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Safety Badges

Safety Badges

Safety Badges & Certificates

Notes:

• Age: generally the courses were taken by those aged between 14 and 16, however, where the original source provides the age we will show it here.
• Date: this is the date of the newspaper article from which we extracted the name. Click on the link to see the whole article.
• Colliery/group: where the classes were provided for a specific colliery we show it here. If we cannot isolate the specific colliery or if the classes are for a group of collieries then we will show that.
• Award: Badges are awarded after successfully completing the first year training. If the boy goes on to complete a second year he will be awarded a certificate in addition to his first year badge. So those boys shown as being awarded a certificate will have received a badge previously.

 

Name	Age	Occupation	Date	Colliery/group	Award
Bean, B.		Pit Boy	14 Apr 1938	South Hetton Colliery	Badge
Bearpark, Leslie		Pit Boy	13 May 1936	Sunderland Centre	Badge
Beasley, D.		Pit Lad	20 Mar 1940	Waterhouses Colliery	Badge
Beattie, William		Pit Boy	01 Jun 1942	Lambton Colliery	Badge
Beck, N.		Pit Boy	29 Aug 1938	Sherburn Hill Colliery	Badge
Beer, J. G.		Pit Boy	27 Dec 1938	Eppleton Colliery	Badge
Beer, J.		Pit Boy	07 Jan 1936	Murton Colliery	Badge
Beer, J.		Pit Boy	24 Aug 1936	Murton Colliery	Badge
Bell, A.		Pit Boy	19 Dec 1934	Elemore, Eppleton and Hetton Collieries	Badge
Bell, F.		Pit Boy	31 Jul 1934	Ryhope Colliery	Badge
Bell, J.		Pit Boy	07 May 1936	Blackhall Colliery	Badge
Bell, James		Pit Boy	21 Apr 1939	West Sleekburn Colliery	Badge
Bell, John George		Pit Lad	12 Apr 1941	Eppleton Colliery	Badge
Bell, John George		Pit Lad	12 Apr 1941	Elemore Colliery	Badge
Bell, Joseph		Pit Boy	21 Apr 1939	West Sleekburn Colliery	Badge
Bell, L.		Pit Boy	11 Jan 1935	Silksworth Colliery	Badge
Bell, M.		Pit Boy	16 Jun 1939	Seaham Colliery	Badge
Bell, R. E.		Pit Boy	07 Jun 1937	Herrington Colliery	Badge
Bell, R. N.		Pit Boy	01 Nov 1937	Hetton Group of Lambton, Hetton, & Joicey Collieries	Badge
Bell, R.		Pit Boy	11 Jan 1935	Silksworth Colliery	Badge
Bell, R.		Pit Boy	01 Nov 1937	Hetton Group of Lambton, Hetton, & Joicey Collieries	Badge
Bell, R.		Pit Boy	17 May 1937	Elemore Colliery	Badge
Bell, T.		Pit Boy	03 Jul 1936	Ashington Coal Co. Ltd. Collieries	Badge
Bell, T.		Pit Boy	12 Sep 1938	Seaham Colliery	Badge
Bell, W. H.		Pit Boy	07 Jun 1937	Herrington Colliery	Badge
Bell, W.		Pit Boy	06 Jul 1934	Easington Colliery	Badge
Bell, W.		Pit Boy	07 Jan 1936	Murton Colliery	Badge
Bell, W.		Pit Boy	24 Aug 1936	Murton Colliery	Badge
Bell, W.		Pit Lad	21 May 1941	Seaham Colliery	Badge
Bell, Walter		Pit Boy	16 Jan 1934	Easington Colliery	Badge
Bell, William		Pit Boy	22 Sep 1936	Sherburn Hill Colliery	Badge
Bellenie, Henry		Pit Boy	13 May 1936	Sunderland Centre	Badge
Bellew, L.		Pit Boy	19 Jul 1937	Newbottle Dorothea Colliery	Badge
Bennet, G. E.		Pit Boy	16 Feb 1938	Elemore Colliery	Badge
Bennett, A.		Pit Boy	28 Feb 1936	Ryhope Colliery	Badge
Bennett, G. E.		Pit Boy	25 Apr 1938	Elemore Colliery	Badge
Bennett, G. E.		Pit Boy	21 Jul 1938	Eppleton, Elemore and Hetton Lyons Collieries	Badge
Bennett, G.		Pit Boy	01 Nov 1937	Hetton Group of Lambton, Hetton, & Joicey Collieries	Badge
Bennett, J.		Pit Boy	27 Dec 1938	Eppleton Colliery	Badge
Bennett, N.		Pit Boy	07 May 1936	Blackhall Colliery	Badge
Bennett, Stanley		Pit Boy	13 May 1936	Sunderland Centre	Badge
Bennison, F.		Pit Boy	11 Jan 1935	Ryhope Colliery	Badge
Bennison, S.		Pit Boy	11 Jan 1935	Ryhope Colliery	Badge
Bennison, S.		Pit Boy	13 Apr 1935	Ryhope Colliery	Badge
Bennison, T.		Pit Boy	13 Apr 1935	Ryhope Colliery	Badge
Benson, H.		Pit Boy	12 Sep 1938	Seaham Colliery	Badge
Bentley, A.		Pit Boy	17 Jan 1935	Horden Colliery	Badge
Bentley, John Joseph		Pit Boy	23 Jan 1934	Wearmouth and Hylton Collieries	Badge
Berry, S.		Pit Boy	28 Dec 1934	Murton Colliery	Badge
Berry, S.		Pit Boy	01 Jul 1935	Murton Colliery	Badge
Berry, T.		Pit Boy	14 Jan 1937	Murton Colliery	Badge
Berry, W. E.		Pit Boy	12 Sep 1938	Seaham Colliery	Badge
Bertram, J.		Pit Boy	05 Jan 1934	Lambton Colliery	Badge
Bessford, D.		Pit Boy	11 Jul 1936	Shotton Colliery	Badge
Best, J.		Pit Boy	17 Jan 1935	Horden Colliery	Badge
Best, T.		Pit Boy	21 Jul 1938	Eppleton, Elemore and Hetton Lyons Collieries	Badge
Best, W.		Pit Boy	21 Jul 1938	Eppleton, Elemore and Hetton Lyons Collieries	Badge
Bestford, W. C.		Pit Boy	16 Feb 1938	Elemore Colliery	Badge
Bestford, W. C.		Pit Boy	25 Apr 1938	Elemore Colliery	Badge
Bestford, W.		Pit Boy	21 Jul 1938	Eppleton, Elemore and Hetton Lyons Collieries	Badge
Beswick, G.		Pit Boy	23 Feb 1942	Herrington Colliery	Badge
Beswick, T. M.		Pit Boy	31 Jul 1939	Newbottle Dorothea Colliery	Badge
Beswick, T.		Pit Boy	31 Jul 1939	Newbottle Dorothea Colliery	Certificate
Bewick, A.		Pit Boy	12 Dec 1939	Sherburn Hill Colliery	Badge
Bewster, A.		Pit Boy	03 Jun 1939	Murton Colliery	Badge

 

1933 — Training of Boys

The year marked the inception in Durham and Northumberland of the scheme for the instruction of boys in safety principles. Classes inaugurated by the Durham, Northumberland, South Shields and Sunderland Education Committees, were commenced in the winter session at various mining centres in the two counties.

The course, for which the small fee of one shilling is charged, consists of 12 weekly lessons each of 1Ѕ hours duration, and at many centres two complete courses will be held during the session. The classes, which are entirely confined to the teaching of safety principles, are conducted by practical certificated mining officials.

At the termination of the course a simple oral examination is held for those boys who have made three-quarters of the possible attendances, and successful students are awarded a badge, known as the Durham and Northumberland Mines Safety Badge, with their name engraved on the back. The cost of the badges is being defrayed by a grant from the Miners' Welfare Fund, In a number of instances special prizes are being given by the colliery companies and the workmen's representatives.

The classes are primarily intended for boys of from 14 to 16 years of age, but this limit has not been strictly enforced, and many lads up to 18 years of age have enrolled. The course is open to boys actually employed at collieries and also to boys who have left school and are desirous of entering the industry.

In Durham, including the County Boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields, 38 centres, comprising 49 classes, were arranged and 1,514 boys enrolled for the first course, while in Northumberland 252 boys enrolled at ten centres, making a total for the combined counties of 48 centres, 59 classes, with an enrolment of 1,766 students.

At the present time approximately 1,000 boys have qualified for badges, but the final results are not yet available as several examinations have still to be held owing to many classes starting late and others being held in alternate weeks in order to suit the different shifts.

The instruction is very simple in character, and the boys are taking a keen interest and are most enthusiastic. They are taught how to avoid the common dangers that may befall them, the proper way of performing their ordinary work, the use of safety devices, the principles of the flame and electric safety lamp, and the ordinary precautions to be taken both on the surface and below-ground. In addition, visits are arranged to the collieries where they are taken around the surface plant, including the shops, lamp-room, etc., so as to combine practical knowledge with what they have been taught in the classes. The colliery companies have provided the necessary practical equipment for the classes, such as flame and electric safety lamps, miniature tubs, safety devices, telephone and signalling circuits, etc., and any further apparatus that may be required.

It is to be hoped that as a result of this scheme the boys will continue to interest themselves in mining and first-aid work, and that they will take advantage of the various courses arranged in the counties. I am sure that the possession of a First-Aid Certificate, together with the Badge, would be of the greatest value in securing employment and would make the holder still better fitted for the performance of his work.

The greatest credit is due to the education authorities, who are financing and running the classes, the colliery companies, the workmen, and all other interested parties who have in any way contributed to the unprecedented success of the scheme. I am glad to report that this course is now being included by the education authorities in their ordinary evening class curriculum.

I would like to record the great assistance I have received from my colleague, Mr. W. F. Richardson, H.M. Junior Inspector. His enthusiasm and tact have been invaluable.

Source: 1933 Mines Inspectors Report by Mr. T. Greenland Davies, H.M. Divisonal Inspector of Mines.