South Yorkshire Times, November 24th, 1951
Miner Over-Eager?
Swinton Victim of Hidden Manvers Roof Fall
Questions relating to a deputy’s instructions were asked at the Wath inquest on Monday on Samuel Fletcher Lyons (40), coal face worker, of 81, Charles Street, Swinton, who died last Thursday from multiple injuries received when he was buried by a fall of stone in the Parkgate seam at the colliery.
The jury returned a verdict of “accidental death.” Lyons was married and had two children.
Daniel Roberts, deputy in charge at the time of the accident, said he examined the roof at about 8.15 a.m. on Thursday and left instructions for the setting of three advance props. After the accident, his examination revealed that one of the advance props had run out.
The fall occurred about 11 a.m. and Roberts said that in the time which elapsed from his first call and the fall of the stone, Lyons, who had been working with trammer, Albert Granger, would have had plenty of time to set the props.
Roberts said that when he left at 8 15 a.m., Lyons was preparing to set the advance props. They were using timber probs without bars. He could see no necessity for using bars because the roof looked quite sound. Roberts said his examination after the accident suggested that Lyons was preparing to set the forward props when the fall occurred. He agreed with the Sheffield District Coroner (Mr. A. P. Lockwood) that Lyons’ first job should have been the setting of the advance props. The floor had been taken up for about two yards. Roberts said and it was his opinion that Lyons had been over-eager to reach the far end before setting the props. For this reason, or some other reason, he omitted to take the safe precaution in setting the props. There was plenty of timber available.
Rock Abnormality
His subsequent examination of the roof revealed a coal parting abnormal in that kind of rock which could not have been detected before the fall. In reply to Mr. T. W. English (Mines Inspector) Mr. Roberts said certain rules laid down accepted for working places did not apply in this case. The rules applied to working faces and this was not a working face as that point had not been reached.
Asked if, on his first, he considered the roof adequately supported, Roberts said it was adequately supported at the point Lyons was working. He certainly would have to support himself forward as he got his ground level and advanced.
Mr. English: did you give specific instructions as to supporting of that place – After examination I told him to set his timber and advance his props and work forward on the right side.
Mr. English: had he done that and carried out the instructions fully, do you think the fall might have been prevented. – yes.
In reply to Coun. G. Palmer, NUM branch secretary, Roberts said he did not detect anything abnormal in the roof; it looked quite good and safe.
In a further reply to Coun. Palmer, Roberts said temporary props could have been set before the “dinting” went forward, but this would have entailed a re-setting of props afterwards.
Coun Palmer: If timber was available why was it not done – I can’t answer that.
Coroner: You can’t say why it was not done, but you told me it was probably over-eagerness on the part of the deceased.
After reference by Coun. Palmer to a filled tub of coal found after the accident, Roberts said in reply to Mr. F. Darley (Agent) that he did not at any time give instructions to Lyons about getting coal.
Albert Granger, who was working in the seam with Lyons, said he had left to get some empties when the fall occurred. The three props had not been set when he left to get the empties, because they had not completed getting the floor up.
Asked by the Coroner if it had not been possible to set temporary props before levelling the floor, Granger said he did not think it practicable because the props would have to be re-set.
Summing up, the Coroner said that while it would be obnoxious to express criticism of Lyons, he had taken an unnecessary risk. The inquest would have served its purpose if it brought out the importance of strictly following regulations, good mining practices and instructions.