Full Details

Surname

WESTWOOD

Forename

Joseph

Day

31

Month

07

Year

1903

Age

34

Occupation

Driver

Mine/Quarry Name

Pennant Hill

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Pennant Hill Colliery Co.

Location

Rowley Regis

County

Staffordshire

Details of Event

Fall of roof (coal) in an opening in thick coal. The fall came from a height of 24 feet and struck him on the head as he was hooking a horse to a tub. The horse was so injured that it had to be killed. The opening was 40 yards long by 15 yards wide and 24 feet high, and no timber had been set in it. The longest timber the roads would admit of being brought in was only 15 feet 6 inches. The roof had been examined six or seven hours before by the fireman and colliers who thought it safe for working under Special props have since been used in such places.