Fatal Accident No 125

Nottingham Evening Post 23-11-1972

Verdict on Trapped Loco Driver

The driver of locomotive at Gedling Colliery was found crushed to death between his engine and a door a resumed inquest at Carlton, heard yesterday. Evidence was given that American born Mr Orval Samuel Hoke stopped his engine to open some doors to take in some empty wagons, later colleagues noticed the locomotive had not moved and the engine was still running. Mr Hoke of Southfield Road, Aspley Estate, was found trapped between the door and his engine, which had its brake off keeping him pressed against the door, said Mr A C Mack at the inquests opening. Pathologist Dr J A Chisholm stated that Mr Hoke died of internal hemorrhage following severe chest injuries. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

Fatal Accident No 126

Nottingham Evening Post Saturday 07-11-1975

Colliery Death Verdict

Fitter Mr George Ronald Hutchinson, 34, of 67, Cromwell Road, Lambley, Nottingham, died as a result of a “tragic accident which happened without rhyme or reason” at Gedling Colliery an inquest jury heard today at Carlton Council Offices. Nottingham District Coroner Mr A C Mack said Mr Hutchinson had repaired a broken chain on a stage loader, the repaired machine ran for twenty to thirty yards in a normal manner but then suddenly and without warning it's rear end “whipped up” and struck Mr Hutchinson on the head. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and the Coroner recorded that the cause of death was a compound fracture of the base of the skull. Death would be instantaneous he added.

Fatal Accident No 127

Nottingham Advertiser Thursday 24 February 1977

Jury Fails To Agree At Inquest Into Death Of Miner

An inquest was adjourned into the death of a Gedling miner on Friday afternoon because the seven member jury failed to reach a verdict. Nottingham District Coroner Mr C A Mack, who was conducting the hearing concerning the death of Michael Curtis, of Pasture Close, Colwick, dismissed the jury which included three men with mining experience. Mr Curtis who was a faceworker at Gedling Colliery, died four days before Christmas after a roadway roof 1,550 feet below ground collapsed. Three other men were buried in the one hundred ton rock fall, but they were rescued by other miners. Mr Curtis was a married man with two children; the hearing was told that he was working at the coal face when his workmates pulled down a section of the roof behind him. A girder which was proving difficult to remove was pulled out by use of a machine. Mr David Leckie, a deputy, of Cromwell Avenue, Lambley, said there was nothing unusual in this method. The force of the controlled drop was so violent however that it had probably dislodged other girders, Mr Mack was told. Mr Mack said he understood a new method had been introduced after the accident, but this did not mean what had been done on the day of the accident was wrong. He did not consider that there had been a breach of the regulations on that day, and he pointed out that there was no evidence to justify making anyone criminally responsible. When the jury retired they did not reach a verdict. After a brief adjournment, they returned a five to two majority verdict, but Mr Mack said he could only accept a unanimous or six to one majority. No date has been fixed for the resumption of the hearing.

NB. I have been unable to find any other report.

Fatal Accident No 128

No detail found in local press detail given from death certificate and personal knowledge

Mr Reginald Charles Stanley Ford aged 47, of Smithy Crescent, Arnold, was working in a stable on A2s face at Gedling Colliery on Thursday 1 September 1977. While clearing coal he was struck by a large fall of roof causing his death. The inquest was held at Carlton Council Offices on Wednesday 5 October 1977. An open verdict was recorded.

Fatal Accident No 129

South Nott’s Echo Friday 18-02-1978

Call for New Warning System at Inquest on Arnold Miner

Arnold miner Thomas Eric Knight, 63, was crushed to death as he was working on a conveyor belt at Gedling Colliery a Nottingham inquest heard on Tuesday. Mr Knight was a maintenance man, who became trapped as he was greasing a roller and despite attempts to save him, died a few hours later in Nottingham General Hospital. The jury returning a verdict that Mr Knight died accidently added that there should be a warning system at the colliery to tell the maintenance workers when the machinery was about to start. Nottingham City Coroner Mr A C G Rothera said “These cases are fortunately very rare. My concern is always to find out what happened, not with a view to any witch hunt of the NCB or criticism of the deceased. At least we know that the safety systems were all operating perfectly correctly. The inquest was told that at 10pm Mr Knight of 33, Killisick Road began his shift. Mr Ronald Mellors of 10, Chestnut Grove, Arnold, who was acting foreman, said he had worked with Mr Knight for about five years. At about twenty minutes past midnight Mr Knight who was working with Mr Mellors went to grease a roller on a conveyor belt, after changing an idler set at the delivery end, Mr Mellors then went back to the office. As they separated Mr Mellors saw that the stop switch was locked off this meant that the conveyor belt could not be moved. Five minutes later Mr Mellors was informed that Mr Knight had been involved in an accident and he went to the scene and found Mr Knight with his clothing trapped. Photographs taken by Coal Board photographer Mr Peter Towlson were produced in court for the jury to identify the different machinery mentioned. Area Safety Engineer Mr Robert Haworth said that from 10-pm to midnight was a maintenance period and Mr Knight was carrying out his normal duties on the night of the accident. Mr Knight’s clothing had been caught in a one inch gap and “it was most unfortunate” that his clothing had been caught as any rigid matter would have just bounced off, Said Mr Haworth. He considered that Mr Knight had either climbed the guarding and knelt on top or crossed the guarding and started to grease the bearings from the other side of the roller. Mr Knight would not have known the machinery was being started. “One can only assume that he went under the roller and was crushed by the revolving roller,” he added “it could be supposed that he may have gone over the roller and gone round under the roller. He pointed out that Mr Collin Fox who started the machinery could not have known Mr Knight was working there. Lock out buttons were positioned along the conveyor to prevent the conveyor from being started but these had not been operated although they were in good working order. Mr Rothera commented that it would seem the maintenance man ought to use the lock out button or that some warning be given that the machinery was about to be switched on. Dr Peter George Smith, a consultant pathologist at Nottingham general Hospital said that judging from Mr Knight’s injuries it seemed likely that he pulled under the roller. His pelvis was crushed facial bones were broken, both thighs were broken and there were several other injuries consistent with crushing. He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries. Mr Fox a coal sorter of 31 Beech Avenue, Mapperley Plains, said he informed Mr Mellors he was about to start the machinery as was the normal practice. He set the machinery in motion then heard a shout and immediately stopped it. There was no warning because anyone still on the machinery could operate a lock out switch to prevent it coming on. Unit Electrical Engineer Mr Kenneth Gordon Thompson said the whole system was checked after the accident and no defects were found. Mr Ivor Maclean, shift charge manager said that when he arrived at the accident said the stop- start switch was locked off to prevent the belt moving and it was “most feasible” that another miner had done this on his way to the accident. Mr Knight had no reason to lock on the switch and the only other two people involved in that area were Mr Fox and Mr Mellors. He could not understand why Mr Knight would leave the switch locked on. It was solely a localised operation and no one else would want to operate the machinery. Summing up the evidence Mr Rothera said it was known that shortly before the accident, when Mr Mellors and Mr Knight were changing the rollers, the lock off switch was operating properly and then Mr Mellors returned to his office. “We also know that Mr Fox came to the stop-start facility and found it locked on and started the machinery” he told the jury. He commented the only question is who switched on the lock off facility? Mr Rothera suggested that there should be some sort of oral warning when the machinery came on and added in his experience the Coal Board were model employers when it came to the safety of employees.

Fatal Accident No 130

Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 18-09-1980

Inquest on Trapped Colliery Locomotive Guard

A 57 year old locomotive guard at Gedling Colliery died from injuries accidently received when trapped by a mine car, was the verdict returned by a jury at the City Coroner’s Office today. At the resumed inquest into the death of Mr Clarence Stanley Selkirk, of Hawthorn Crescent, Arnold. Mr Colin Brakewell, safety officer at the mine said the most likely explanation was that Mr Selkirk was injured by the recoil, after two sets of mine cars had been coupled. He had been seen shutting the doors after the last carriage, and it is believed that the cars sprang back following the initial impact of the buffer springs. Mr Jeffrey Tideswell, the locomotive driver working with the guard at the time said it was at first thought that Mr Selkirk had collapsed and it was not until he had been brought to the surface it was realised he had been injured. Mr Thomas Wells said he thought Mr Selkirk had suffered a heart attack. After the verdict Mr Roger Bexon the colliery manager, said Mr Selkirk had been a first class employee for over twenty five years and he would be greatly missed.

Fatal Accident No 131

Nottingham Evening Post Friday 13-09-1985

Miner Crushed By Rock

A 26 year old miner was crushed to death by a huge falling rock while working at the coal face at Gedling Colliery, a Nottingham inquest jury heard. Technical assistant Mr Ross Edward Scull, of Snakewood, Bulwell was observing the work of Mr Melvin Dobson and Mr Roy Sutton when the six foot long four foot wide rock fell on him the inquest heard yesterday. “We encountered a roof cavity” said Mr Dobson of Edwalton Court Bulwell, “As I was pinning the timbers up, with no warning whatever the stone fell behind me”. Mr Sutton of Springfield Avenue, Eastwood, who was passing slivers of wood to Mr Dobson to tighten the supports said “Suddenly there was a cloud of dust and a massive bang, I crawled away to the tannoy and shouted for help, Then I came back to help Mr Dobson to move the lump-but it was useless”. Nobody had suggested using temporary supports while putting up the timbers he said because Gedling’ faces were in good conditions. The management at the pit had since introduced a new set of support rules. Dr Peter Smith consultant pathologist at the Queens Medical Centre said Mr Scull died from chest and back injuries. The colliery manager Mr Keith Screen expressed his condolence to Mr Scull’s family, Ross was a first class workman-well respected and liked-we will miss him very much he said.