Description

No. 242. This accident occurred at the Plumpton Limestone Quarry, in Lancashire, and occasioned the death of two men, Richard Balderstone and Samuel Ackrigg.

A big blast was being prepared, by which it was hoped to dislodge about 2,000 tons of rock. The hole was 23½ feet deep, and the men had been working at it for about a fortnight, gradually deepening and enlarging it, and preparing for the final charge.

The last time of firing, prior to the explosion by which the men were killed, was at 9 a.m., about four hours before the accident occurred. On that occasion a charge of 200 lbs. of powder had been fired by means of the ordinary tape fuse. The hole had then been left to cool. Shortly after one o'clock, Thistlethwaite (the shot-firer and deputy foreman), accompanied by Ackrigg and two other men, returned to put in the powder for the final charge.

Previous to this, however, Thistlethwaite had examined a long iron scraper which had been put in the hole immediately after the last firing. He found that the scraper was quite cold, and he then tested further for fire by throwing a handful of powder down the hole. This having no effect he concluded that all was safe for proceeding with the work of charging.

It was intended to put in 950 lbs. of powder for this final blast, and 500 lbs. had been inserted when the explosion occurred.

A further quantity of 350 lbs. of powder, part of the intended charge, which had been brought up to the place in linen bags, also exploded.

Thistlethwaite and Ackrigg were hurled violently against the quarry face, the latter being killed instantly, whilst the former only lived a few minutes, and was never conscious after the accident.

The other two men who were assisting in the work of charging had fortunately gone into the quarry bottom for materials and thereby escaped injury.

No one actually saw the accident, but from the evidence it was quite clear that during the operation of charging, Thistlethwaite was using a long iron rod for the purpose of "feeling" the powder, and thereby learning to what extent it was filling up the hole.

I did not, by any means, consider that the evidence proved that the use of the iron rod had caused the accident, yet its use was so clearly a contravention of Special Rule No. 9, which provides that — "No iron or steel tool shall be used for charging or stemming a hole with any explosive," that I obtained your permission to institute proceedings against the owners and manager of the quarry for the offence just mentioned, and also for contravening Special Rule No. 8, which includes the following provision

"All explosives shall be conveyed from the magazine to the quarry, and kept till used in secure packages, so made and closed as to prevent any escape of the explosives and any danger from sparks."

The case was heard at the Ulverston Police Court on the 12th of September, 1901.

There was no defence, and the owners and managers were fined £5 for each offence, or a total of £20 and costs.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1901 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1062), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 63 Where to find this report
• 1901 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1062), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 67, Accident Number: 242 Where to find this report

Researchers

 Return    Return to Top