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Thomas Robson Newton
| Age: | 14 |
| Died: | 5th Dec 1896 |
| Accident: | 5th Dec 1896 |
| Year Born: | abt. 1882 |
| Colliery: | Seaton Delaval, Forster Pit |
| Company: | Seaton Delaval Coal Co., Ltd. |
| Occupation: | Stone Putter |
| Notes: | Explosion of gas with open light [Inspection made & inquest attended] |
| Buried: | [not known] |
| Category: | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust |
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| Description | |
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On the 5th December an explosion occurred at the Foster Pit, Seaton Delaval Colliery, by which a stone putter lost his life. A stone drift had been driven through a "trouble" to win the coal on the rise side, and whilst this was in operation the place was ventilated by means of air tubes. After reaching the coal it was decided to make the road more passable for tubs, and two men were put on to do the work, the boy being employed to take the stone away from them, after the firing of the shots. Up to this time no gas had been seen, and, apparently acting on the assumption that it was not likely to be found in the future, the pipes were broken at the out-bye end of the drift, in order to allow the work to go on more expeditiously, being replaced one by one as the road was cleared up. Naked lights were being used, but as a precaution a safety lamp was given to the men in case they wanted to go on the in-bye side of where they were working. For some reason the deceased wandered in with his naked light and lighted up some gas which had accumulated in a hole in the roof, caused by a fall a short time previously. It was stated that the deputy had examined the place and found it clear, but it is doubtful whether the examination was as complete as it might have been.
As I considered that a breach of General Rule 1 had been committed, proceedings, with your sanction, were taken against the agent and manager. The latter pleaded guilty of a technical offence, but the charge against the agent was dismissed on the ground that he had taken all reasonable precautions, inasmuch as he had seen that proper appliances for ventilating the place had been provided. The under manager and master shifter were primarily responsible, as the work was being done under their immediate supervision, but the manager should, in my opinion, have made himself acquainted with what was going on, either by personal inspection or through the reports of his subordinates.
It should be added that fire-damp had not been seen in the seam in which the accident occurred for many years past; but as it is well known that a "trouble" is always a likely place to find it, extra precautions should be taken in such cases, and if not already in use generally throughout the mine, safety lamps should always be provided.
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| Mines Inspectors Report Entry | |
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| Sources | |
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- 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 20, Accident Number: 563 Where to find this report
- 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 9 Where to find this report
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