HC Deb 30 September 1909 vol 11 c1402
Mr. T. F. RICHARDS

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to the case of Charles Davies, stoker, who lost his life through being crushed between the buffers of two locomotives at Spring Vale Furnaces, Wolverhampton; whether he was aware that John Jones, the driver of the other engine to the one upon which Davies was employed, stated that he shouted three times to the other driver, that he himself took no notice of whistles because so many were blowing, and that no danger flag was in use; whether he would take steps to secure the removal of the ashpans from the engines, as this witness contended that such a method would prevent such accidents in the future; whether he could state if there was some method, approved and periodically inspected by the factory inspectors, for the prevention of such accidents; and what action, if any, did he intend taking in the matter?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone)

I have received a report of this accident from the District Inspector of Factories, which includes a report of the inquest. It seems to have been due, in the first place, to the failure of the deceased and of the driver of the engine at which he was working to notice the warning signal of the approaching engine; and, in the second place, to the failure of the driver of the moving engine to observe that his signal had not been understood. The regulations for the use of locomotives on factory premises require that the driver in charge of a locomative shall give an efficient sound signal as a warning on approaching any point of danger to persons employed. The sound signal was given in this case, but was not effectual, because so many whistles of similar sound were being blown at the works, and I will instruct the District Inspector to communicate with the firm with a view to seeing whether more efficacious means can be adopted. The regulations do not require the removal of engine ashpans, which I understand are in common use in railway engines, but the question shall be considered.