Description

The first case occurred in Grinkle ironstone mine, Cleveland, and was entirely due to a misunderstanding, or miscarriage of previously made arrangements, and if Special Rule 67 had been strictly carried out it would not have happened. The deceased and his partner were driving a headways which was almost holed into a bord, and when the deputy visited them he said he would go round to the other side, charge and fire a hole which had already been drilled there about a fortnight previously. He arranged with the two men that when he was ready to light the squib he would knock through to them three times, and after receiving three knocks in reply would allow a reasonable time to elapse before firing the shot. This arrangement was carried out so far, but unfortunately another miner named Longster came beside the deputy, and as he was moving away the deputy said "Fire ! give them a shout." In passing the place end where the deceased and his mate were waiting, Longster shouted "Fire and they replied "All right." Longster then said "Have you knocked"? but the deceased man being under the impression that he said "You have to knock," walked up to the face of the headways and was struck on the head by stones projected by the shot, from which injury he died a fortnight later. The rule distinctly says that warning of the intention to fire a shot (which is likely to hole into another place) must not be given by rapping or jowling, but by means of a personal visit to the other place and by verbal communication only. If this had been carried out the accident would have been prevented.

Sources

• 1910 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5676) Where to find this report
• 1910 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 5676), Durham District (No. 3) by A. D. Nicholson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 37, Accident Number: 6 Where to find this report

Researchers

 Return    Return to Top