Description

By Machinery.

A preventable accident causing the death of a master shifter occurred at Malton Colliery, Durham. The fork used for moving the driving belt from the fast to the loose pulley on an air compressor shafting became displaced, owing to the belt mounting one of the prongs of the fork. Deceased and the under manager were attempting to replace the fork whilst the machinery was in motion. They were lifting the belt with wooden levers, using the wooden fence rails as a fulcrum, when the belt fastener carried one of the levers on to the pulley. This lever, when revolving, caught the fencing, smashing an upright and tearing off four of the fence rails. Deceased was struck by a piece of the flying timber, sustaining a fractured skull, from which he died some hours later. The machinery should have been stopped before any attempt was made to replace the fork.

Sources

• 1924 Mines Inspectors Report, Northern Division (No. 2) by T. Greenland Davies, H.M. Inspector of Mines [DMM Ref: L-01624 - Tom Bainbridge Collection], Page: 28
• 1924 Mines Inspectors Report, Northern Division (No. 2) by T. Greenland Davies, H.M. Inspector of Mines [DMM Ref: L-01624 - Tom Bainbridge Collection], Page: 75, Accident Number: 173

Researchers

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