Alan correctly refers to colliers working electrically powered
machinery, such as haulage engines, using flame safety lamps for gas
detection and also mentions face workers carrying gas detectors. The
"Coal and Other Mines (Ventilation) Regulations, 1956", for example,
specifies the provision of gas detectors (usually flame safety lamps,
but it could be Ringrose detectors):- "at each place at which apparatus
comprising an electric motor is in operation at or within 300 feet
(later 90 metres)of a working face, one detector." "At each longwall
face face, one detector for each 8 persons, and one detector for any
person or persons not taken into account." etc. Thus the minimum use of
gas detectors (typically safety lamps) is enshrined in mining law and
not left up to the individual collier or colliery manager.
Barry Job.
-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Vickers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 08 March 2004 13:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Head Protection in UK Mines.
The introduction of the cap lamp may well have encouraged the use of
safety helmets.
I have been told that some miners, wearing a cloth cap, had been known
to attach a 'clip' which would take the headpiece of a cap lamp,
otherwise they would have to carry it in their hand all the time.
There were still hand lamps in use, of course. In my time working in
coal mines from 1949 to 1965 I can recall:
Acetylene hand lamps being used at a naked lamp mine until the early
1960s. The miners used to take their lamps home at the end of the shift
and one or two local shops used to sell 'carbide' with which to make the
acetylene.
Miners working in 'bord and pillar workings' at one colliery carrying
flame safety lamps only in 1955, their working places were about three
miles from the shaft bottom.
There were still some electric hand lamps in use at some collieries.
Miners using electrically operated machines used to carry a flame safety
lamp, to be used for gas detection, as well as a cap lamp.
In later years miners using electrically powered coal face machines
carried a 'Ringrose automatic gas detector' instead of a flame safety
lamp, but still in addition to a cap lamp.
Deputies, shotfirers, overmen, some officials, undermanager and manager
carriied a flame safety lamp in addition to a cap lamp. The lamp
carried by overmen, officials, undermanager and undermanager was usually
smaller than those used by deputies and shotfirers. A polished
reflector was often used in the head piece of the cap lamp used by
senior officials and managers, this projected the beam of light quite a
long way. A standard reflector was used in everybody else's cap lamp
head piece.
Alan Vickers.
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