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Full Details

Surname
IRWIN
Forename
Benjamin
Day
26
Month
04
Year
1907
Age
34
Occupation
Joiner
Mine/Quarry Name
Tanfield Lea
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
James Joicey & Co. Ltd
Location
Tanfield
County
Durham
Details of Event
Died April 27. A canvas belt, 3 feet wide, and moving at a speed of 140 feet per minute, is used to convey wet doff coal from the storage hopper to a service hopper, over the coke ovens. This driving drum is 18 inches in diameter, owing to a coating of wet coal forming on it and on this belt, slipping was taking place, and deceased was directed to sprinkle sawdust on this belt to make it grip. He was last seen so engaged, but afterwards appears to have been using a piece of wood about 8.5 inches long and triangular in section to scrape this driving drum, and his hand had been caught and drawn in. The belt was observed to stop, although the drum continued to revolve, and deceased was found fast. The clutch was thrown out and the drum stopped and he was liberated, the piece of wood being found between the drum and belt. No fault could be found with the fencing. The Local Inspectors reported found all the machinery in working order. ‘We found no defects in any part of this gearing, and can only surmise as to the cause of this fatal case.’