8 Years on: Gleision Mining Disaster
Author: Andrew Protheroe
Due to inherent hazards, the coal face has provided some classic case law: eg. Edwards v NCB - risk assessment; Wilsons and Clyde Coal v English - safe system of work.
Eight years ago today four coal miners lost their lives while at work. Knowing Garry from my own village, and visiting the local memorial, never fails to bring pride and respect for those who fully deserve the label ‘working men’.
The incident occurred on 15 Sep 2011 at the Gleision Colliery, a drift mine at Cilybebyll, near Pontardawe, Wales. It occurred while seven miners were working explosives on a narrow coal seam. Following a routine blasting operation the tunnel in which the miners were working filled with water. The Mines Rescue worked tirelessly in hope of a successful outcome. This was not to be.
Coal is synonymous with Wales. In 1913 Cardiff was the worlds largest coal-exporting port, with 57m tonnes produced that year alone, from 232,000 men working in 620 mines. At its peak, in 1920, 270,000 men worked underground. Wales is also infamous for the UKs biggest mining disaster. The Senghenydd explosion, occurred near Caerphilly in 1913 and killed 439 miners.
