South Yorkshire Times, February 23rd, 1934
“Faulty” Roof
Fatal Fall at Cadeby Main
Denaby Man Killed
Mr. W. H. Carlile conducted an inquiry at Conisborough yesterday into the death of Richard John Painter (37), 50, Doncaster Road, Denaby, who was killed by a fall of roof in the Cadeby Colliery on Tuesday evening. Margaret Painter (wife), gave evidence of identification and said her husband was in good health at the time of the accident.
Slip in the Roof
Richard Nesbitt, 2, Copley Avenue, Conisborough, said he was working on the conveyor face with Painter. They had been getting coal and had almost reached the end of the shift when the accident happened. Witness heard a bump, which was followed by a fall of roof. He shouted to Painter, and on hearing his moan he went and liberated Painter’s head. It took an hour to get the man out and he was dead. The roof had been examined and had seemed perfectly sound.
Witness added that he had set his own face props and had been assisting Painter. Bars had been set but none were near where the fall occurred. The roof was hard. They were perfectly aware of a slip in the roof.
Coroner: You saw the slip before you started working? – Yes.
Nesbitt added that the face was of mixed stone.
Coroner: Would you say whether it was a safe roof? – Yes.
Witness said that Painter was working on a “knob” of coal and could not set his bars.
Asked whether there were bars over the conveyor Nesbitt said he did not know. The last time the deputy examined the roof was at 8-15. He did not know what the deputy said regarding the roof.
“Faulty” Area
In reply to Mr. Collinson (H.M. Inspector) witness said it was a “faulty” area. They got a lot of weight bumps.
Mr. Collinson: Have you had orders to set bars against slips of faults? – We have never had instructions but we take it for granted.
After the fall, added witness, most of the props were left standing. The roof had broken around them.
Nesbitt said he thought that if bars had been set over the conveyor, they might have prevented the fall.
Mr. H. Roberts (Y.M.A.): How often are these face falls occurring? – That was the first as far as I know.
Walter Bramhall, 7 Clifton Hill, Conisborough, said he was not aware of the slip. Where witness was working there was no room for bars. He thought it was a good roof and everything possible had been done.
Replying to Mr. Collinson witness said two small faults extended into the roof, leaving a slip. One fault extended over the conveyor. He added that he did not notice any bars over the conveyor.
In answer to Mr. W. Still, (manager) Bramhall said the bump and fall were instantaneous. There was no dust.
A Good Roof
Ephraim Wigley (deputy), 23, Don View, Mexborough, said he last visited the place at 8-10 and found it in good condition. He was aware of the slip at the fault end.
Coroner: Apparently there were two? – There was a small one higher up. Witness said that the roof was better than he had ever seen it. He gave instructions with regards to barring the face. Nothing more could have been done to prevent the accident. If bars had been set over the conveyor, they might have lessened the fall, but they could not have prevented it. He appeared on the scene five minutes after the accident.
Mr. Collinson: Did you tell Painter to set bars where he had room? – Yes.
Why were not bars set over the conveyor? – The slip was not so big there.
Have you had instructions to set bars over slips and faults? – Yes.
Witness added that he had conveyed those instructions to the men.
The Coroner: Would you describe any roof with slips or faults as safe? – Yes, in some cases.
Dr. T. Ford said Painter had a fractured neck, scalp wounds and several cuts. Death was due to the fracture.
The Coroner said the roof seemed to be quite good with the exception of the slips. He thought that if bars had been set over the conveyor, the accident might not have been fatal.e though
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.