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Thomas Ritson
| Age: | 58 |
| Died: | 15th May 1873 |
| Accident: | 15th May 1873 |
| Year Born: | abt. 1815 |
| Colliery: | Fallowfield (Metalliferous) |
| Company: | Walter and Cowper |
| Occupation: | Sinker |
| Notes: | suffocated by gases from powder smoke |
| Buried: | [not known] |
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| Description | |
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Accident No. 31 happened at Fallowfield mine on the 15th May. It occurred under the following circumstances. Thomas Ritson and Thomas Cook were sinking a staple from one drift to another immediately beneath it. After firing a shot, and as the result showed, without having allowed sufficient time for the powder smoke to disperse, Cook was let down to the bottom of the staple, where he was overpowered by the gases. Ritson was then lowered to assist him, but when he got near the bottom he found he was going to be overcome by the impure air, and he desired to be drawn up; but when he got nearly to the top, he fell out of the loop to the bottom, and was killed. Cook was still alive and was ultimately saved by fresh air being forced down to him. The mine in which this accident occurred, not having been long under inspection, I think the owners and manager were not aware of the obligations imposed upon them by the Mines Regulation Act. If proper means had been taken to ventilate the place, the accident would probably not have occurred; I now quite expect that they will be alive to the necessity of giving sufficient attention to the safety of the workmen.
This accident evinces the necessity of bratticing where powder is used. The air should always be carried as near as possible to where the shots are fired, and that in sufficient quantity to carry off the noxious gases in a short time.
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- 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1056), Northumberland, North Durham, and Cumberland District by George William Southern, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 224 Where to find this report
- 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1056), Northumberland, North Durham, and Cumberland District by George William Southern, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 228, Accident Number: 31 Where to find this report
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| Researchers | |
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| Researcher | Date | Interest | |
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| Zoe Mcdougall | 31 May 2018 |
Any information on Thomas Ritson would be gratefully recieved |
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