Description

No. 119 on the list occurred at Ryhope Colliery, belonging to the Ryhope Coal Co., Ltd., on March 11th, causing the death of a labourer.

Deceased was found in a coal hopper in connection with a washer covered with duff coal quite dead, but how he got there is somewhat of a mystery.

The hopper is divided into eight compartments, and the dimensions of the one he was found in is 16 feet 3 inches by 10 feet 6 inches by 8 feet deep. The coal is conveyed by troughs to each of these divisions and the supply is regulated by slides.

Deceased's duty, along with another man, was to attend to the washer and regulate the supply of coal to the hopper divisions, and when one was full to put the slide in the trough and withdraw it in the trough leading to the next division to be filled, and then to rake the coal level on the top. For this purpose he would use a rake about 6 feet long, and planks are placed around the sides of the compartment for a man to stand upon when doing this work, and from these he would be able to reach every part.

On the night of the day in question, when the division was about halt full, seven tubs of coal were taken out too finish a coke oven, and this probably left a hollow place at the bottom which the coal above had not filled up, and when the hopper was about full to the top he may have stepped on to the apparently solid coal to rake it into the corners, and the hollow place below had caused the coal to slip away, and before he could shout for help he had been covered.

The man who was working with him saw him at 11.30, but as it was near the end of his (deceased's) shift when he did not see him again he thought he had gone home, and it was not till time following morning that anyone thought he was in the hopper, when his father came and said he had not been at home. Search was at once made, and he was found in the hopper standing upright with his hands over his head with his cap on.

The position in which his body was found goes to show that he had been standing on the coal and it had slipped away.

There was nothing wrong with the hopper, and the light would be good as there were two electric lights, each 2,000 candle power, within 130 feet of the hopper.

Since this accident planks have been put across the corners to do away with the temptation for anyone to get on to the coal.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 30 Where to find this report
• 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 45, Accident Number: 119 Where to find this report

Researchers

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