharge mains. I would again draw their attention to the remarks in my report for 1925 about the institution of a system of recording the temperature of the air at the point of discharge from compressors. Gauges can be fitted and so arranged that the pointer makes an electrical contact, which can be adapted to trip a switch, shut off steam, or ring a bell before the temperature reaches the danger zone.

It is a pleasure to put on record the courageous conduct of a shaft-overman, William Longstaffe, at Dawdon Colliery, County Durham, an action you were pleased to acknowledge by addressing a suitable letter of appreciation to Mr. Longstaffe.

The circumstances attending the accident are described in page (48) (above) of this report. Longstaffe first noticed that the shaft siding was filling with smoke and fumes with a peculiar smell. He at once ordered all the shaft hands towards the intake airway and slightly opened the separation doors at the upcast shaft. Observing that the shaft enginehouse was also filling rapidly with the fumes he called to the engineman but got no reply. Fearing something had happened he rushed in and found the engineman unconscious on the floor. He managed to drag him to the door when he himself collapsed, but was able to attract the attention of others and both were ultimately rescued. Prior to his collapse, Longstaffe acted with commendable promptitude, initiative and courage in a situation which must have been completely baffling to him because he had no knowledge of the origin or nature of the fumes or smoke. His prompt action, by which he endangered his own life, undoubtedly saved the life of the haulage engineman.

Source: Mines Inspectors Report for 1927

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