Description

No. 350 on the list occurred at the Margaret Pit of Newbottle Colliery, belonging to the Lambton Collieries, Ltd., October 8th, and caused the death of a coal filler.

This accident happened in a longwall gateway, along the side of which the cables are carried for the purpose of supplying the current for the electric coal cutters.

One of the tubs of a driver's set had got off the way, owing to some loose stones slipping on the rail from the side ; the boy was not able to get it on again, and shouted to the deceased to come and help him. He went, and was in the act of getting past the side of the tub, on the side the electric cables are carried (it was a narrow place and he would be touching the tub, which was an iron one, with his left arm and body) and he touched the cable with his right arm ; as soon as he did so the current passed through him to the tub and earth, and killed him instantly.

The cable consists of copper wire, round which there is guttapercha insulation round this is tarred hemp insulation, and, finally, it is armoured with iron wire.

On examining the cables it was found that, about 30 yards on the inbye side of where the accident occurred, there had been a fall of stone from the side, which had caught the cable, causing the wire forming the armour to cut through and puncture the insulation, and thus form a short circuit with the copper wire core, so that the current was passing along the armour, and as soon as deceased touched it the current passed through him.

The voltage was 450.

Coal cutting was being done at the time, but not from these cables. After this accident the Manager gave instructions that the cutting in future must be done at nighttime when putters and drivers are not moving about the gateways.

In longwall workings there is some difficulty in devising means of keeping these cables where they cannot be touched, owing to the constant movement and crushing that goes on until the place gets settled, but everything possible should be done to have them carried where tubs and men cannot come in contact with them.

Since the accident the armouring has been connected to earth at short distances, so that in the event of an occurrence like this taking place, only a short length of the armouring will be charged with electricity.

The Manager at first decided to do away with the armouring altogether, as what he had looked upon as a safeguard, had, in this instance, been the cause of a fatal accident, but he finally decided to let it remain. It would have been creating a greater danger to have done so, as any large stone falling would have cut the cable in two, and the result would be a big flame.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590) Where to find this report
• 1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590), Durham District (No. 4) by R. Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 54, Accident Number: 350 Where to find this report

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