§ 17. Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary for Mines whether an inquiry has been held into the cause of the fatality at the Upton Colliery sinking pit; if he has received a report from His Majesty's inspector of mines; and whether he has given or will give instructions, to avoid similar fatalities in the future, that detonators shall be tested on the surface and not in the pit sump?
§ Colonel LANE FOXYes, Sir; an inspector has investigated the cause of this accident, and I have received his report. It is already the practice to test detonators on the surface, if they are tested at all. The cause of this accident was rather different. The deceased man had charged a round of 21 shots, tested their electrical continuity, and found it defective. He located the fault in a particular shot, and was testing it singly, contrary to instructions, when it exploded and killed him. Arrangements have now been made by which circuits of charged shots are only tested from a safe distance.
§ Mr. LUNNWhat steps are being taken to deal with those responsible for this accident and the way this man was killed by not following the instructions laid clown by his Department but perhaps ignored by other people?
§ Colonel LANE FOXAs I have said, the man was unfortunately acting contrary to instructions.