HC Deb 31 January 1939 vol 343 cc52-6W
Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he will state the numbers employed, the number of miners injured and the percentage of injured to the numbers employed in the North Staffordshire area during the years 1922, 1925, 1928, 1932, 1934, 1935, 3936, 1937 and 1938, respectively, and specify the causes of the accidents;

(2) the number of miners injured in the North Staffordshire area in 1925, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1038, and specify the causes of the accidents?

Captain Crookshank

The following is the available information:

Number of persons employed, number of persons injured and disabled for more than three* days and the injury rate per 100 persons employed at mines under the Coal Mines Act in North Staffordshire during the years 1922, 1925, 1928, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937.
A. Number of Persons Employed.
— 1922. 1925. 1928. 1932. 1934. 1935. 1936. 1937.
Underground … … 27,482 28,282 23,232 17,460 17,375 17,157 17,385 17,750
Surface … … 7,515 8,091 6,692 5,754 6,111 6,093 6,263 6,580
Total … … 34,997 36,373 29,924 23,214 23,486 23,250 23,648 24,330

B. Number of Persons Injured and Injury Rate† per 100 Persons Employed.
Place or Cause of Accident. Number Injured. Rate. Number Injured. Rate. Number Injured. Rate. Number Injured. Rate. Number Injured. Rate. Number Injured. Rate. Number Injured. Rate. Number Injured. Rate.
By Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust. — — 8 0.03 5 0.02 — — — — — — 2 0.01 4 0.02
By Fails of Ground 1,485 5.40 1,468 5.19 1,138 4.90 1,109 6.35 1,301 7.49 1,346 7.85 1,344 7.73 1,191 6.71
Shaft Accidents 15 0.06 8 0.03 7 0.03 6 0.04 4 0.02 1 0.00 2 0.01 5 0.03
Haulage Accidents 1,265 4.60 1,290 4.56 974 4.19 650 3.72 660 3.80 650 3.79 759 4.37 604 3.40
Miscellaneous 1,956 7.12 1,726 6.10 1,440 6.20 1,137 6.51 1,364 7.85 1,323 7.71 1,416 8.14 1,546 8.71
Total Underground 4,721 17.18 4,500 15.91 3,564 15.34 2,902 16.62 3,329 19.16 3,320 19.35 3,523 20.26 3,350 18.87
On Surface:
On Railways, Sidings or Tramways. 120 1.60 139 1.72 74 1.11 73 1.27 71 1.16 95 1.56 109 1.74 103 1.57
Other Surface Accidents. 255 3.39 250 3.09 209 3.12 141 2.45 170 2.78 178 2.92 173 2.76 206 3.13
Total on Surface 375 4.99 389 4.81 283 4.23 214 3.72 241 3.94 273 4.48 282 4.50 309 4.70
Total (Underground and Surface). 5,096 14.56 4,889 13.44 3,847 12.86 3,116 13.42 3,570 15.20 3,593 15.45 3,805 16.09 3,659 15.04
* In 1922 accidents which disabled the persons injured for more than seven days were reportable.
† The rates for underground and surface accidents are based upon the number of persons employed below and above-ground, respectively.

Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the number of accidents in the North Staffordshire area per 100,000 man-shifts worked underground for the years 1922, 1925, 1932,

Accidents belowground at mines under the Coal Mines Act.
Year Number of persons killed and injured* belowground per 100,000 man-shifts worked belowground.
In North Staffordshire In the district showing the lowest accident rate.
1922 … … 75.1 Somerset … … (47.1)
1925 … … 66.5 South Staffordshire and Worcestershire … … (50.1)
1932 … … 73.4 Forest of Dean … … (43.0)
1937 … … 76.3 Forest of Dean … … (50.0)
* In 1924 and subsequent years accidents which disabled the persons injured for more than three days were reportable. the limit in 1923 and earlier years being seven days.

Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the output of coal in the North Staffordshire area per man-shift for 1925, 1935, 1937, and 1938, respectively?

Captain Crookshank

The information is as follows:

Out of saleable coal per man-shift worked.
Year North Staffordshire Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffordshire.
Cwts Cwts.
1925 Not available 14.68
1935 23.67 20.35
1937 23.65 20.77
1938 (January-November) 23.53 20.46

Note.—As separate particulars for North Staffordshire for the year 1925 are not available, the figures for the District of Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffordshire for that year are given, with corresponding figures for subsequent years for the purpose of comparison.

Year Age Groups.* All ages.
Under 16 years 16 and under 18 years 18 and under 20 years 20 years and over
Number of persons injured.
1925 … … 183 336 317 4,053 4,889
1935 … … 76 101 128 3,288 3,593
1937 … … 83 157 105 3,314 3,659
Injury rates per 100 persons employed.
1925 … … 9.5 12.8 13.3 13.8 13.4
1935 … … 10.4 10.4 11.7 16.1 15.5
1937 … … 11.4 11.3 9.0 15.7 15.0
* Accidents to persons in the age groups 18 to 25, 25 to 45, 45 to 55. and 55 to 65 cannot be separately distinguished.

and 1937, respectively; and the number for the same years in the area that has the least number of accidents?

Captain Crookshank

The following is the information:

Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of accidents in the North Staffordshire area for the years 1925, 1935, 1937, and 1938, respectively, giving the number injured per 100 employed in the following age groups: under 16 years, 16 years and under 18, 18 years and under 25, 25 years and under 45, 45 years and under 55, 55 years and under 65?

Captain Crookshank

The number of persons injured and disabled for more than three days and the injury rate per 100 persons employed at mines under the Coal Mines Act in North Staffordshire, shown by age groups, during the years 1925, 1935 and 1937 are as follow. Particulars for 1938 are not yet available.