| Date: | 1927 |
| Colliery: | Elswick |
| Cause: | (See description below) |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
Another fatality, also illustrating the need for proper supervision and training of boys, occurred at Elswick Colliery, Northumberland. A boy who had only worked two weeks underground, had in turn acted as pony driver and landing lad. On the day of the accident he was sent for by an official to go to another part of the mine to assist in a landing, definite instructions being given to the regular landing lad to take charge of the new beginner. At the end of the shift the two lads were walking outbye in company with another haulage hand, when a full set overtook them. The two elder boys jumped on the set, leaving the younger boy without a light. He followed the bad example set by his companions and jumped on the set. As the set approached the "kip," the more experienced boys jumped off but the younger boy, apparently unaware of the existence of the "kip," continued his journey, and was fatally crushed between the top of the tub and the baulks supporting the roof above the "kip." Further investigation elicited the information that even when the boy was leaving his first job at the instigation of the official, he actually attempted to make the journey outbye on the full tubs. Fortunately he was intercepted by the rolleywayman, who stopped the set and reprimanded him. This fatality illustrates the vital necessity for (1) proper training and supervision of boys and (2) the necessity for separate travelling roads free from haulage altogether. It is obvious that the landing lad under whose supervision the deceased was set to work was not capable of supervising a youngster. It is clear that if a separate travelling road had been provided and used there would have been no temptation to illegally ride on the set. In this connection also, I should like to point out that at one colliery in the Division there is an agreed rule between the workmen and management that no boy during the first three months of his employment underground shall be allowed to travel on the haulage planes unless accompanied by a responsible and experienced person. I commend this rule to others.
| Source: | 1927 Mines Inspectors Report |
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