Description

The second case, which is No. 55 on the list, occurred about 2.30 o'clock p.m. on the 6th of September last, at West Auckland Colliery, causing the death of George Vickers, a coal hewer.

The place in which the explosion occurred, was one of two winnings, in the Brockwell Seam, worked with safety lamps. On the first shift it was off work, on account of the man who was to work in it not having brought his safety lamp with him; on the deceased man coming in, on the next shift, he was given the option of either going into his own place or the one in which his partner had worked, in the first shift, and he chose the latter because of some loose coals being left in it, and where he could work with a naked light. It appears, however, that he had left some tools in the winning, and went into it with his candle, past a caution board, on which it was pointed out that no naked light was to be taken beyond it, and lit up some gas, which so severely burnt him that he died the next day.

The deputy, before the men commenced work, at 4 o'clock a.m., had inspected the place and found it free from gas; he should, however, have fenced it across its whole width when he found it was not going to be at work during the shift of which he had charge, and the deputy of the succeeding shift, after the deceased man decided to go to the place where the coals were loose, should have fenced the winning; but both these men neglected their duty, as did also the other officials of the colliery who were in the district on the day in question, prior to the accident occurring.

The deceased man himself was to blame in a far greater degree, because the reprehensible act he was guilty of, in going past a caution board with a naked light, which he must have known was wrong, was unpardonable, and the fact that he had a safety lamp with him but left it hanging up at the caution board makes what he did all the worse.

If men wilfully commit breaches of the Act and Special Rules, as this man did, it cannot be expected that fatal and other accidents will occur less frequently. I am hopeful, however, that the result of this will have a salutary effect, and that in future I shall not have cause to report such deliberate contravention of the General and Special Rules.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 11 Where to find this report
• 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 43, Accident Number: 55 Where to find this report

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