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Full Details

Surname
RUSSELL
Forename
George
Day
27
Month
02
Year
1927
Age
Occupation
Oncost-Worker
Mine/Quarry Name
Fleets, No.1 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Edinburgh Collieries Ltd
Location
Prestonpans
County
Haddingtonshire
Details of Event
27 February 1927: Tranent Miner Killed - A fatal accident occurred yesterday morning at No.1 pit of the Fleets Colliery, belonging to the Edinburgh Collieries Company (Limited), situated near Tranent. While engaged in repair work inside the pit shaft, George Russell, oncost-worker, overbalanced and fell to the bottom of the shaft. He was instantaneously killed. A married man, Russell resided at 156 Church Street, Tranent and leaves a widow and three children. [Scotsman 28 February 1927] Information from the Mines Inspector's report - 1927: Shaft Accident: At Fleets Colliery, Haddington, on Sunday, 27th February, three shaftsmen were removing a defective water pipe from a circular shaft 15 ft. diameter: the shaft was fitted with wooden buntons for pipe collars and cage guides. The pipe was 19 ft . Long by 6 in. diameter, and to help to get it into the cage space a set of worm driven chain pulley blocks was used. While one of the shaftsmen was standing on a bunton adjusting the position of the pipe after it had been lowered by the pulley blocks, the pipe suddenly fell away and he fell down the shaft and was killed. The cause of the accident was apparent after examination of the pulley blocks. One end only of the chain was fastened to the frame and the other, which was free instead of being also fixed to the frame, had run clear. The pulley blocks were used for generalcolliery purposes both by engineers above ground and by others underground, and it had not been the duty of anybody definitely to see that the blocks were maintained in good order. The fall of the shaftsman would have been prevented had he used one of the safety belts which were available. The excuse offered by the other shaftsmen was that the safety belt attachments restrict their movements among the buntons.