I entered the mining industry in 1949. At the colliery where I worked
safety helmets or 'hard hats' were provided free of charge. It was a deep
mine and I do not recall any miners, other than a few who worked at the
shaft bottom, not wearing a safety helmet.
I never recall seeing anyone leaving their helmet in the workplace as
recalled by Ivor - perhaps this was a local practice.
A few years later I was transferred to Central Workshops to complete my
apprenticeship and during my time there I worked underground at about ten
collieries, always with the same experience. On one occasion in about 1953
I was sent to work underground at a colliery with about 10 minutes notice
and my safety helmet was at home. I went underground to work at the shaft
bottom wearing a cloth cap and I got severely told off by an undermanager
for so doing. That was the one and only time that I went underground
without wearing a safety helmet.
Alan Vickers.
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