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Details of Event: Coal Mining Accident – Shotts Man Killed - Lachlan Black, Jnr, a coal-cutting machineman, residing at 29 Torbothie Road, Shotts, was killed on Tuesday night in Northfield Colliery, belonging to the Shotts Iron Company (Ltd) The machine which he was attending rebounded, and he was pulled into the wheel. The body was much mutilated. [Scotsman 2 December 1926] Information from the Inspectors of Mines - 1926: By machinery: At Northfield Colliery, Lanark, an electrically driven disc coal cutting machine had had fresh pick points put in the disc at the beginning of the shift. The machine was then set to cut into the face and immediately the electric power was switched on, the machine swung round and the attendant, who was at the rear end, was entangled and killed by the picks in the disc. The machine was fitted so that the electric power could be switched off and on at both ends. The rear end attendant should, therefore, have been away from the machine when it was started up. Once more I would stress what I have said elsewhere on other occasions, viz., that there should always be a disc hole to enable the machine to start away parallel with the line of face. These disc holes should be made in the case of every disc machine and apparently all colliery owners and managers will not have them made until required to by Regulation. They cost money to make and meantime those who do not make them get off at the expense of those who do.