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Full Details

Surname
FAWKES
Forename
Robert
Day
03
Month
02
Year
1911
Age
45
Occupation
Shaftsman
Mine/Quarry Name
Wheatley Hill
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co. Ltd
Location
Wheatley Hill
County
Durham
Details of Event
Some full tubs at the Hutton Seam level had crept away and run into the shaft where they were stopped by the "dabbing" buntons at the bottom of the cage hole 10 feet down. All the tubs had been got out except three, by means of a chain hung from the bottom of the cage. One of the three tubs had been secured by a sling chain to a guide and the other two were being lifted by the cage and chain attached. As soon as the tubs got clear they swung across the pit owing to the diagonal lift, and the deceased who was standing on a bunton 14 inches wide apparently overbalanced himself and fell to the bottom of the shaft, a depth of 29 fathoms. Belts are provided as a safeguard f or persons engaged in such work, but it is difficult at times to get shaftmen and others to use them as they become so familiar with this kind of work and consider using a belt impedes them. If he had been using a belt the fatality would not have occurred.