work & industry in tredegar part 3 health & dangers at work
DESCRIPTION
Work & industry in Tredegar Part 3 Health & Dangers at Work Tredegar, 19th century, Victorian, Industrial Revolution, coal, iron, Blaenau Gwent, Wales. www.access2heritagebg.co.ukTRANSCRIPT
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Work & Industry in Tredegar
during the 19th century
A Key Stage 2
Educational Resource Pack
Part 3—Health & Dangers at Work
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What diseases did they suffer from as a result of working underground?
Why was it unusual to meet colliers (coal miners) aged over 50?
Many colliers were injured and killed as a result of gas explosions and
‘roof falls’ and water flooding in from older mine workings.
Children’s Employment Enquiry, 1841
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Roof falls: When the roofs of tunnels collapsed unexpectedly, many tons
of rock fell down, instantly crushing anyone underneath.
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Flooding: Mines were flooded when colliers accidentally broke into old,
abandoned mine workings that had filled with water over time.
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Gas explosions: Methane gas (or fire-damp) is released when coal is
mined. The use of candles caused explosions when the gas ignited.
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Bedwellty Pits was a colliery (coal mine) which was started in 1850 by
the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company.
An explosion of methane or fire-damp gas on 16 June 1865, killed 27
miners including 6 boys. The number of people killed would have been
much higher if it wasn’t for the fact that the explosion happened during
the night shift when there were fewer men working underground.
The manager was accused of
the crime of manslaughter,
which means the killing of
another person through
carelessness or neglecting his
duties. However he was found
not guilty because it could not
be proved that the flow of air
through the colliery was poor
when the explosion occurred.