126

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 15, 1915.

WORKING OF THE COAL MIMES
ACT IN 1913,

In Part II. of his General Report, the Chief Inspector
of Mines deals briefly with the experience gained so far
in the working of the Coal Mines and other Acts.

Generally little difficulty has been experienced in
administering the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908
(Eight Hours Act), which on the whole has worked
satisfactorily. In few cases have persons been kept
underground beyond the statutory periods.

The Coal Mines Act of 1911 came into force on
July 1, 1912, with the exception of certain provisions,
the operation of which was delayed until subsequent
dates. But numerous Orders and Regulations under
the Act were drafted, proposed, and came into force at
later dates. The Special Rules which were established
under the Coal Mmes Regulation Act, 1887, remained
in force until superseded by the new General Regula-
tions, which came into force on September 15, 1913.

Sir Richard Redmayne observes that the bringing of
the mines into line with the requirements of the Act
has undoubtedly necessitated a considerable charge on
capital account entailed by having to provide some
additions or improvements to machinery, and in other
directions ; and doubtless the working cost will also
have been augmented by reason of various under-
takings, e.y., the widening of roads in certain parts,
provision of additional refuge holes, increased inspection,
&c. But to put against this is the better supervision
and increased safety to persons and property.

Firemen, Examiners, and Deputies.

In conformity with section 15, there were 28,261
candidates for certificates, of whom 25,569 passed.

Very few applications for exemption from the require-
ment that the fireman must devote the whole of his
time to his statutory duties (section 14 (2)), have been
received; none at all from the two Lancashire districts,
or from the South Wales and the York and North
Midland divisions. The inspectors have, however, found
it necessary in s »me cases to remind the management
that the supervision of traffic beyond the bringing in of
material necessary to enable repairs to be expeditiously
effected is not a part of a fireman’s statutory duty.

Generally, the requirements as to the size of firemen’s
districts (section 14 (3)), were being properly observed.
In many cases the inspection districts have been made
smaller or re-organised or the number of firemen
increased. In some cases the subsection of the Act
was being misinterpreted by the management. Thus,
in some instances inspections were made by two firemen
starting from different ends of a ventilating district
and travelling until they met. At another colliery (in
Yorkshire), in one district two deputies were appointed,
and sometimes the senior or charge deputy made the
statutory inspection of a part of the district and the
assistant deputy examined the remainder, the two
deputies making separate reports. It cannot, in such
circumstances, be said that a definite district has been
assigned to a given fireman. Again, at a colliery in
Derbyshire, sometimes the assistant deputies made the
statutory inspections and filled in the remainder of
their shift at other work, which was also a contravention
of the Act.

Searching of Workmen for Matches, etc.

This section of the Act is being well carried out in
all the divisions, and the result is that a large number
of workmen have been found with matches, cigarettes,
pipes, &c., in their possession when arriving at the
bottom of the shaft. The class of mine in point of
danger appears to make little difference in this respect,
Mr. Wilson reporting that matches are found on the
persons of workmen in the most gassy mines equally
with those mines which are not so dangerous. Sir
Richard believes in most cases it is due to inadvertence,
and owing to the common practice of men smoking on
their way from their homes to the pit. If managers
would more generally provide a suitable place at the
surface of the pit for the safe deposit of pipes, tobacco,
and matches—say, near to or at the lamp room—he
thinks it would do much to militate against the carrying
of smoking equipment underground. Mr. Mottram
reports no less than 207 convictions against workmen in
his division for having matches and other prohibited
articles in their possession. Numerous prosecutions
have 'taken place in the other divisions also.

Ventilation.

Sampling the Air of the Mine.—During the year
6,056 samples were taken. The sampling was carried
out to the following extent in the various divisions :—
Scotland, 1,010 ; Northern, 888; York and North
Midland, 2,648; Manchester and Ireland, 243; Liverpool
and North Wales, 440 ; South Wales, 463; Midland and
Southern, 364. Much good continued to result from
the system of mine air sampling required by the Act,
for though in the great majority of cases the analyses
have shown that the system or ventilation of the mine
was satisfactory, in some the percentage of methane
and carbon dioxide exceeded that allowed by sections 29
and 32 of the Act.

Measurement of Air Current—The measurement of
the air current nearer to the face than was necessary
under the old requirements has bad the effect in many
cases of proving to the management how great is the
leakage of the air current en route.

Arrangements for Reversing the Air Current.—This
requirement in respect of mines in which a mechanical
contrivance for ventilation is used came into operation
on January 1, 1913, and at most mines the requirement
was complied with before the close of the year, but in
many cases an extension of time was asked for and
allowed by the inspectors in view of various special
circumstances, e.g., considerable structural or excavatory
operations, impossibility of securing delivery of plant
by January 1. But in some cases the requirement had

not been carried into effect by January 1, and in some
cases when an extension had been granted, by the
expiration of the extension. In some instances it has
been found necessary to institute legal proceedings
against the owners and management.

Explosives.

The amending Order came into operation on
September 1, and generally has been fairly well
observed. Difference of opinion seems to have exist- d
in some cases as to the requirements of clause 1 (e) (i)
and (ii) of the Order. In mines in which a permitted
explosive is not required to be used detonators can only
be issued to officials, and such officials are only allowed
to give them to the persons firing the shots when they
are about to be used for the charging of a shot hole,
z.e., when a hole has been or is being bored. Some
managers, however, more particularly in Scotland,
considered it legal for the official to issue detonators to
the men at the shaft bottom at the beginning of the
shift. In some safety lamp pits the requirements as to
the examinations for gas and coal dust before firing
shots have not been as thoroughly observed as they
should have been.

Surveyors.

According to the reports received from the inspectors
the requirements contained in the order issued in 1912
have been very generally complied with. The number
of managers’ certificates which were endorsed by the
inspectors under the last paragraph of the Order was,
during the year, 195, and in addition to these there was
one certificate endorsed by the Board for Mining
Examinations.

Care and Treatment of Animals.

The result of the census of animals employed under-
ground with particulars respecting the death rate from
injury and disease and cases of injury and ill-treatment
shows the followingNumber employed, 73,024;
number died (exclusive of those required to be
destroyed): from injury by accident 2,007, from disease
992 (of this number 32 died from old age)—total 2,999 ;
number required to be destroyed: in consequence of
injuiy 1,630, in consequence of disease 1,282 (of this
number 362 were destroyed in consequence of old age
or blindness)—total 2,912 ; number of cases of injury or
ill-treatment reported to manager' (exclusive of cases
included in the foregoing) : injury 12,402, ill-treatment
487—total 12,889. The number of reported cases of
ill-treatment was 0'67 per cent, of the total number of
animals employed, as compared with 0'33 per cent, in
the previous year.

There have been cases of outbreaks of glanders
amongst underground horses. Mr. Mottram reports
four serious outbreaks. This is curious, seeing that
the horses taken underground since May 1912, when
the Order prescribing the manner of testing horses for
glanders was issued, had been subjected to the Mallein
test and certified free from infection.

The work of enforcing the regulations relating to
animals employed underground has been carried on
satisfactorily, and according to the reports received
from the divisional inspectors the horse inspectors have
shown themselves capable and efficient, and their
inspections have resulted in a substantial and general
improvement in the treatment of the horses and the
construction and position of the stables. Owing to the
different conditions, however, of the mines in different
districts, the work in some of the divisions has been
attended by much greater difficulties. In the Northern
Division, for example, the large number of ponies which
are employed in the haulage along numerous low and
difficult roads to and from the face of the workings,
renders an inspection a much more lengthy and arduous
task than in the adjoining divisions. Again, in South
Wales, not only is there an exceptionally large number
of mines using horses, but the coalfield is, owing to the
size A its pits and their separation from one another, a
specially difficult one to work. In both these divisions,
however, as elsewhere, excellent results have been
obtained.

Use of Prescribed Books.

These are being used, but in many instances the
entries have been found not to have been made in a
satisfactory manner, the information given being too
scanty. Especially true was this in respect of firemen.
On several occasions it has been necessary to direct the
attention of managers and others to the fact that tlie
Act requires firemen’s reports to be full and accurate.
The firemen’s reports are often a repetition of stei eo-
typed phrases, whereas it is very important that these
reports should be definite and instructive.

Exemptions.

Numerous exemptions or postponement of date on
which certain requirements of the Act came into force
were granted. Of the total, 501—225 were granted in
Scotland, 68 in the Northern Division, 70 in the York
and North Midland Division, five in the Manchester and
Ireland District, 32 in the Liverpool and North Wales
District, 43 in South Wales, and 58 in the Midland and
Southern Division. Taking the various sections, 219
were in respect of the provision of overwinding appliances
(section 40 • (2) ), 127 in respect of section 1 of the
Rescue and Aid ()rder and General Regulations, No. 138,
35 in respect of the use of safety lamps after explosions
(section 32 (1) (5)), 26 in respect of the provisions as to
guides (section 40 (3)), 24 in respect of the provisions
prohibiting the raising or lowering of persons otherwise
than in cages (section 40 (1)), 16 in respect of means for
reversing the ventilation (section 31 (3)).

Inspection on Behalf of Workmen.

Much more advantage has been taken than heretofore
in the various divisions by the workmen of the pro-
visions relating to inspection of the mine or part of the
mine by their representatives. In certain districts,
notably Northumberland and Durham and parts of the

York and North Midland and South Wales divisions,
the powers in this respect under General Rule 38 of the
Act of 1887 were taken considerable advantage of, and
these regular inspections by the workmen on behalf of
the workmen continue.

Safety Lamps.

The effect of the provisions contained in section 32

(I)	(5) has b en the introduction of safety lamps into a
number of collieries, especially in Scotland ; and where
an exemption has been granted it has been deemed
advisable in most cases to make it dependent upon the
adoption of certain safeguards in respect to using safety
lamps at certain places and under certain conditions.
Pressure was applied in all the divisions to secure com-
plete compliance in respect of the provision of approved
types of lamps, but the demand for new lamps of an
approved type was at first in excess of the supply, and
the same remark applies to lamp glasses.

Winding Apparatus.

The requirements were generally being well observed.
Automatic contrivances to prevent overwinding have
been installed at most mines where necessary, but there
were a few places where delivery of the apparatus
from the makers was still being awaited. There were
also instances in which detaching hooks had not been
provided, frequently for the same reason. There weie
also some cases in which cage gates had not been
provided. Cases of default were dealt with by the
inspectors.

Height of Travelling Roads Underground.

The height of travelling roads underground has
usually been found to be satisfactory. Occasionally
instances to the contrary have been noted, and in a few
instances it has been found necessary to prosecute the
management; but no difficulty has, as a rule, been
experienced in getting the management to remedy such
cases.

Riding on Tubs.

Mr. Walker states that in Scotland it is a common
practice for workmen to ride on special bogies in tho
endless rope haulage, but that m some cases it has been
found that the speed at which these bogies were moved
exceeded three miles per hour. The matter has been
remedied. At many mines in Scotland a general
authority to ride is given by the manager.

Clear Space at Coupling Stations.

A form of special regulation to meet the cases referred
to in section 43 (3) (5), wdrich has been widely adopted,
more especially in the York and North Midland
Division, is as follows :—

In the case of any passbye next the face where sets or
trains consisting of three or more tubs are coupled or
uncoupled, and where it is not practicable to provide, as
required by subsection (3) of section 43 of the Act, a
clear space of at least 2 ft. between tubs standing on
either of the lines of rails and the side of the road
nearest the rails, or a clear space of at least 3 ft.
between tubs standing on the parallel lines of rails,
the following provisions for securing safety shall be
substituted for the requirements contained in the said
subsection, and shall take effect as a part of the regula-
tions of the mine :—

(1)	. The passbye shall be of such length as will
allow a clear interval of at least 6 ft. between the
ends of the sets or trains when complete sets or
trains are standing on both lines of rails, and coupling
or uncoupling shall not be done while tubs are
standing opposite to each other on the parallel lines
of rails.

(2)	. Where the haulage is worked by mechanical
power or gravity (a) the engineman or person in
charge of the drum or sheave, as the case may be,
shall stop the incoming set or train before it enters
the passbye, and shall not cause the set or train to
enter the passbye until he has received the signal
from the passbye to do so; (5) the signal for an
incoming set or train to enter the passbye shall not
be given until the passbye is clear of persons and safe
for the set or train to enter ; (c) the signal for an out-
going set or train to leave the passbye shall not be
given until all persons are clear of the set or train and
it is safe for the set or train to leave.

(3)	. An efficient stop block shall be placed on each
line of rails at each entrance to the passbye, and shall
be kept closed except when it is necessary to open it
to enable a set or train to enter or leave the pass-bye.

Refuge Holes.

Whilst one realises that compliance with the require-
ments of this section entailed a considerable amount of
work in many mines—not only bad the existing refuge
holes in many cases to be deepened and heightened,
but they had to be changed from one side of the road to
the other, and additional holes also had to be made—yet
ample lime was allowed for the performance of the
work. It is regrettable that there should be instances
where the requirements have not yet been fully carried
out. At the close of the year there were still a few
mines in which the requisite number of holes had not
been made, or where they did exist did not satisfy the
requirements as to size, they were not all on the same
side or the entrance was impeded by signal wires or
electric cables. It has been found necessary in order
to secure compliance with this section to institute legal
proceedings.

(To be continued.}

North Staffordshire Institute of Mining and Mechanical
Engineers. — A general meeting of the members of this
institute will be held on Monday, January 18, 1915, in the
Central School of Science and Technology, Stoke-on-Trent,
at 5 p.m. The following paper will be read :—“ The Design
and Equipment of Colliery Electric Lamp Rooms,” by Mr.
Wm. Maurice, F.G-.S.