HC Deb 11 June 1934 vol 290 cc1339-40
33. Mr. THORNE

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received a report from his inspector in connection with the explosion that occurred at the Cumberland County Council's stone quarry at Baron Cross, Stainton, near Penrith, at which five men were injured; if he can state the cause of the explosion; and whether the men are seriously injured?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

My hon. Friend has received a report on this acci- dent, from which it appears that on 1st June five shot holes were fired in the quarry face to blast down the stone. Three days later, while the shot firer and another workman were removing the loose stones with crow bars, an explosion occurred at one of the holes. The shot firer was severely injured and, unfortunately, has since died in hospital; out of a number of men working on the quarry floor two were severely injured, and two others were slightly injured. It is evident that the explosion was caused by some explosive remaining in one of the shot holes, and it is probable that the shot firer accidentally struck or disturbed it with his crow bar and caused it to explode.

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