August 16, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

335

of wear—due, no doubt, to the amount of work done
and the natural result of the Horses Rationing Order,
1917. There were no prosecutions during the year,
and the inspector considers credit is due to the horse-
keepers and mine officials for the active interest taken
in the wealfare of the horses under their charge. One
outbreak of glanders occurred during the year, when
six horses were destroyed at Palterton Pit, Derby-
shire, owned by the Staveley Coal and Iron Company
Limited.

Serious Accidents.

Explosion of Firedamp.—On January 9 an explosion
of gas caused by shot firing occurred at the coal face
in the Parkgate seam at Handsworth Pit, belonging
to Nunnery Colliery, owned by the Nunnery Colliery
Company Limited, Sheffield. Three men were burnt,
and two of them subsequently succumbed to their
injuries.

Falls of Hoof.—The most serious accidents by falls
of ground occurred in Yorkshire, (1) Denby Grange
Colliery, where three men were killed; (2) Feather-
stone Main Colliery, resulting jn the loss of two lives;
and (3) Prince of Wales Colliery (Lister-Kaye’s),
where also two men were killed.

Suffocation by Natural Gases.—At Ings No. 2 Col-
liery, in Yorkshire, on November 21, two men were
killed and three injured through being overcome by
firedamp known to exist in a rise drift from a bore-
hole put up to prove a seam of coal displaced by a
fault in the Beeston seam.

Overwind Fatality.—A shaft accident, causing the
loss of two lives, occurred at Hartley Bank Colliery,
Yorkshire, on April 19, through the winding engine-
man inadvertently putting steam in favour of the load
at a point 25 yards from the pit bottom, breaking the
light sump covering and dipping the cage in 4 ft. of
water.

Electricity.—There were three separate fatal acci-
dents involving the loss of three lives. One occurred
at Houghton Main Colliery, Yorkshire, where a worker
got electrocuted while handling a coal cutter trailing
cable. At the same colliery a painter at work on the
doors and windows of a sub-station on the colliery works
was found dead on a concrete platform about 5 ft.
under six ingoing cables charged with current at 10,00J
volts. At Brierley Colliery, in the same county, a boy
got electrocuted by taking hold of a guy rope attached
to a pole carrying lighting cables at 110 volts, which
had come in contact with a sagged guy rope attached
to carrying cables carrying 650 volts for power pur-
poses.

Railway Sidings Fatality.—On September 15 three
men were killed while riding on the footplate of a
locomotive down an incline on a surface railway at
Low Stubbin Colliery. The locomotive got out of con-
trol, and the train ran against some trucks standing
on the line.

Dangerous Occurrences.

Seventy-two dangerous occurrences were reported,
viz., explosions of gas or coal dust, 5; underground
fires, 20; surface fire, 1; overwinds, 11; breakage of
ropes and damage to winding gear, 32; inrush of
water, 1; miscellaneous, 2. Of the 20 underground
fires, 14 were caused by spontaneous combustion, as
compared with 11 in the previous year. None were of
a very serious character, and they were promptly and
ably dealt with by scouring or by sealing off the
affected area.

Prosecutions.

In three instances legal proceedings were instituted
against owners, agents, and managers, involving six
charges. Convictions were obtained in five cases, the
sixth being dismissed on payment of costs. The cases
against workmen, numbered 282. Convictions were
obtained in 258 cases, 18 being dismissed on payment
of costs, and six dismissed or withdrawn.

LANCASHIRE, NORTH WALES AND IRELAND
DIVISION.

Mr. A. D. Nicholson reports that the number of
mines and quarries worked during the year was : Coal
mines, 313; metalliferous mines, 108; quarries, 919.
The total output from these amounted to 29,111,759^
tons, having an estimated value of £22,087,714. The
total number of persons regularly employed in the
mines and quarries, and at works in connection with
them, was 126,839, an increase of, 1,871 on the figures
for the previous year. Over 90 per cent, of the total
number of persons were employed at coal mines. The
total number of inspections was: Coal mines, 1,728
underground inspections, and also 608 surface inspec-
tions; metalliferous mines, 242 underground inspec-
tions, and also 75 on the surface. The inspector of
horses made 24'5 underground inspections while
examining the roads on which horses were at work.

General Effect of the War.

The total number of persons employed in or about
mines worked under the Coal Mines Act was 114,871,
showing an increase on the previous year’s figures of
3,052, or nearly 2| per cent. Of this increase 2,428
persons were employed underground and 624 on the
surface, of whom 211 were females. The increase in
male workers is largely accounted for by the return
of numbers of discharged soldiers, and by the addi-
tion of 458 boys under the age of 16. The slight in-
crease in the number of persons employed caused an
increase of 302,435 tons in the output.

Accidents.

The total number of accidents reported was 548, of
which 145 were fatal, and resulted in the death of
153 persons—a reduction of 22 in the number of acci-
dents, and a decrease of six in the number of deaths.
Three of the fatal accidents occurred in Ireland (none
in 1916). There was a reduction of 16 in the number
of fatal accidents and deaths due to falls of roof and
side, and three from miscellaneous underground acci-
dents, but an increase of eight deaths by explosions of
firedamp, one by accidents in shafts, and four surface
accidents. The death rates per 1,000 persons employed
work out as follows : Below ground 1’54, above ground

0-57, above and below ground 1*33, as compared with
1*71, 0-42, and 1*43 respectively in the preceding year.
It is considered that undersized and unseasoned pit-
wood contributed in some degree to the increase in
accidents during the last two or three years. Acci-
dents from explosions of firedamp resulted in the death
of 10 persons. A fall of roof at Mosley Common
Colliery killed two colliers. Only one death was caused
by explosives. Sixteen persons were injured at Gars-
wood Hall Colliery while descending a shaft, owing
to the automatic contrivance not operating properly.

Ventilation.

The ventilation of the mines continues to be adequats
for ordinary requirements. In several places new and
modern fans of larger capacity were installed, and
resulted in considerable improvement in the ventila-
tion. A few samples of air were taken and analysed,
usually in connection with the introduction or working
of electric coal cutters.

Suppression of Coal Dust.

Although progress in the right direction continues
to be made, the difficulty experience! in obtaining iron
dust-proof tubs retarded improvement, and some
collieries had to return to slightly improved types
of wooden tubs, which are difficult to keep dust-proof
in deep warm mines. Stone dusting the roads is still
on the increase, but a thorough cleaning up of the fine
coal dust on the floor, sides and timbers might in
many cases be carried out with advantage before the
stone dust is applied.

Rescue Work.

All the eight rescue stations in the division were in
thorough working order, and kept in a high state of
efficiency. Training was carried out regularly and
systematically, although, owing to enlistment, it was
difficult at some mines to keep the full complement of
trained men.

Treatment of Animals.

Horses, to the number of 1,619, were employed at
102 mines, and their condition was, on the whole, satis-
factory. All horses taken into the mines during the
year were subjected to the Mallein test. There were
no prosecutions of owners, but proceedings were taken
against six persons by the management.

Dangerous Occurrences.

Twenty-nine dangerous occurrences were reported:
1, a slight ignition of firedamp, caused by a shot; 5
underground fires; 1 case of overwinding; and 22 of
various breakages of gear connected with winding
engines and breakage of ropes or conductors.

Prosecutions.

Three prosecutions were instituted against agents
and managers; fines amounting to £46 were imposed,
with costs. There were 87 prosecutions against work-
men, resulting in the imposition of £112 9s. 6d. in
fines and £24 5s. costs.

Pitwood Committee.

During the year, the Lancashire and Cheshire Pit-
wood Association was formed, the North Wales Coal
Owners’ Association joining soon after. A depot for
the storage of timber has been obtained at Acton
Grange near Warrington. Several woods have been
purchased and are being worked, and it is hoped
before long the association will be in a position to
supply a large proportion of the timber required by
the collieries. At a meeting held in June, it was
decided that the timber required for the coal mines in
the division should be obtained from Lancashire (ex-
cluding the Furness area), Cheshire, and the six
northern counties of Wales, and part of Ireland.

SOUTH WALES DIVISION.

Mr. J. Dyer Lewis reports that during the year 3,094
official visits to mines were made by the inspectors,
2,023 of which were underground inspections, includ-
ing 745 by the inspectors of horses; 389 visits were also
made to quarries.

Industrial State of the District.—Employment at
the leading collieries producing Admiralty coal and
also at the house and gas coal mines was fairly regular,
but considerable fluctuations occurred in connection
with the anthracite trade, and at collieries producing
other varieties of steam coals. A number of labour
disputes occurred, but they dislocated the trade for
short periods only.

Effect of the War.

The total number of persons employed at coal mines
was 219,718, being an increase over the preceding year
of 5,618 persons, equivalent to an increase of 2-5 per
cent. The total output of coal was 48,507,902 tons,
being a decrease of 3,572,807 tons, or 6’86 per cent.
The probable reasons for the decrease were: insuffi-
cient supply of tonnage, disputes, and absenteeism.
The re-entry into the industry of a large number of
pre-war miners, and of others sent to the mines under
the scheme of National ‘Service, has not had any per-
ceptible influence in increasing the number of acci-
dents.

Ventilation.

The ventilation of the mines was well maintained
during the year, and only in few cases was it found
neessary to direct the attention of the mine owners to
the inadequacy of the air currents. Samples of air
were taken in several mines where the purity of the
air was suspected. The return airways of the mines
were systematically inspected, and in most cases were
found to be of ample area to convey the large volumes
of air necessary for effective ventilation in this coal-
field.

Coal Dust.

The dangers from coal dust continued to receive most
careful attention, but in consequence of the shortage
of labour and the difficulty experienced in obtaining
the necessary materials, the whole of the trams in use
in the South Wales division do not yet comp’y with
Section 62 (2) of the Coal Mines Act, the colliery
owners having been unable to obtain the necessary

quantities of steel and iron. Nevertheless, 70 to 80
per cent, have been converted, and the utmost pos-
sible will be done to secure the conversion of the
remainder at an early date.

Horses.

The 611 coal mines in which animals are employed
were inspected during the year. The horse inspectors
made 745 inspections, and examined 20,568 horses. The
treatment of pit horses, and the general conditions of
their employment below ground, have been much im-
proved since the Coal Mines Act, 1911, came into force.
The large type of horse required to deal with the con-
ditions of the South Wales collieries has, since the
outbreak of the war, been difficult to secure; hence
some overworking has been observed; and the poor
quality and quantity of hay have produced a low con-
dition of the animals at a number of the collieries. No
case of glanders was reported during the year.

Timber Committee..

A change was made in the constitution of this com-
mittee in May, and the whole of the pitwood is now
dealt with by an allocation committee, which allots
pitwood to each colliery where it is urgently required.
The committee have been able to keep up the supplies
to the mines, which were not able to procure pitwood
in the ordinary way.

Accidents.

The total number of accidents reported was 1,397.
The number of persons killed (including three deaths
which occurred in the preceding year) was 366, and
those injured 1,082; an increase compared with the
preceding year of 43, 44, and 15 respectively. No fatal
case occurred, and only eight accidents, causing
injuries to nine persons, the lowest figures yet recorded
for the coalfield. The fatal accidents from falls were
180 in number, causing 184 deaths, as against 187
accidents and 189 deaths in the preceding year. Fifty
of them occurred on roadways while repairing or en-
larging. The face accidents were mainly due to slants
in the roof, hidden from view by thin layers of shale,
until forced out by pressure, and which also caused in
many instances the collapse of the supporting props.
Thirteen shaft accidents caused 13 deaths; an increase
of 5 compared with the preceding year. Three of the
deaths occurred whilst the men were descending or
ascending by machinery. Two shaft accidents were
due to material falling from ascending cages. There
were 125 fatal miscellaneous underground accidents,
resulting in the deaths of 128 persons, as against 94
and 98 respectively for the preceding year, an increase
of 31 accidents and 30 deaths, for which the haulage
was responsible. From suffocation by natural gases
2 accidents causing 3 deaths occurred. The increase of
21 accidents and 21 deaths, under the heading of horse
haulage, appears to be largely due to the fact that the
work of haulage is performed by older and less active
men, the strain being aggravated by the large trams
in use. There were 39 accidents, causing 41 deaths,
on the surface, as against 27 accidents and 27 deaths
in the preceding year. Two fatal accidents and two
deaths were attributed to electricity.

Dangerous Occurrences.

Of the 38 occurrences considered dangerous by the
managers of the coal mines only 28 were required to
be reported, 3 being ignitions of firedamp, 14 under-
ground fires, 2 breakages of winding ropes, etc., and
2 overwindings. Compared with the preceding year,
there was an increase of 10 in the number of under-
ground fires. Of the 14 reported, 10 were due to spon-
taneous combustion of coal, 1 to a workman’s coat
catching fire, 1 to an open light in a haulier’s cap
setting fire to timber in a refuge hole, and 1 to a short
circuit in an electric portable lamp.

Prosecutions.

Proceedings were taken against the owners, agents,
managers, and under-manager of mines in 9 cases,
and 6 convictions were obtained. The number of pro-
secutions against workmen was 237. Convictions were
obtained in 216 cases, and 3 charges were withdrawn or
not proven; 18 cases were dismissed; in 5 the offenders
were admonished or cautioned; in 11 they were dis-
missed on payment of costs; and 2 cases were dismissed
on account of the youthfulness of the defendants. The
total fines and costs amounted to £321 9s. 6d.

MIDLAND AND SOUTHERN DIVISION.

Mr. W. Walker reports that the number of under-
ground inspections made was 1,949, and there were 361
underground inspections of horses; 499 surface inspec-
tions were made; and 2,279 quarry inspections.

Effects of the War.

The total number of persons employed above and
below ground was 117,2Q7, this being an increase of
2,836 upon the number employed in 1916, although a
considerable number of men were taken from the mines
for the army. The increase consisted of 1,865 below
ground and 971 above ground, and on the surface was
very largely made up of boys under 16 years of age
and females, but underground almost the whole of the
increase was due to an influx of persons over 16 years
of age, including a considerable number of youths
between 16 and 18 years of age. For the year the total
output was 29,462,026 tons, an increase of 259,729 tons
as compared with the preceding year, due, apparently,
to the increased number of persons employed. The
increase of coal output was 162,590 tons, and there was
a new output of 1,129 tons of oil shale.

Ventilation.

The position with regard to ventilation has been
fairly satisfactory. Several ventilating fans were in-
stalled with beneficial results.

Coal Dust.

Considerable advance was made in regard to the
making of dust-tight tubs, considering the difficulties
of obtaining new tubs or the materials for their con-
struction and the shortage of labour. Better atten-
tion is also now being given to dealing with coal dust
accumulations on haulage roads.