Description

No. 7 on the Cleveland mines list was caused by a shot blowing through from one place into another, at Grinkle Mines. Two miners were working towards each other in order to hole a place through.

The special rules require that "before firing a shot in any place which is likely to hole into another drift, the man who is about to fire shall satisfy himself that no person is in the other drift, and after lighting up the shot shall take precautions to prevent any person going past or into his place." The barrier of stone left between the two places was only 2 feet 8 inches thick; a man named Waller had drilled and charged a hole; leaving only about eight inches of stone on the inside. The system of giving warning appears to have been done by rapping through with a hammer or drill. On this occasion Waller seems to have given the usual raps to Drake (deceased), who was engaged drilling a hole on the other side; and it appeared evident he had not heard, but kept on at his work. Waller, who was rather deaf, no doubt mistook the drilling for a signal to fire, which he did, with the result that the shot blew through, so injuring Drake that he died a few hours after.

There was evidently some carelessness in the system of shot-firing and I deemed it necessary to propose a new rule to prevent, if possible, a repetition of such accidents.

The new rule was agreed to by the owners and workmen, and sanctioned by you, and reads as follows

"Where a shot is about to be fired which is likely to blow through or hole into another place, each person working in the place where the shot is to be fired shall, before doing so, take proper precautions and fully satisfy himself that no person is in the other place or places likely to he affected by the shot; and after lighting up a shot the persons employed in each of the places shall take precautions to prevent any person going past or into either of the places until after the shot goes off. The warning of the intention to fire a shot must not be given by 'rapping' or 'jowling,' but by means of a personal visit to the other place or places, and by verbal communication only."

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 223 Where to find this report
• 1884 Mines Inspectors Report (C 4429), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 234, Accident Number: 7 Where to find this report

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