Miner killed and others missing in Wales...21st Century

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 14:10

My thoughts with the families of the missing men.



How can it happen in this century?



Mike

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 15:47

Now it's 2 miners found dead !!!!

jamestalbot


Joined: 20/12/2009
Posts: 958

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 16:18

Tragic news, my thoughts are with the families of all the men.

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 16:31

James,yes,so tragic.



I had a few years down the mine in my 20's....poor conditions then.I lefft because of my Pit Manager ignored safety warnings.

Nearly 50 years on.....

Ugh !!!!.....I assumed there was enough cheap imports of coal.Perhaps the Government should close these small private mines

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 19:10

The tree huggers who seek to deny Nuclear power are leading us back down to the pits.



How many of them would work down there?



RIP.

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 19:14

mikelapta, all UK mines are private.

I have been watching the proceedings in Wales with interest. I was a miner in the Yorkshire coalfields for 13 years, 1961-74. Some of the statements/questions from the reporters defy belief. e.g. reporter to police spokesman "what do you think the families of the trapped miners are going through now?" WHAT!

Reporter "this mine has two entrances, a main one and one that is there as an emergency exit" EH!

I've never seen a mine with an adit such as this has, except in old cowboy films..

God help them.



T

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 20:06

Listening to the reporters interviewing the police spokesman this morning was quite honestly disgusting.



It was like listening to a 'silly child' asking silly questions. The questions should not have been so insensitive, those poor families must have been in bits listening to the gruesome,prying questions ....



My heart goes out to them, the families and those poor men...

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 20:08

Fourth found dead .

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 20:35

Other miners will feel the same:shock and disbelief in this century.

May their families have peace

cassius


Joined: 20/03/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 20:55

I am horrified that peole are working in these conditions in this day and age. I feelso sorry for the famileius, friend s and communities involved and may the miners rest in peace.

paddywack


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 959

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 22:22

Msg 10

Perhaps that is the only way they can earn a decet wage in that area.

cassius


Joined: 20/03/2009
Posts: 110

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 22:26

if that is the case.it does not say a lot

paddywack


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 959

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 22:52

Msg 12

Perhaps you have been fortunate to have always had work, there are less fortunate people who have to take what they can get, or perhaps live on benefits.

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
17/09/2011 01:21

Msg 10



Perhaps that is the only way they can earn a decet wage in that area.



Don't think that these miners are working in Dickensian conditions, They know the risks, as we all did, they just thought that the benefits outweighed those risks, as we all did.

Mining is a dangerous occupation, but nobody goes down there expecting to stay there. Those that do, I hope there's a heaven.



T

Chessman


Joined: 13/05/2008
Posts: 486

Message Posted:
17/09/2011 01:32

I was thinking last week that the 14th October was closing in. i.e in the village of my birth (Senghenydd) in 1913 over 400 miners died in an explosion in the Universal colliery. The worst ever in UK mining history. Many of the bodies were never recovered. I always have a few minutes to myself on that date but I didn't need these latest deaths to remind me.



Sorry to be depressing but another date in October was Aberfan on the 21st. I just think it is important to remember.

kiwikid


Joined: 18/08/2008
Posts: 496

Message Posted:
17/09/2011 10:20

An enquiry in to the mine explosion last year in NZ has found that the miners had made many complaints about safety standards but nothing had been done to solve the problems, these 19 poor soul are still underground with little or no chance of their families ever have a body to bury.

Unfortunately mining is a dangerous occupation but it is about time that companies started to think about the safety of its workers not just about the money. It is very sad that this is still happening. It may not be dickenson times but some times I wonder if the conditions are much improved.

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
17/09/2011 10:58

Coincidentally,Britain's worst mining disaster was 22nd.September 1934 at Gresford,North Wales.

266 miners lost their lives.No one was ever prosecuted,even though warnings were given about a build up of gas.

I did my training here,when you got to pit bottom,there was a large wall which marked the disaster area,So spooky.

I lived most of my adult life in this area,and nearly every family in the area had someone killed or injured in the explosion.

My thoughts are with these people and the latest families who are grieving in South Wales

charlieb


Joined: 17/12/2009
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
17/09/2011 12:15

There's a cry in the valleys, tears in the West,

Mourning the heroes that wear the pit vest,

Underground grafters always put in a shift,

Below the hillside in the deep dark drift,

They're not coming home to their children, their wives...

The mine once again takes cherished lives.



♥ R.I.P ♥

Chessman


Joined: 13/05/2008
Posts: 486

Message Posted:
17/09/2011 15:26

msg 17. unfortunately that wasn't the worst. See my msg 15. Not a claim to fame, tragically.

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
18/09/2011 17:28

Unfortunately mining is a dangerous occupation but it is about time that companies started to think about the safety of its workers not just about the money. It is very sad that this is still happening. It may not be dickenson times but some times I wonder if the conditions are much improved.



In the early 60's, when the power loading agreement was introduced, miners were paid "on the clock" for most production jobs. Much safer. Some jobs,tasks, however were still on piecework, or taskwork. "Ripping" being one. (miners know what this is/was) One shift, the mines inspector paid a seldom "spot check" visit. We hadn't fully advanced the "hoss 'eds" and fully sheeted above our workplace (it would take too long to explain to non miners)

The inspector pointed this to our gateman, a sorta ganger. "It's not on the note" was Geoff's reply. "No, but it covers your backs". "that put's nowt on the table" said Geoff. And it still doesn't, just makes sure there isn't an empty seat there.