| Date of Accident | Mine | County | Owner or Company | Name | Age | Occupation | Category | Cause of accident & remarks | Additional Information | ||
| 1908 | July | 2 | Clyde Colliery, Backmuir No 3 Pit | Lanark | Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co Ltd | Wm. Nicol | 50 | Repairer | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | (Midnight) When a shot, said to have been of arkite, was fired electrically it ignited firedamp which caused an explosion. The shot-firer and another man were injured. | An explosion caused by shot firing took place in Backmuir No. 3 Pit, Clyde Colliery, Lanarkshire, and by it three men, one of whom subsequently died, were injured. Two repairers were engaged in enlarging a drawing road in the long-wall workings of the Main Coal at a point 90 yards distance from the coal face, this road being the intake airway. At this part of the road and for some yards on either side for a few yards, it was dry and slightly dusty. The shot-firer fired one shot, which did not do all the work expected, and in about half an hour another shot-hole in the roof was charged. The three men then retired to the mouth of a branch road 12 yards distant, and when the shot was fired by electricity, it was followed by an explosion which injured them all. The shot-firer afterwards stated that he was not sure that he made a careful inspection before firing the second shot, although he did so before firing the first shot, but he was sure that there could be no gas that a safety lamp could detect. He could not say what explosive the deceased used, although he saw him take it out of his ammunition box. This box afterwards disappeared, and I could not find out what had become of it. Arkite was the only explosive that was allowed to be used in this seam, but I have a suspicion that it was not used on this occasion. Strictly speaking, these shots ought not to have been fired until the dust was laid by watering. It is probable that the shot ignited firedamp lurking about the broken roof. |
| 1908 | July | 2 | Carnock No 2 | Stirling | Alloa Coal Co Ltd | Wm. Menzies | 19 | Pump attendant | Shaft accidents - falling from part way down | He either fell down the shaft while stepping off a water-tank at a mid-lodgment or lost his footing while standing on it. | |
| 1908 | July | 3 | Polton | Edinburgh | Lothian Coal Co Ltd | Robert Lawrence | 28 | Miner | Falls of side | Deceased was holing his coal when it fell away, and he was seriously injured, death resulting an hour afterwards. The coal was spragged, but sprag was thrown out. | |
| 1908 | July | 3 | Allanton | Lanark | Wm Barr & Sons | Thos. Brown | 30 | Brakesman | On surface – railways, sidings or tramways | When walking between two lines of rails on one of which waggons were at rest and on the other waggons were being shunted, the coupling pole in his hand got caught and he fell and was run over by the moving waggons. | |
| 1908 | July | 3 | Barbauchlaw | Linlithgow | R Muir & Co Ltd | John Bruce | 51 | Oversman | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | Deceased was proceeding down a mine from the surface, behind an empty rake, when a runaway tub from the surface overtook him. | An oversman was proceeding down a mine from the surface, behind an empty rake of tubs, when an empty tub ran amain from the surface and overtook him. There was no block at the top to prevent tubs running over the steep, and for this the deceased was in part to blame. An automatic block had been fixed at one time, but it got out of repair, and although deceased was aware that there was nothing to prevent a runaway he did not cause the block to be repaired. |
| 1908 | July | 5 | Bardykes | Lanark | Summerlee Iron Co Ltd | Andrew Philimeny | 46 | Pithead labourer | On surface – miscellaneous | He omitted to shut the gates at the mid-scaffold of the surface hoist, and, thinking the cage was there, he pushed forward a hutch and fell after it, a distance of 19 feet. | |
| 1908 | July | 6 | Canderigg- Broomfield No 5 | Lanark | Jas Nimmo & Co Ltd | John Murray | 19 | Drawer | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | When pushing an empty hutch, he was met by a full runaway hutch, which had not been snibbled, and was set in motion by a third hutch striking it in the lye. | |
| 1908 | July | 6 | Easter Jaw | Stirling | Carron Co | Charles Henderson | 70 | Bottomer | Shaft accidents – miscellaneous | Deceased signalled away the loaded cage, and shortly after he attempted to cross the cage seat to get to the other side when the cage descended on him. After the cage left the engineman by signal stopped the opposite cage at the lower scaffold to get a loaded tub of props for outer shaft, and as soon as the props were on cage he again raised it, and coal loaded cage descended. | |
| 1908 | July | 8 | Balgonie | Fife | C B Balfour | Samuel Herd | 68 | Oversman | Other haulage accidents | Deceased was laying rails near the pit bottom on a main and tail rope haulage road. The rake going inbye ran into a fall 1,000 yards inbye from the shaft, and the strain on the tail rope broke the suspending pulleys, one of which struck him on the head causing injuries to which he succumbed a month after. | |
| 1908 | July | 9 | Howmuir | Lanark | Auchinlea Coal Co Ltd | James Gibson | 22 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was holing his coal when the roof suddenly fell upon him. The part which fell came from between two unseen " lypes." | |
| 1908 | July | 9 | Chapel | Lanark | Chapel Coal Co Ltd | George Smith | 25 | Chain-runner | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | Deceased was riding on the fourth tub of his rake up a dook 1 in 8. The tub he was on got off the rails and he was jumping into a manhole, but did so rather soon and was caught and dragged 18 feet. He was injured July 9th 1908, and died March 25, 1909. | |
| 1908 | July | 13 | Crofthead | Linlithgow | Peter Thornton | Isaac Whyte | 37 | Washery Attendant | On surface – miscellaneous | Deceased was on top of "pearl" hopper, when the man in charge of the screen below opened the valve to fill a waggon, and he was carried down with the material. Before he was rescued he was suffocated. | |
| 1908 | July | 14 | Lumphinnans | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | David Wallace | 27 | Miner | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | See Report |
The roof had fallen across the face of a longwall working in
the Five Feet Seam, and to enable the ventilation to be quickly
restored it was decided to open out from both sides for connection.
Deceased was on one side driving a narrow opening four feet wide,
and while doing so his naked light ignited a small quantity of
gas, whereby he was burned, and succumbed to his injuries four
days afterwards. The explosion was very slight, but owing to the confined space deceased could not escape being burned. Gas had not been found in the Section until the morning of the day of accident, and then only a trace could be detected, which was cleared out. Deceased had been away from the face for some time taking a meal, and it was when he returned that his light ignited the gas, the quantity having accumulated in the interval. |
| 1908 | July | 15 | Gartsherrie Colliery, Gartcloss Pit | Lanark | Jas Nimmo & Co Ltd | Wm. McMullen | 40 | Miner | Falls of side | While holing, the coal and midstone gave way and fell upon him. His fellow workmen stated that they had just commenced to hole, but the coal broke over the solid. | |
| 1908 | July | 17 | Newbattle | Edinburgh | Lothian Coal Co Ltd | William Moffat | 28, | Coal Cutter Attendant | Miscellaneous underground – by machinery | See Report |
Three fatal accidents were caused by coal-cutting machines. A new section was just opening out in a seam with a gradient of 1 in 2 1/2, and a disc coal cutter, working on skids, was in use. In order to keep the machine to the face skid props are placed at a slight angle between roof and pavement. While the machine was at work a skid prop gave way, and three others gave out, the result being that the machine slid down and caught deceased, lacerating one of his legs badly. While a bar coal cutter was in motion and entering the coal for the cut, deceased reached across the machine, presumably to get a spanner which was lying next the coal face, when he was caught by the bar and dreadfully injured. A disc coal cutter, worked by compressed air, was in use in a low seam. While it was standing deceased reached across to oil some of the parts, when he inadvertently opened the air valve which started the machine, and the crank coming up crushed his head against the roof. The valve handle was loose, and it was supposed that part of his clothing moved it. The space between top of machine and roof was about 4 inches. |
| 1908 | August | 1 | Bowhill | Fife | Bowhill Coal Co Ltd | Robert Anderson | 22 | Miner | Falls of side | Deceased was clearing away coal after blasting when a stone ball overlying the coal fell upon him. He disobeyed orders in not taking down coal and stone together. | |
| 1908 | August | 3 | Fergushill No 28 | Ayr | Arch. Finnie & Son | Alexr. Bledge | 32 | Bencher | Shaft accidents - falling from part way down | He fell over a fence at a mid-working and down the shaft, just after stepping off the cage after the overman. The fence was only 17 ½ inches high. | |
| 1908 | August | 3 | Climpy | Lanark | Coltness Iron Co Ltd | James Hamilton | 50 | Fireman | Miscellaneous underground – by explosives | Deceased was night fireman, and was dividing the contents of a can of gunpowder into two cans of 2 ½ lbs. each, when a spark from his lamp, which was near by fell into one of the cans and an explosion resulted. The air current was very strong, and the spark was blown by it into the can. The injuries proved fatal eight days later. A Special Rule was contravened. | |
| 1908 | August | 5 | Niddrie | Edinburgh | Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd | Thomas Flockhart | 50 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased and another miner worked in a narrow heading, and the holing was on top of seam. The holing was almost completed when a slab of blaes fell from the roof, and edge pressed against his windpipe causing suffocation before he could be relieved. A " lype " was exposed for some distance, and stone came away from it; no attempt was made to secure the roof by props set on top of coal. | |
| 1908 | August | 6 | Greenfield – Threestonehill No 7 | Lanark | Greenfield Coal & Brick Co Ltd | Robert Sneddon | 26 | Miner | Miscellaneous underground – sundries | He seems to have lost his way, and was found dead in the dip workings near a steam pump. The doctor certified that his death was due to scalding. | |
| 1908 | August | 14 | Blackston | Stirling | James Nimmo & Co Ltd | John Main | 55 | Pumping Engine-man | On surface – railways, sidings or tramways | Deceased was running two empty trucks down a steep railway, and to hold down the brake he used a pit prop 3 ft. 6 ins. long, as he passed a dross bing on side of railway the prop caught it, and he was thrown amongst the wheels. | |
| 1908 | August | 14 | Hill of Beath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | John Baxter | 23 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was engaged clearing machine cut coal on a conveyor face when the roof suddenly fell upon him. | |
| 1908 | August | 15 | East Roughrigg | Stirling | Forrester & Co Ltd | John Parson | 27 | Fireman | Shaft accidents - falling from part way down | A. steam pump was placed near the shaft in an abandoned working, and deceased went to visit it, and by some means fell into the shaft as he stepped off the cage. There was no access by the cage from which he attempted to reach the pump ; he should have gone by the other cage. | At an old abandoned working a steam pump was placed a short distance in from the shaft, reached by a sliding fence, situated at south side of the shaft, while around the shaft was a fence consisting of fixed bars. Deceased went up to the pump by the north cage, and when stepping off to get to the pump, he, by some means unknown, failed to get through the fence and fell into the shaft. |
| 1908 | August | 17 | Carberry | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Collieries Co Ltd | John Frew | 40 | Brusher | Falls of roof | Deceased and other repairers were engaged making repairs on a main incline, and had temporarily propped a bad part, and while putting up permanent supports, a large stone crashed through the timber, and he was instantly killed. | |
| 1908 | August | 18 | Herbertshire No 3 | Stirling | Robert Addie & Sons Collieries Ltd | John Feeny | 21 | Drawer | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | While apparently illegally drawing in front of his hutch he fell and was run over. (Died 11th April, 1909.) | |
| 1908 | August | 19 | Arthur | Fife | Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd | James Scobie | 24 | Repairer | Falls of roof | Deceased and a fireman were engaged making repairs on a main roadway where there was considerable side pressure, this pressure broke a bar causing a fall, and he was buried beneath it. | |
| 1908 | August | 26 | Orbiston No 3 | Lanark | Summerlee Iron Co Ltd | John McGurk | 23 | Brusher | Falls of roof | By removing props, thus leaving at the working face an exposed area of roof greater than what the Special Rules allowed, the roof fell on him. | |
| 1908 | August | 27 | Glencraig | Fife | Wilsons & Clyde Coal Co Ltd | Michael Early, jun. | 36 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased worked in a place approaching " waste," and the roof required careful watching. While he was at work part of the roof fell upon him. Probably, had more timber been set, the accident would not have occurred. | |
| 1908 | August | 27 | Carriden | Linlithgow | Carriden Coal Co | James Marshall | 32 | Fireman | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | See Report |
Deceased began his inspection about 5 a.m., first inspecting
the Six Feet Seam, afterwards proceeding to the Main Coal Seam
where only three places were working on stoop and room method.
Having examined the lower level and an upset he was on his way
to the upper level face when gas was ignited and an explosion
resulted, whereby he was burned, and succumbed to his injuries
four days later. It appeared that part of the brattice in the upper level had been displaced, causing the air to short circuit, and some gas had collected near the face. Deceased carried a naked light as well as a Davy lamp, and the former ignited the gas. The habit of carrying a naked light as well as a Davy lamp is always attended with risk even in a mine where gas is seldom found, and in this case deceased paid dearly for his folly. |
| 1908 | August | 28 | Cowdenbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | John Condie, jun. | 23 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was holing his coal when the roof fell upon him injuring his spine, and death resulted a week after. | |
| 1908 | August | 29 | Dumbreck No 1 | Stirling | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Wm. Hunter | 38 | Bottomer | Shaft accidents - falling from part way down | When being raised in the cage along with other six men from a mid-working, in some unexplained manner he fell off the cage and down the shaft just as the engine was started. | |
| 1908 | August | 29 | Niddrie | Edinburgh | Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd | Thomas Banks | 35 | Inclineman | Shaft accidents – whilst ascending or descending by machinery | An incline shaft from the surface is used exclusively for steam and discharge pipes for pumps, and upcast, and an examination is made weekly by two men by means of a carriage lowered and raised by a steam engine on surface. Owing to the steam pipes and exhaust steam from the pumps &c. underground the temperature is 109° Fah. As usual two men descended on the carriage to make the inspection, and when some distance down something went wrong with the carriage, which caused it to leave the rails, and one of the men fell to the bottom, the other man attempted to climb to the surface, but becoming exhausted by the exertion and heat he sat down, and was found with his right foot firmly fixed between pipe and side wall quite dead. The men were accustomed to the work. | Three accidents occurred while persons were ascending or descending by machinery. One case was peculiar. Two men were examining an incline shaft, in which steam pipes were laid to work some pumps underground, and the temperature was 109° Fahrenheit, and while descending on the carriage, something occurred to cause it to leave the rails, one of the men falling to the bottom, a distance of 215 fathoms - on the slope. The other man attempted to climb to the surface, apparently to obtain help, against a rising gradient of 50°, but becoming exhausted he sat down, and in order to prevent himself falling down the incline he jammed his right foot between the pipe and wall side, where he was found quite dead. Newspaper Report |
| Thomas Keary | 33 | Inclineman | |||||||||
| 1908 | September | 1 | Holytown No 5 | Lanark | Jas Nimmo & Co Ltd | John Kennie | 26 | Miner | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | (8.30am) He went into a temporarily stopped road with his naked light and ignited gas. The fireman neglected to fence the entrance and to inspect the place before the commencement of the shift. | |
| 1908 | September | 3 | Hopetoun | Linlithgow | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | William Gardner | 42 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was shovelling coal in his working place, when a large stone fell from between a break and a " lype " fell upon him. | |
| 1908 | September | 4 | Broxburn (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Broxburn Oil Co Ltd | James Wallace | 15 | Pony-driver | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | Deceased drove a pony between an incline foot and the main dook. The roadway had a slight dip outbye, and tubs had to be spragged, and, while proceeding outbye with a loaded rake, something occurred which threw deceased off the first tub on which he sat, and he was found dead under the second tub. | |
| 1908 | September | 7 | Wester Moffat | Lanark | Wester Moffat Colliery Co Ltd | Alexander Richmond | 53 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was taking coal off the face, when a stone fell from the roof and injured him, causing death a week after. The stone in falling threw out a prop, which supported it. | |
| 1908 | September | 7 | Dalbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Hugh Delaney | 50 | Labourer | On surface – railways, sidings or tramways | Deceased brought a loaded waggon of "driff" from a siding to the firehole for boilers, and apparently left eight others behind, and while he was about the waggon the others came slowly down upon him, and he was first crushed between the waggons and the wall, thrown under and then run over. The waggons were insufficiently secured. | |
| 1908 | September | 17 | Bothwell Park No 2 | Lanark | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Robert Oliver | 25 | Brusher | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | While pulling in front of a ''race" of full hutches on a flat part of an incline, his foot was caught between the rails close to a crossing, and the front hutch went over him. He was illegally drawing in front. | |
| 1908 | September | 19 | Bowhill | Fife | Bowhill Coal Co Ltd | Peter Ferns | 31 | Coal Cutter Attendant | Miscellaneous underground – by machinery | See Report |
Three fatal accidents were caused by coal-cutting machines. A new section was just opening out in a seam with a gradient of 1 in 2 1/2, and a disc coal cutter, working on skids, was in use. In order to keep the machine to the face skid props are placed at a slight angle between roof and pavement. While the machine was at work a skid prop gave way, and three others gave out, the result being that the machine slid down and caught deceased, lacerating one of his legs badly. While a bar coal cutter was in motion and entering the coal for the cut, deceased reached across the machine, presumably to get a spanner which was lying next the coal face, when he was caught by the bar and dreadfully injured. A disc coal cutter, worked by compressed air, was in use in a low seam. While it was standing deceased reached across to oil some of the parts, when he inadvertently opened the air valve which started the machine, and the crank coming up crushed his head against the roof. The valve handle was loose, and it was supposed that part of his clothing moved it. The space between top of machine and roof was about 4 inches. |
| 1908 | September | 19 | Hamilton Palace | Lanark | Bent Colliery Co Ltd | John Timlin | 20 | Scree machinery attendant | On surface – by machinery | He went inside the fence of moving machinery and got caught by bevel wheels. He ought not to have gone there. | Newspaper report - Bothwellhaugh pages |
| 1908 | September | 22 | Dundonald | Fife | Dundonald Collieries | William Arnott | 43 | Boiler Fireman | On surface – boiler explosions | See Report |
The flue of a Lancashire boiler collapsed at the surface mine
of Dundonald Colliery, causing the death of the furnaceman and
injuring two others. The boiler was 28 feet by 7 feet 6 inches diameter, made of an inch iron plate, and one of a range of four boilers, but one had been removed at time of accident. It was one of two boilers made in 1873 and 1879 by a firm of boilermakers of good repute in Dundee, to work at a pressure of 45 lbs. per square inch. Up to 1904 the boilers had been in use at a manufactory in Dunfermline, and worked there at a steam pressure of 50 lbs. per square inch, when the firm put them out of use and substituted high pressure boilers. The old boilers were subsequently bought at a very low price by the managing partner and placed in position, one at the mine and one at the pit of Dundonald Colliery, without any examination as to their condition. The water supply for feed purposes was got by pumping from a small lodgment in the mine, and although it was very dirty no effort was made by filtering or otherwise to improve it, with the result that the quantity of mud in the boiler was so great that it was impossible to thoroughly clean the boiler - in the time allowed - when it was off, and the scale become very thick on the plates. About the end of 1906 extra steam was required, and the managing partner gave instructions that the valve levers should be loaded up equal to at least 60lbs. per square inch. The loaded levers were in use when the present manager took over the management in March, 1908, and he did not alter the arrangement. The cause of the collapse was principally due to over-pressure. Repairs were of frequent occurrence, and one Galloway tube was taken out of each tube and not replaced. When the present manager had time to look around he decided to overhaul the whole of the boilers, have them examined and repaired, and substitute new ones, if necessary, in place of the old, and when the collapse took place he had removed several, and one new boiler was on the ground to be put in the place of the one which exploded. The managing partner was greatly to blame for not having the old boilers examined by a competent person, periodically, permitting the boiler to get into such a state by using dirty feed water, and in loading the safety valve levers to give a pressure much beyond what the boiler was guaranteed to work safely, and the present manager would have acted wisely if he had made enquiry as to why the extra weights were put on the levers, and if the boiler could safely withstand the pressure. |
| 1908 | September | 28 | Balgonie | Fife | C B Balfour | James Gathereum | 50 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was working back in second working of Dysart Main Coal. A fall occurred in the face, and he went into the " waste " under the fallen area to fill loose coal, when a further fall took place, and killed him. | |
| 1908 | September | 28 | Kinneil | Linlithgow | Kinneil Cannel & Coking Coal Co Ltd | Peter Hammond | 54 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was " hagging" off coal at his working face when the roof suddenly fell crushing him to the ground, and his safety lamp, which was on his belt, caused the more serious of his injuries. He succumbed four days later. | |
| 1908 | October | 1 | Springside No 11 | Ayr | A Kenneth & Sons | Robert Gaw | 36 | Overman | Falls of roof | The fireman was redding a fall of roof on a road. The overman came to see him, when a further fall took place and caught him. | |
| 1908 | October | 1 | Greenrigg | Linlithgow | United Collieries Ltd | Alexander Neilson | 38 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was making a stable near the shaft, and while taking off coal a stone fell from the roof and killed him instantly. | |
| 1908 | October | 6 | Devon | Clackmannan | Alloa Coal Co Ltd | Francis Hall | 16 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was sitting resting against a prop set to the roof, when a mass of roof suddenly fell and killed him. | |
| 1908 | October | 7 | Dundonald | Fife | Dundonald Collieries | Adam Blair | 23 | Contractor | Falls of roof | Deceased was building the debris blasted down from the roof in the wall, and while doing so the roof fell upon him causing instant death. | |
| 1908 | October | 9 | Climpy | Lanark | Coltness Iron Co Ltd | Thomas Parker | 40 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased had finished work for the day and was leaving the place when the roof suddenly collapsed on him, and before he could be relieved a second fall took place killing him instantly. | |
| 1908 | October | 13 | Maxwood No 1 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Robert Sproatt | 35 | Miner | Falls of roof | Fall of roof in working place while wedging down coal. He failed to set props as required by the Special Rules. | |
| 1908 | October | 13 | Tannochside No 3 | Lanark | Archd Russell Ltd | Samuel Forbes | 32 | Chain-runner | Miscellaneous underground - electricity | Shock of electricity on a dip haulage road. The signal wire is supposed to have, in some unknown manner, become live, and that in touching it he got the shock. | One man is supposed to have been killed by an electric shock in Tannochside No. 3 pit, Lanarkshire, but there seems to me to be some uncertainty as to whether or not he did not die from natural causes. A three-cored armoured cable conveying an alternating current of electricity of 400 volts to a pump is taken down one side of a dook in which the deceased acted as chain runner. The signal wire was fixed alongside the cable, being separated from it by a distance of 9 inches except at one part where they were about 2 1/2inches apart. It appears that the deceased was found dead in a sitting position at a point where the dook is 4 1/2 feet wide, with his back against the side opposite to that along which the cable and the signal wire were suspended about 2 feet above the rails. His attitude was similar to that assumed by a person taking a rest. The workman who first saw him informed me that his lighted safety lamp was placed on the pavement close beside him, although he affirmed at the Inquiry that the lamp was lying on its side and extinguished. Several of the miners stated that shortly before the body of the deceased was found they saw electric sparks at the bench where they worked, coming either from the cable or the signal wire where they crossed beneath a wet crown. One of these men stated that on touching the signal wire he got a shock, and another stated that he got a slight shock from a damp screen when passing up through it to look for the deceased. The only mark on the body of the deceased was a slight abrasion on the back of one hand, and this the overman stated was caused by his moving the arms while trying to restore life, while the doctor employed by the workmen certified that this was a burn caused by electricity and that the death was due to an electric shock. No defect could afterwards be found in the cable or connections, nor could it be ascertained what could have made the signal wire live. Mr. Nelson, after commencing his duties as Electrical Inspector of Mines, made a careful examination of the plant, but could not ascertain how the deceased got an electric shock. |
| 1908 | October | 14 | Dysart | Fife | Earl of Rosslyn's Collieries Ltd | Alexander Chrystal | 36 | Miner | Falls of side | Deceased was "shearing" his coal on one side, when without warning, the whole area of cut coal fell upon him, killing him instantly. | |
| 1908 | October | 15 | Whitrigg | Linlithgow | A Forrester & Co Ltd | John McCue | 50 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was back brushing his road, and when knocking out one of the props part of the roof fell upon him. | |
| 1908 | October | 16 | Common No 16 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Alexr. Bryce | 30 | Drawer | Haulage – ropes or chains breaking | When letting away a "race" of hutches from the top of a self-acting incline, the rope was drawn out of the hose and struck him on the head. | |
| 1908 | October | 16 | Wilsontown | Lanark | William Dixon Ltd | David Adams | 28 | Repairer | Falls of roof | Recesses were being made in the roof for beams in connection with the haulage wheels, and while deceased was engaged at the work a large stone fell and killed him. | |
| 1908 | October | 21 | Gilbertfield No 2 | Lanark | United Collieries Ltd | Peter Coyle | 50 | Miner | Falls of side | Fall of coal and overlying fireclay. It is doubtful if the face was properly spragged. | |
| 1908 | October | 22 | North Motherwell | Lanark | Merry & Cunninghame Ltd | Francis Shields | 19 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was filling a tub with coal when a stone fell from the roof and striking his head caused injuries from which he died four hours later. The man in charge should have propped the stone. | |
| 1908 | October | 22 | Benarty | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | David Campbell | 26 | Miner | Falls of roof | Preparations were being made to begin stooping, and roadways were being cut on side of stoops. To make height for a "brae" it was arranged to take down the brushing which consisted of 2 ft. 6 ins. of blaes. For that purpose "breakers" were placed on each side of road, and the work of withdrawing the props to allow the brushing to fall had just begun when the roof collapsed, throwing out all the timber and burying both men ; the other men who were at work at the job at once ran to their assistance, but had to retreat as a second fall took place, and as soon as roof had settled, the men were got out but were dead. The whole area of fall was well supported with timber. | |
| Robert Mitchell | 38 | Miner | |||||||||
| 1908 | October | 23 | Newbattle | Edinburgh | Lothian Coal Co Ltd | John Garrett | 19 | Haulage Engineman | Miscellaneous underground – by machinery | Deceased was oiling the machinery of a steam haulage engine ; either he or his neighbour, who had just finished his shift, forgot to put on the drum brake, and just then a rake of tubs was pushed over the steep of a dook, which caused the drum to revolve and he was fatally crushed between the drum and wall. | |
| 1908 | October | 23 | Calderwood Castle | Lanark | J & J Mulvey | Matthew Houston | 44 | Fireman | Falls of roof | When making a lye in the Dook a stone which he was taking from the side knocked out a prop and a stone from the roof fell on him. | |
| 1908 | October | 27 | Carbarns | Lanark | W Hudspith & Co | James Coogans | 30 | Miner | Miscellaneous underground – by explosives | After deceased had made up and charged a shot he went back to his can to look for a knife, when a spark from his lamp, which was on his cap, fell into the can and ignited the gunpowder. He died two days later. A Special Rule was contravened. | |
| 1908 | October | 28 | Prestongrange | Haddington | Summerlee Iron Co Ltd | Joseph McLaughlin | 19 | Chain-runner | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | Deceased was coming up a dook on a rake of tubs, when he fell off and was struck by the tubs. | |
| 1908 | October | 29 | Broomhouse | Lanark | Haughhead Coal Co Ltd | Edward Sharkey | 21 | Haulage engineman | Falls of side | Fall from the side of the underground haulage engine-room. | |
| 1908 | November | 1 | Hailes (Sandstone) | Edinburgh | Hailes Estate & Quarry Co Ltd | James Stewart | 49 | Pump Attendant | Falls of roof | While making some repairs on the pump pipes a small stone fell from the roof and struck deceased. The roof was very high, and the stone had fallen from between the timbers. | |
| 1908 | November | 3 | Cowdenbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Robert Paton | 19 | Bencher | Haulage – ropes or chains breaking | Deceased was bencher at the bottom of a short incline running single tubs. While a rake was running a link of the chain gave way and both tubs ran back, just then deceased was crossing when he was caught by the tubs and killed. He had been warned against the practice of crossing the bench while tubs were running the day previous. Notices warning persons not to cross incline foot while tubs are running are posted at all the inclines. | Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| 1908 | November | 7 | Hattonrigg No 4 | Lanark | Summerlee Iron Co Ltd | John O'Neil | 33 | Miner | Falls of roof | Fall of roof in stone mine while taking projection off the side, the ends of two crowns having apparently been loosened by a shot. | |
| 1908 | November | 9 | Kames | Ayrshire | William Guthrie | Death certificate | |||||
| 1908 | November | 10 | Climpy | Lanark | Coltness Iron Co Ltd | James Crookston | 19 | Haulageman | Falls of side | Deceased was in the act of signalling away a rake of tubs when some debris fell off the side and crushed his leg ; he died from shock while leg was being amputated. | |
| 1908 | November | 11 | Grasshill No 1 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Hugh Clark | 68 | Roadsman | Falls of roof | Fall of roof in working place while redding across an old road. He had been working beyond where the roof was supported by props. | |
| 1908 | November | 11 | Dysart | Fife | Earl of Rosslyn's Collieries Ltd | James Spence | 21 | Miner | Falls of side | Deceased fired a shot in one corner of a stoop and room place, and only part of the coal was blasted down ; after taking off the loose, he began to re-hole, without putting up sprags, and had only struck a few blows when the coal fell upon him. | |
| 1908 | November | 12 | Lochore | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | John McLaren | 28 | Fireman | Miscellaneous underground – by explosives | Three shots were prepared and charged with Saxonite in a stone mine, and the fuse used was Bickford's Patent Igniter. The fuses were lighted in the usual way by means of the authorised implement. As the fireman left the face he remarked that one tube had not lit, and in the interval of waiting he prepared another tube; when two shots had exploded he and Wells returned to the face when the shot exploded, killing the latter instantly and causing injuries to the former, which resulted in his death next day. | |
| Fife Coal Co Ltd | Daniel Wells | 32 | Brusher | ||||||||
| 1908 | November | 13 | Newbattle | Edinburgh | Lothian Coal Co Ltd | Robert Swan | 34 | Pitheadman | Shaft accidents – falling into shaft from surface | Deceased was engaged sending bricks from the lower scaffold at surface to the pit bottom, and loaded the bricks into the tubs on the cage : he signalled the cage with empty tubs to lower scaffold, and went forward to the shaft to open the gate where cage was, but inadvertently opened the wrong gate and fell into the shaft. | One man was killed by falling into the shaft from surface. He was engaged sending bricks from the lower scaffold to the shaft bottom, loading the tubs while they were on the cage ; the cage descended from the top scaffold with two empty tubs, deceased went to the shaft, inadvertently opened the wrong gate, and fell into the shaft. |
| 1908 | November | 16 | Little Raith | Fife | Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd | Hugh Moran | 39 | Boiler Ashman | On surface – miscellaneous | Deceased was on the night shift on Saturday night and had some liquor. About 11 o'clock he went on top of dross hole at the boilers presumably to go down a fixed ladder inside to spread forward material for boiler furnaceman, and while on top he apparently overbalanced and fell among the material and was suffocated. | |
| 1908 | November | 19 | Craig No 1 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | John Wilson | 17 | Drawer | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at roadhead, caused by failure to secure the roof where a "lipe" existed. The miner working in the place was injured by the fall. | |
| 1908 | November | 20 | Kingseat | Fife | John Irvine & Son | Martin McKenna | 29 | Coal Cutter Attendant | Miscellaneous underground – by machinery | See Report |
Three fatal accidents were caused by coal-cutting machines. A new section was just opening out in a seam with a gradient of 1 in 2 1/2, and a disc coal cutter, working on skids, was in use. In order to keep the machine to the face skid props are placed at a slight angle between roof and pavement. While the machine was at work a skid prop gave way, and three others gave out, the result being that the machine slid down and caught deceased, lacerating one of his legs badly. While a bar coal cutter was in motion and entering the coal for the cut, deceased reached across the machine, presumably to get a spanner which was lying next the coal face, when he was caught by the bar and dreadfully injured. A disc coal cutter, worked by compressed air, was in use in a low seam. While it was standing deceased reached across to oil some of the parts, when he inadvertently opened the air valve which started the machine, and the crank coming up crushed his head against the roof. The valve handle was loose, and it was supposed that part of his clothing moved it. The space between top of machine and roof was about 4 inches. |
| 1908 | November | 25 | Lochore | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Frank Connor | 30 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was taking down head coal when the roof fell upon him, injuring his spine. He died 7 months after the accident. | |
| 1908 | November | 28 | Redding | Stirling | James Nimmo & Co Ltd | James McLuckie | 30 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased and his neighbour were driving a new road through waste, and while holing in the packed ground a large stone suddenly fell and instantly killed him. | |
| 1908 | December | 2 | Shieldmains No 7 | Ayr | A G Moore & Co | Jas. Muirhead | 46 | Bottomer | Shaft accidents - falling from part way down | He opened the gate at a mid-working while the cage was at the surface, pushed a full hutch into the open shaft, and fell after it. | |
| 1908 | December | 2 | Kenmuirhill No 2 | Lanark | Glasgow Coal Co Ltd | Alexr. McMillan | 72 | Stone picker | On surface – miscellaneous | When turning a hutch on a plate placed on an insecurely fenced gangway he slipped and fell below the top rail to the ground, a distance of 20 feet. | |
| 1908 | December | 2 | Auchengeich No 2 | Lanark | Jas Nimmo & Co Ltd | Francis McDade | 29 | Brusher | Shaft accidents – overwinding | When ascending the shaft along with the overman, the engineman failed to stop the cage which struck the cross beam, and the rope being drawn out of the socket, the cage fell to the shaft bottom. The overman escaped by jumping out at the pithead. | With reference to the overwinding accident at Auchengeich Colliery, the overman ran a very narrow escape with his life. As the cage was passing up past the pithead some 20 feet above where it should have been stopped, he jumped out and escaped almost uninjured. Had the end of the cage in this case been fenced he would have lost his life along with the man who fell with the cage to the pit bottom. According to the evidence of the manager and the overman, the engine-man informed them that while raising the cage with the two men in it he went up a ladder to adjust a spring connected with the signal hammer and forgot his engine. At the inquiry, however, he stated that he had no recollection of what he stated after the accident to the manager, and that while winding something came over him and he was unable to stop his engine. |
| 1908 | December | 3 | Holytown No 12 | Lanark | Jas Nimmo & Co Ltd | Michael Mallett | 25 | Brusher | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face while putting up props for breakers. The fall is said to have displaced two props. | |
| 1908 | December | 3 | Bellfield No 3 | Lanark | Wm Barr & Sons | Hugh McLuskie | 50 | Miner | Falls of side | Fall of coal, which knocked out a sprag and a prop, the latter of which struck him and inflicted fatal injuries. | |
| 1908 | December | 7 | Dykehead | Lanark | Summerlee Iron Co Ltd | Robert McQueen | 50 | Miner | Falls of side | Fall of coal while preparing to wedge it down. | |
| 1908 | December | 7 | Montgomeryfield No 1 | Ayr | A Kenneth & Sons | Henry Hill | 20 | Bottomer | Shaft accidents – whilst ascending or descending by machinery | When taking a wooden cover for a blind pit down the shaft in the cage along with him, the cover was caught by the shaft barring and crushed him. The cover could no more than get into the cage, and was not secured in any way as ought to have been. He was descending without a light, and held the cover upright with his hands. | |
| 1908 | December | 7 | Lumphinnans | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | James Beveridge | 21 | Miner | Falls of roof | Deceased was apparently taking coal off the face when a large fall of roof took place killing him instantly. The roof was bad and was well timbered, and the part which fell threw out a parallel set of props about 2 ft. from the face. | |
| 1908 | December | 11 | Philpstoun (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | James Ross & Co | John Nailon | 20 | Drawer | Falls of roof | A roadway was being driven in the shale, about 18 ft. below the surface, when a fall occurred right to the surface, and deceased and his neighbour were buried beneath it. They lay for some time under the fall until discovered by the fireman, and eight hours elapsed before deceased's body was got out. | |
| 1908 | December | 12 | Aitken | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Peter Beveridge | 34 | Brusher | Miscellaneous underground - electricity | See Report | The second case took place in Aitken Colliery, Fife. Electric lighting wires were taken from main cables, which had previously been in use to work a motor, and part of a haulage way was lighted. A number of men were making some repairs on the roadway when a small stone fell away from the side and threw down the lighting wires ; two of the men lifted the wires, and while tying them up temporarily one man's body came in contact with a live part, causing a fatal shock. An examination afterwards was made and it was found that the wire had been broken, the wires joined together by twisting, and the bare part covered by a piece of string. This piece of string was wet and acted as a conductor, and it was this part which came in contact with deceased's naked body. Evidence could not be obtained as to who twisted the wires, but it was quite evident the work was done by a novice, in contravention of the Electrical Special Rules. A short distance out-bye was a switch which was easily accessible, and had it been used to cut off the current before interfering with the wires no accident would have happened. The voltage was 450. Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| 1908 | December | 17 | Gartcosh (Fireclay) | Lanark | Glenboig Union Fireclay Co Ltd | James Rodgers | 31 | Miner | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | (7.20am) On going up to the face of his working place after being out for some time his naked light ignited firedamp. There was a feeder of gas, and the ventilation was insufficient to keep it from accumulating, as it had to be "waffed " out with a piece of screen cloth. Safety lamps ought to have been used. The under-manager entered this place the following day with a naked light and caused another explosion which injured him also. | |
| 1908 | December | 19 | Michael | Fife | Wemyss Coal Co Ltd | Alexander Smith | 41 | Fireman | Falls of roof | Deceased was securing the roof of a main haulage dook which was showing signs of collapsing, when a large fall occurred burying him under it. | |
| 1908 | December | 19 | Arniston | Edinburgh | Arniston Coal Co Ltd | Alexander Hutchison | 24 | Miner | Falls of side | While deceased was at work at the face a large piece of coal suddenly burst off, and killed him instantly. | Newspaper report |
| 1908 | December | 22 | Gartshore No 1 | Dumbarton | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | James Brown | 42 | Miner | Falls of roof | Fall of roof in working place while examining it after a small stone had fallen on his neighbour's hand. | |
| 1908 | December | 23 | Auchincruive | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | John McPherson | 53 | Waggon trimmer | On surface – railways, sidings or tramways | When crossing the rails at the screes he was run over by the railway company's brake van which was being run past the screes without any warning of its approach having been given. | |
| 1908 | December | 23 | Bothwell Park No 2 | Lanark | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Philip Hammel | 53 | Miner | Falls of roof | Fall of roof on haulage road while travelling out to the shaft. | |
| 1908 | December | 25 | Foxley | Lanark | J Dunn & Stephen Ltd | John Carrigan | 30 | Waggon shifter | On surface – railways, sidings or tramways | When moving waggons by means of a clip clamped to the haulage rope, in some unexplained manner he fell and got caught by a waggon wheel. | |
| 1908 | December | 25 | Loanhead | Edinburgh | Shotts Iron Co Ltd | Matthew Hutchison | 30 | Miner | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | Deceased was late for his work, and, apparently in his hurry to cross the carriage way at his bench, he allowed his lamp to fall and it went on to roadway ; he made an attempt to get it and slipped on the steep, and, before recovering himself, the carriage ascending caught him and he rolled down to the bottom, a distance of 160 ft. He died a week later. | Newspaper report |
| 1908 | December | 25 | Kenmuir No 4 | Lanark | J Dunn & Stephen Ltd | Matthew Aitken | 20 | Bottomer | Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs | He appears to have gone in front of a derailed full hutch on a dook to put it on the rails, and when it got on the rails it ran over him. | |
| 1908 | December | 25 | Bredisholm | Lanark | United Collieries Ltd | Helen Docherty | 15 | Message girl | On surface – railways, sidings or tramways | When attempting to pass between moving waggons being weighed, she got caught and was run over. | |
| 1908 | December | 26 | North Motherwell | Lanark | Merry & Cunninghame Ltd | Andrew Anderson, sen. | 42 | Miner | Falls of side | A stone mine from the shaft cut the Upper Drumgray coal, and arrangements were made to open out with a view to work it. Deceased, Anderson, sen., who was a very capable workman, was entrusted by the manager to do the work, and began operations on the morning of the accident. During the morning some coal was worked off, and while the father was wedging down coal, a mass of stone fell and both were killed instantly. | |
| 1908 | December | 26 | North Motherwell | Lanark | Merry & Cunninghame Ltd | Alexander Anderson | 20 | Miner | Falls of side | A stone mine from the shaft cut the Upper Drumgray coal, and arrangements were made to open out with a view to work it. Deceased, Anderson, sen., who was a very capable workman, was entrusted by the manager to do the work, and began operations on the morning of the accident. During the morning some coal was worked off, and while the father was wedging down coal, a mass of stone fell and both were killed instantly. | |
| 1908 | December | 28 | Bonnyside (Fireclay) | Stirling | J Dougal & Sons Ltd | Michael Devine | 36 | Sinker | Falls of side | Deceased and other sinkers were opening out the pit bottom in a fireclay seam, on top of which is a thin seam of coal. A part of this coal was overhanging, and attempts were made to take it down, but failed ; shortly after it fell upon deceased, causing injuries to which he succumbed half an hour later. The coal came away from a " lype " and pot bottom which were unseen. | |
| 1908 | December | 29 | Bannockburn Nos 1 & 2 | Stirling | Alloa Coal Co Ltd | Wm. Casey | 51 | Labourer | On surface – railways, sidings or tramways | Crushed between waggon and wall of washery while pushing waggons forward to screes. | |