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Full Details

Surname
CHILTON
Forename
Nemiah
Day
17
Month
07
Year
1909
Age
16
Occupation
Haulage tenter
Mine/Quarry Name
Shelton, Deep No.1
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Shelton Iron, Steel & Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Hanley
County
Staffordshire
Details of Event
This accident occurred on an engine plane formed about nine years ago. The road was originally 12 to 13 ft. wide but the sides having pushed in, both sides were being stripped to permit of brick side walls being built, the clear width between these walls being 10 ft. 5 ins. The girders which originally supported the roof were removed three weeks prior to the accident, and the roof which consisted of strong bind, was left entirely unsupported for a length of 18 ft. It was examined by the manager, under-manager, under-looker, and overman on the morning prior to the accident, the manager tapping it with his stick; and it appeared to them to be unbroken. Two firemen examined it again on the morning of the accident, but did not tap it as they had nothing handy with which to do so. They saw no breaks and ‘considered it perfectly safe.’ Some loaded tubs were standing on one road, and deceased walking between the two roads was pushing an empty tub inbye, when a blade of the roof 22ft. long, the whole width of road, 6ins. in thickness at one side and increasing to 15 ins. at the other, suddenly came away from a rough parting. A portion of it drove his head down upon a loaded tub, killing him instantly. The place had been redd up, the brick side walls completed, and the girders replaced before my inspection on Monday 19th July but the general manager and other officials agreed that no fault or slip in the roof had been exposed. I am very strongly of opinion that this accident should not have happened. Notwithstanding the apparent soundness and hardness of the roof it was in my opinion exceedingly rash and ill-advised to expose so great an area especially in an old road which was being stripped. There was plenty of room to set temporary supports although it might have caused some inconvenience.