Single Record

Full Details

Details of Event: 4 July 1930: One of the fatal accidents inquiries held in Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday was with regard to the death of Archibald Connor, coal-cutting machineman, lately residing at 39 Melville Street, Lochgelly, who died on July 4 in No.1 pit, Minto Colliery, of the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Co. (Ltd.), as the result of an electric shock. Connor was found lying dead beside a gate-end box through which electric cable passed to a coal-cutting machine. The lid of the box was open, and Connor's hand was inside, resting on the fuse holders . The handle of the box was in the "off" position, which meant that it should have been possible to open the box and handle the fuses without danger. Witnesses stated that, after the accident, defects were discovered in the interlocking arrangements of the box, the result being that, while the handle was in the "off" position, connection was established inside. The jury, on the suggestion of Sheriff Umpherston, added to their formal verdict a rider to the effect that they were of opinion that the gate-end box, at which Connor was working when he was electrocuted, was in a dangerously defective condition owing to excessive play between the clutch on the switch handle and the clutch with which it engaged, also owing to the handle being insecurely fixed and other defects. [Scotsman 19 July 1930]