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Minister of Fuel and Power.
SIR,
I. — INTRODUCTORY
In accordance with the direction of your predecessor, the Right Honourable Philip Noel-Baker, M.P., I held a formal Investigation under the provisions of Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, into the causes and circumstances of the Explosion which occurred at Easington Colliery, County Durham, on 29th May, 1951.
I now have the honour to submit the following Report, which shows that firedamp was ignited when the picks of a coal cutting machine operating on a retreating longwall face struck pyrites. The explosion spread through 16,000 yards of roadway and caused the deaths of 81 persons. Two persons died in the ensuing rescue operations.
The Inquiry was opened at the Easington Colliery Welfare Hall, Easington, on 30th October and terminated on 15th November. Evidence was taken on 13 days and 75 witnesses were examined. A list of these witnesses is given in Appendix II.
The appearances were as follows :-
For Ministry of Fuel and Power
Mr. T. A. Jones, O.B.E., H.M. Divisional Inspector of Mines.
Mr. J. Cowan, H.M. Principal Electrical Inspector of Mines.
Mr. A. H. A. Wynn, Director of the Safety in Mines Research Establishment.
For National Coal Board
Mr. W. L. Miron, O.B.E., T.D., Secretary, East Midlands Division.
Mr. W. F. Richardson, Chief Safety Engineer, Headquarters.
For National Union of Mineworkers
Mr. S. Watson, C.B.E., General Secretary, Durham Area.
Mr. R. W. Williams, M.P.
Mr. C. Robinson, Chairman, Easington Miners’ Lodge.
For National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers
Mr. B. Walsh, J.P., President.
Mr. J. Crawford, General Secretary, Durham Area.
For British Association of Colliery Management
Mr. R. W. Anderson, M.C.
For National Association of Colliery Managers
Mr. Robert Williams.
Professor I. C. F. Statham.
For Association of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Mr. H. Brocklesby, Vice President.
For Federation of Small Mines of Great Britain
Mr. T. S. Nicholson, Chairman [Durham Association of Small Mines]
Mr. E. C. Kennedy, Secretary [Durham Association of Small Mines]
For Northern Colliery Officials and Staffs’ Association
Mr. C. Whiteley.
For Durham Colliery Mechanics’ Association
Mr. T. Murray.
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