| Date: | 1920 |
| Colliery: | Ouston, E Pit |
| Company: | |
| Cause: | Boiler explosion |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
| Category: | |
An unusual accident occurred at a water tube boiler at Ouston E. Colliery, Co. Durham, causing the death of a boiler minder. He was about to blow off the sludge from the boiler and open the 2 in. parallel slide valve by turning the key through an angle of 90 degrees. The valve was one foot above the flat sheets and was connected to the sludge main underneath by a 2 in. wrought iron angle bend with screwed flanges. The screw thread of the flange connecting the bend with the valve stripped under the hammer action of the sludge and water and the bend was thrown upwards and outwards after wrenching itself free from the flange at the other end. All attempts to reach the unfortunate man failed and he was scalded to death. On inspection after the accident the screw threads in question were found to have been weakened by internal corrosion, but this could not have been seen by external examination, and there was no evidence of leakage at the joint. These pipes are subject to very severe changes of temperature and pressure every time the blow-off valve is opened, and the accident emphasises the necessity for careful examination of external fittings and pipes which generally do not come within the inspection for boiler insurance. A calamity of this kind calls for prompt action and personal courage, and it is a pleasure to acknowledge my appreciation of the services of the enginewright, T. W. Coutt, in attempting to rescue deceased, and in providing for the safety of the boiler.
| Source: | 1920 Mines Inspectors Report |
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