| Date: | 1930 |
| Colliery: | West Wylam |
| Company: | |
| Cause: | By machinery |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
| Category: | |
At West Wylam Colliery, Northumberland, a banksman met his death as follows. A creeper belt had been thrown off its driving pulley which was situated in a room below bank level and enclosed by a fence of expanded metal 6 ft. 6 ins, high, with a properly constructed door to afford access to the machinery. Deceased assisted the screenman to replace the belt. After the machinery was restarted, they discovered that the vertical belt guide which was clamped on a roof girder 8 ft. 9 ins, high had moved about 6 ins, from its proper position. The screenman went to get a hammer, leaving deceased inside the fence with the machinery in motion, which was contrary to instructions. Deceased erected a ladder against a column which supported the shafting and climbed upon it so as to be ready to reach the top of the guide. His clothing became caught on the shafting — 5 ft. 4 ins, high and revolving at a speed of 81 r.p.m. — either on a set stud which protruded from a collar near a bearing, or on a disused chain sprocket a few inches away, and he was whirled round and killed. The screenman should not have permitted deceased to remain inside the fence with the machinery in motion and deceased was extremely rash in attempting to stand on the ladder in such a position.
| Source: | 1930 Mines Inspectors Report |
Return
Return to Top
Contains public sector information licensed under the 
