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Calendar 10 15 2000 time line Romans Middle 1500 1600 1700 1734 1800 1830 1860 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
The Decline Of The Industry Continued
After Nationalisation 1947

Book 6
Chimneys
1992
1992 Pages   1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10  

1992 - Page 6


Calverton

Pit92

Photo From Calverton Village.Com

Calverton record output of 38,500 tonnes, 8,000 tonnes more than their previous best in December 1990. About 30,000 tonnes produced from 27s, in the 1.8m thick Abdy/Brinsley seam. The 720 men (reduced down from 1,000) doubled the weekly output target. Within weeks the record was shattered as 40,000 tonnes was produced with 35,000 tonnes from AB27s using Dowty 4x320 chocks and Dowty 4x280 IFS chocks on 46s High Hazles face at 38” (0.97m) high cut 78 strips equivalent to 13 miles to produce a record 16,119 tonnes. The run of mine throughput in the washery was a best ever of 70,000 tonnes of mineral.


Neil Clarke Visit To Thoresby

British Coal Chairman Neil Clarke visited Thoresby (Nottinghamshire Group) 146s retreat face accompanied by Ken Fidler (10993), Manager. 5 year old Dowty IFS chocks were now on their 4th district, whilst on 140s retreat face the Dowty 4x325 chock shields were now 7 years old. Both sets of supports had done well. Output was 94,519 tonnes for a week.


Trials At Shirebrook

At Shirebrook Britains first Vector steering package was pioneered on 320s face. The micro-processor controlled fixed extraction system is a development of the highly successful MIDAS fully automated steering device which was also pioneered at Shirebrook.


Voluntary Health Checks

In June 1992, British Coal extended existing occupational health facilities by introducing a voluntary Health Check for all employees on a 4 year cycle.


Roof-Bolting Machine

Asfordby

The UKs first purpose-built roof bolting machine made by JH Fletcher and Co of West Virginia, USA marketed by Anderson Tunnelling and cost £250,000 was installed at Asfordby but paid dividends when the JCM heading teams set a new European drivage record of 274m in 7 days and went on to break 300m in 8 days.


Department Of Trade And Industry

Coal Industry Act 1992. John Major PM (Cons) abolished the Department of Energy and the functions of the former were transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry with the exception of energy efficiency which was transferred to the Department of the Environment. The President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for the Environment are thus responsible for energy in Great Britain.


Regulations

  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992
  • The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992
  • The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
  • The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
  • The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 were enacted.

Pleasley Colliery Saved By Grade II Preservation Order

PleasleyThe South shaft at Pleasley (Derbyshire), now no longer necessary as a ventilation shaft for Shirebrook, was filled. Unfortunately whilst preparations were in hand for abandoning, an ex-miner committed suicide by jumping down the shaft, having first thrown his dog down. Both shafts would be capped in 1994.

Before British Coal could demolish the Pleasley headgears, engine houses, chimney etc, a Grade II Preservation Order was imposed.

Volunteer workers, Friends of Pleasley pit and English Partnerships continue to renovate and repair the surface buildings, following the many acts of mindless vandalism that took place. Various brass fittings off the winding engines were taken by one individual of management but they were returned as required under the Order. The renovation of the winding engines etc continues and steam-raising is envisaged at some time in the future along with a Museum and Heritage Centre at what was once in the centre of a thriving Coalfield community.

A tip washing scheme was commenced and would be culminated with the tips being re-graded, soiled and grassed by about 1999. The tips at Shirebrook were re-graded and soiled.


Opencast Sites

The large Godkin opencast site in North Derbyshire was completed and restoration works were begun. 10 seams had been worked.

Historic finds were unearthed at Lounge opencast site in Leicestershire by British Coal. The mining relics included a mine shaft dating back to 1450, the earliest evidence of modern deep mining to be found in the UK and the site of the old Heather colliery that closed in 1896. The archaeologists removed the intact pit bottom stables complex for display in the local mining museum.


Medic-1992Free Comprehensive Health Checks

How things have changed since the pre-Victorian age of mining, in more ways than one. All employees to be offered a free comprehensive health check from early 1993. The various tests would include hearing, eyesight, blood tests for cholesterol, blood sugar etc, and augmented the periodic X-ray programme.


Haulage Rope Lowered Down A Shaft

At Manton colliery (a Nottinghamshire pit in South Yorkshire administration) a unique operation was carried out installing 11,000m (7 miles) of haulage rope down a shaft in a single length in 46 hours. The old rope spliced from 6 separate lengths was wound out at the same time.


Safety Message

At Harworth in July 1992 one of the static LED signals was coupled to a sub-station gate which when opened by an electrician flashed a message informing him and reminding him to isolate and check before opening a panel and to remember to get a permit to work. The idea spread from switchgear to haulage engines.