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Full Details

Surname
WHITEHEAD
Forename
John
Day
29
Month
06
Year
1906
Age
51
Occupation
Mason
Mine/Quarry Name
Boldon
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Harton Coal Co. Ltd
Location
West Boldon
County
Durham
Details of Event
Deceased and others, one of whom was injured, were assisting in the fixing of the arms on a new drum on the shaft of the winding engine. The new drum was made by Messrs. Markham & Co. and their foreman was present when the accident happened. There was a boss for double arms in the centre and two outside bosses for single arms. Eight of the twelve sets of arms had inches and 12 feet 8 inches long was laid across some other planks between the drum and the engine for a set of the arms already fixed to rest upon, and deceased stood on or near this plank; ten men lifted the drum at one side and deceased and another pulled it to them, it was moved until one set of arms rested on the plank which was then withdrawn to receive the next set this time after it had been moved round until the arms were within 18 inches of the plank it moved away suddenly for about half revolution and broke the plank. Deceased seemed to escape one of the first arms on the centre boss but was caught by the second and knocked into the drum pit below, a distance of nearly 16 feet; the man who was, injured was lifting at the other side and he did not leave go in time and was carried round and then fell into the pit when the drum stopped revolving. The Local Inspectors in their report simply described the accident.