New Search

Return to Search Results

Full Details

Surname
UK
Forename
UK
Day
06
Month
10
Year
1936
Age
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Carriden
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Carriden Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Bo’ness
County
Linlithgowshire
Details of Event
6 October 1936: The most serious accident of the year happened at Carriden Colliery, West Lothian, on a Sunday evening in October, when an explosion during coal-cutting operations occasioned the deaths of three men and serious burning injuries to three others. Two machinemen were turning the coal-cutter when about a ton of coal fell from the face upon the machine. Probably a sharp edge of coal struck the trailing cable where it was tight and unyielding upon the pulley, and crushed the wire earth screen strands into contact with a live core, thus causing a burst cable. The ensuing flash lighted an explosive mixture and caused an explosion which spread 90 feet down the conveyor run and 30 feet outbye along the top road. [Scotsman 10 July 1936]