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Full Details

Surname
GRIFFEN
Forename
Stephen
Day
19
Month
05
Year
1911
Age
32
Occupation
Sinker
Mine/Quarry Name
Easington
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Easington Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Easington Colliery
County
Durham
Details of Event
The deceased and 11 others under the supervision of the master sinker were placing into position near the shaft bottom a balk about 30 feet bug by 12 inches square in order that lofting might be placed upon it so as to afford protection to workmen who were engaged in building brickwork underneath. One end of the balk had been inserted into a pocket 18 inches deep, and the other end had been raised by means of blocks attached to a derrick to within a foot of the ledge upon which it was intended to rest. Suddenly the derrick moved forward and Griffen was carried down and crushed under the balk. Probably the weight of the balk had slackened the wedges at the top of the derrick and possibly the derrick had sunk a little as the foot was not resting on solid ground.