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Full Details

Surname
WILSON
Forename
Matthew
Day
17
Month
12
Year
1906
Age
56
Occupation
Joiner
Mine/Quarry Name
Beckermet Mine
Mineral Worked
Iron Ore
Owner
Beckermet Mining Co. Ltd
Location
Beckermet
County
Cumberland
Details of Event
The sinking of this shaft has only recently hem completed. Deceased acted as shaftman and joiner and was specially skilled man at shaft work. On the day of the accident he was engaged in the pumping compartment of the shaft taking out some unused water boxes. For this purpose he and another man were at work on a cradle, i.e. a rectangular platform suspended by four chains from the crab rope. The cradle was 5 feet long by 24 feet broad, and the pumping division of the shaft is 7 feet 9 inches by 7 feet 10.5 inches. During the course of their operations deceased’s mate reached forward to pull an electric cable cut of the way; this caused the cradle to give a lurch and deceased caused to lose his balance and he fell off the cradle and down the pit, a distance of 43 feet. His body was soon recovered but he was found to be quite dead his neck being dislocated. It has now been changed that when men are working on a cradle they shall be attached by means of a belt and chain to the crab rope.