Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 November 1932

Snapped Girder

Pony-Driver Killed At Mitchell Main

Steel Too Hard

An inquest was held at Wombwell yesterday on William Powell Atkinson, (20), pony driver, ba, tiarnsley Road, Stairtoot, who was killed by a fall of roof at Mitchell Main on Tuesday. The inquest was conducted by Mr. C. J. Haworth, with a jury. There were also present Mr. George Dixon, manager at the colliery 31r. H. Copeland, representing the Mitchell Main branch of the W.M.A.; Mr. J. Winder, representing the Yorkshire Mine Deputies Association; and Mr. T. Gawthrope, H.M. Inspector.

Herbert Eward Powell. 68,  Barnsley Road, Stairtoot, said the youth was his adopted son. He had worked at Mitchell Main about five years.

The deputy, Ernest Knowles, 57, Wright. Crescent, Wombwell, said he was working in No. 1 gate, No. 3 slant. Witness was at work, and Atkinson was walking about 50 yards behind with his pony. He heard crash and went back, but could see nothing but a cloud of dust. There had been a fall of roof, and later he discovered that Atkinson was buried. About ten tons of bind had dropped. The youth was got out as quickly as possible.

The Coroner: Have you ascertained the cause of the fall?—A broken running girder. This girder had broken four feet from one end. It was the only girder that had broken, and it was new when it was put in a fortnight earlier.

Why was it put in? It was new work.

Witness added that it was the usual type of girder. He examined the place when he went in and could see nothing wrong.

The Coroner: Have you ever known a girder snap like this before?—I cannot say that I have.

Was there any “weighting” to attract attention?—Nothing.

Was the pony hurt?— lt was struck on its hind quarters.

In reply to the inspector, witness stated that the girder was supporting two cross girders. He would not have expected the girder to break in those conditions.

The Inspector: is it not usual for girders to bend?—Yes.

Have you any reason to suggest why this girder should break ?—No.

Answering Mr. Copeland, witness said he was satisfied with the girders before they were set. He knew of no girders being sent out of the pit and straightened. He saw nothing wrong with the system of timbering.

Replying to the Coroner, the colliery manager said they got the girders from various places, and he could not say where this particular girder came from.

Mr. George Dixon, manager of the colliery, said on examination of the girder proved that the steel was harder than usual for that type of work. He thought there was a certain amount of crystallisation, and in these circumstances the girder would not bend.

The Coroner: Would you agree that a girder of this consistency (showing a fragment of steels is not the type you want? – I agree. It would snap without bending.

Was there any bending in any other section of the girder? — No, excepting the web was bent a little.

The Inspector: is it very unusual for a girder of this type to break? —Yes.

Witness said it would be an elaborate process to have all the girders examined before being sent out. He had known such a thing happen when tram rails had been used, but not with a mild steel girder.

Answering Mr. Copeland witness said that to his knowledge none of the bars had been sent out of the mine tote straightened. If he had this place to deal with again he would support it in the same way, but would use extra material.

Samuel Wilson, ripper, 30, Hoyland Street, Wombwell, said he set this girder about a fortnight before the accident, and noticed nothing peculiar. He would never have expected this girder to snap; it appeared to be like all the other girders. He had not to his knowledge none of the bars had been sent out of the mine to be straightened. If thought girders were better than wood for this purpose. He was working fifteen yards away and had passed under the spot many times during the night. He heard nothing to indicate there might be a fall.

The Coroner said be understood the management had agreed with suggestions put forward by the Inspector. It was possible for steel in the course of manufacture to become harder than was desirable for that purpose. For girders they wanted steel of a consistency that would bend and not break. In this case there was evidence of semi-crystallisation and under pressure the girder would snap. The use of steel girders was advocated by the Mines Department in preference to timber.