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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	34
Died:	12th Aug 1878
Accident:	12th Aug 1878
Year Born:	abt. 1844
Colliery:	Dunraven
Company:	Thomas, Joseph
Occupation:	Collier
Notes:	Killed by an explosion of fire-damp
Buried:	[not known]
Category:

Explosions of Gas.

The second explosion (No. 75), also resulting in the loss of two lives, occurred in the Dunraven Colliery, belonging to Mr. Thomas Joseph, and situated in the Rhondda Valley. This colliery was worked with locked safety lamps, but shot firing was allowed, the shots being fired by a shot firer or a person appointed for the purpose. The shot firer stated most positively at the inquest that immediately before firing the shot he carefully examined the place and found it quite free from gas, and although, when I made my inspection, I found no gas, I was of opinion that the shot firer had not made a proper examination, or he would have detected the gas which was ignited by the shot. At the inquest, however, the evidence went to show that no gas had been discovered there previously. I have repeatedly stated both at inquests and in my reports that shot firing should be strictly prohibited in working the fiery steam coals of this district. I recommended the owner of the colliery to discontinue shot firing, and this he promised to do.

• 1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321), South Wales District by Thomas E. Wales, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 230 Where to find this report
• 1878 Mines Inspectors Report (C 2321), South Wales District by Thomas E. Wales, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 257, Accident Number: 75 Where to find this report

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