Accidents in Connection with Fochriw Colliery (Details obtained from the Merthyr Express)

The following is an example of the types of accidents that occurred at Fochriw Colliery.

Major Explosions

On Tuesday 3 June 1902 at 3.00 a.m. a fall occurred underground which caused the stopping of ventilation which resulted in a build-up of methane gas and subsequent explosion in which 8 men were killed. The rescuers found 2 packets of cigarettes and a key, normally used for the opening of tins of meat, which had been adapted to open a safety lamp which was found nearby with its top off and gauze removed.

For  information regarding Parliamentary questions and the Report on the above accident  please click  HERE

Dreadful accident 5 killed at Fochriw No1 Pit. Breakage of rope due to rope overlapping its drive on drum 27 yds from the surface – slippery and causing a jerk which caused rope to break. Morgan Jones 48 Francis St, Thomas Rees 44 Ellen St Penyderren, Hugh Thomas 29, Andrew Absolom 22, and David Davies 15.

The following types of accidents, by which horses, men and children, the youngest being 3 years old, were killed or injured, were reported in the Merthyr Express.

                                                                                                                                               Type of Accident                      Number of Accidents

               Reported                                      Reported

Cage                                                   13
Cage Rope                                            5
Drams                                                 16
Falls                                                    39
Fire                                                       2
Firedamp (Explosion)                            17
Foul Play                                               1
Heart Attack                                         1
Horse                                                    1
Live matches                                         1
Machinery                                             3
Over-winding                                         1
Scalding                                                 2
Shaft                                                     5
Unknown                                               8