Single Record

Full Details

Surname

GRIFFITHS

Forename

George Edward

Day

31

Month

01

Year

1911

Age

32

Occupation

Motorman

Mine/Quarry Name

Halesfield

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Madeley Wood Co.

Location

Madeley

County

Shropshire

Details of Event

Deceased was in charge of a haulage motor. He also had under his control a switch from which cables extended through a ropeway to a 7.5 H.P. pump motor 200 yards distant. These cables had been in use over 12 years. Originally they wore armoured throughout, but owing to leakages from time to time the armour had been removed in numerous places in varying lengths front 2ft. to 10 or 12 yards apart. The armouring was not earthed except at two junction boxes which, together with the armouring where they entered the boxes, were earthed in connection with a line of water pipes. The voltage was 425 D.C. Three days prior to the accident the electrician had tested all sections of the armouring for leakage of current, but said he had found none. The deceased was found lying dead in the ropeway in contact with a strand of wire rope, which was hanging over the electric cables, by a man who attempted to remove hint but he himself received a shock, and therefore went to the motor house and opened the switch, thus shutting off the current. The haulage rope had been respliced on the previous day and it appeared that someone had carelessly thrown the strand of wire upon the cables in the ropeway to get rid of it. Deceased had authority to travel along the ropeway after shutting off the electric current from the pump motor, but this he neglected to do. Subsequent examination revealed a leakage of current front the cables at the point where deceased met his death. The faulty cables have now been replaced by new ones.