Notes - The information in this page is mainly compiled from appendices to the reports of the Inspector of Mines and Collieries. Additional details from the main body of the report are given where available. Many accidents are not listed in these reports and additional names have been added from newspaper reports and other sources - information not sourced from the mine inspectors reports is indicated by a shaded gray background.
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| Year | Month | Day | Name of Colliery | Where situated | Owner or Company | First Name | Surname | Occupation | Age | Category | Cause of accident and remarks | |
| 1896 | July | 20 | Devon | Clackmannan | Alloa Coal Co | James | Mitchell | Pony driver | 18 | Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubs | Run over by his horse rake. Died 7th February 1897. | |
| 1896 | September | 11 | Cleland No 3 Pit | Lanark | Wm Dixon Ltd | John | Wilson, jr. | Miner | 27 | Falls of side | Fall of coal. Injured on September 11th 1896, and died on June 11th 1897. | |
| 1896 | November | 12 | Bannockburn No 1 | Stirling | Alloa Coal Co | James | Welsh | Brusher | 28 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof on road while sitting waiting for a shot to go off. November 12th 1896 ; died March 24th 1897. | |
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| Year | Month | Day | Name of Colliery | Where situated | Owner or Company | First Name | Surname | Occupation | Age | Category | Cause of accident and remarks | |
| 1897 | January | 2 | Newbattle | Edinburgh | Lothian Coal Co Ltd | Walter | Scott | Engineman | 69 | On surface – By machinery | Crushed by condenser beam. | |
| 1897 | January | 3 | Mossband | Lanark | Linridge Coal Co | Alex. | Lochhead | Engineman | 36 | On surface – By machinery | Appears to have allowed pumping engine to stop, and was caught by flywheel while attempting to start it. | Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages |
| 1897 | January | 6 | Limefield (Oil shale) | Edinburgh | Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co Ltd | James | Robertson | Miner | 40 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | Two shots charged with gunpowder were prepared, one above the other; one shot was thought to have missed, and deceased and his neighbour returning too soon the second or top shot exploded on them. | |
| 1897 | January | 7 | Foxley No 2 | Lanark | J Dunn & Stephen | James | Nelson | Pump attendant | 19 | In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery | While descending the shaft, the cage stuck, then dropping away, the muzzle broke and the cage fell to the bottom. From Main body of report: The first fatal accident occurred at Foxley No. 2 Pit. Owing to a crush on the strata the slides in portions of the rise side of the shaft were too close, and the cage had a difficulty in passing. The workmen were not allowed to ride in this cage, and on the night of the accident workmen were repairing the shaft. Contrary to the instructions, the deceased was being lowered to the bottom in the rise cage, when the cage appears to have stuck fast and then dropped away, breaking the muzzle connecting it to the rope and falling to the bottom of the shaft. |
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| 1897 | January | 7 | Ross | Lanark | Coltness Iron Co Ltd | Thomas | Davey | Miner | 53 | Falls of roof | Deceased and his son were taking a 6 feet cut off the side of a stoop to form a new road, the old drift having closed. He was sitting holing at the face when a large stone fell from the roof, killing him almost instantly. | |
| 1897 | January | 12 | Ayr, Enterkine No 9 Pit | Ayr | George Taylor & Co | Wm. | Little | Brusher | 21 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at brushing while removing props previous to blasting. | |
| 1897 | January | 14 | Broxburn (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Broxburn Oil Co Ltd | Joseph | Ellis | Miner | 30 | Falls of sides | Deceased was mending the holing of shale, in which two shots had just been fired, when it fell over on him; the shale was not spragged. | |
| 1897 | January | 15 | Motherwell | Lanark | John Watson Ltd | James | Robb | Miner | 53 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof stone in a stooping place. | Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages |
| 1897 | January | 18 | Common No 14 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Frances | O'Neil | Pony driver | 16 | Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubs | Found dead below a race of hutches which he was bringing out along a level. | |
| 1897 | January | 20 | Goatfoot | Ayr | Brand & Co | Samuel | Finnikam | Miner | 24 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | |
| 1897 | January | 22 | Little Raith | Fife | Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd | Hugh | Thomson | Engineman | 28 | In shafts – ropes and chains breaking | The winding rope broke while deceased were descending the shaft. The rope was made of steel wires and was 1 1/8inch diameter, and had been in use since August 1894. The shaft is 100 fathoms deep, and the rope broke 20 fathoms from cage. The shaft was warm from the presence of steam pipes. Tests made after the accident gave a breaking strain of 21 tons, but torsional test showed that the quality of the wire had much deteriorated. | Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| James | Graham | Fireman | 34 | |||||||||
| 1897 | January | 28 | Merryton | Lanark | Merryton Coal Co | Alex. | Higginson | Miner | 41 | Falls of roof | Deceased was driving a road through some stoops formed about 25 years ago, the drifts surrounding which had all closed. He had taken down a quantity of coal and was cleaning the roof to set timber, when it suddenly burst in, swinging the adjacent props, and completely burying him. | |
| 1897 | January | 31 | Orbiston No 3 | Lanark | Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co Ltd | Thos. | McGill | Brusher | 27 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | While charging a shot with frozen gelignite, the charge went off, killing them. From Main body of report: The first fatal accident happened at Orbiston Colliery, and apparently was caused by forcing frozen gelignite into a shot hole. By it two men lost their lives, the fireman and a brusher. It was during a time of frost, and the gelignite had been taken out of the magazine shortly before being used, and without any attempt having been made to thaw it. The brusher was evidently forcing four cartridges alongside of one another into the shot hole with a copper tipped wooden stemmer, when the whole charge of about 1 lb. of gelignite exploded. | Newspaper report- Bothwell pages |
| Owen | Heron | Night fireman | 48 | |||||||||
| 1897 | February | 3 | Barrwood No 2 | Stirling | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | David | Rennie | Brusher | 22 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof on road while passing beneath it. | |
| 1897 | February | 3 | Prestongrange | Haddington | Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co Ltd | John | Vardon | Miner | 40 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | Deceased was engaged making a cage-seat, and a hole for a shot was bored to a depth of 3 feet. The charge was to consist of seven cartridges of gelignite, and while he was inserting the fourth an explosion occurred. The cartridges, which apparently were frozen, were being pushed back with the wooden handle of a ''mash." | |
| 1897 | February | 5 | Glenbuck, Davie Pit | Ayr | Cairntable Gas Coal Co Ltd | Henry | McIntyre | Miner | 25 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | |
| 1897 | February | 7 | Devon | Clackmannan | Alloa Coal Co | James | Mitchell | See entry under 20 July 1896 in section at top of page | ||||
| 1897 | February | 8 | Hill | Lanark | James Gemmell | James | McConville | Miner | 37 | Falls of roof | Deceased was sitting holing at the face of a longwall level, when the roof suddenly burst away from a keen parting, closing the face from the dip side of level to the nearest branch, a distance of about 20 yards. He was killed instantaneously. | |
| 1897 | February | 10 | Southrigg | Lanark | A M Graham | Walter | Brown | Pony driver | 15 | Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubs | Crushed between his rake and full hutch standing in the lye at shaft. | |
| 1897 | February | 13 | Westfield (Whinstone) | Dumbarton | A & J Faill | Jn. | McLaughland | Quarryman | 32 | In quarries | While lighting the fuses of a 75lb. charge of gunpowder with a match the shot went off. Apparently when the charge was poured into the hole a train of gunpowder had been left in an open joint, and the red hot head of the match fell upon it | |
| 1897 | February | 20 | Hill of Beath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Thomas | Walker | Miner | 65 | Falls of roof | An extensive fall of blaes took place at face of deceased's longwall working, and buried him. | |
| 1897 | February | 22 | Dalmeny (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Dalmeny Oil Co Ltd | Wm. P. | Prentice | Manager | 35 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | Two seams of oil shale were separated by a few feet of blaes. A miner engaged in making a road from a place in the upper seam to a place in the lower seam, fired a shot in the pavement in the upper seam which blew through into the lower seam and struck the deceased, who was examining the workings at the time. | |
| 1897 | February | 25 | Crofthead | Linlithgow | Peter Thornton | George | Smeaton | Coal picker | 14 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Deceased left his place at the "shaker" and went to the siding, and by some means unknown fell in front of a loaded moving waggon. | |
| 1897 | March | 1 | Carfin No 7 | Lanark | Wm Dixon Ltd | Allan | McKinstry | Drawer | 24 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face by the fall breaking the crowns. | Newspaper report- Bothwell pages |
| 1897 | March | 2 | Parkhead | Lanark | Glasgow Iron & Steel Co Ltd | Wm. | Paul | Locomotive engine driver | 66 | On Surface – On railways and tramways | Collision on branch railway with Caledonian Railway locomotive, caused by both drivers neglecting their instructions. From Main body of report: One fatal accident was caused by a collision on a branch railway between some waggons drawn by the colliery locomotive and a locomotive belonging to the railway company. Both drivers failed to comply with the regulations, and the colliery locomotive driver lost his life. |
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| 1897 | March | 6 | Deans (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Pumpherston Oil Co Ltd | James | Wallace | Miner | 57 | Falls of sides | Deceased was finishing the holing when a part of the shale fell away from a clay back, which was unseen. | |
| 1897 | March | 8 | Common No 6 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | John | Black | Miner | 23 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | Premature ignition of a shot, which went off while he was lighting the squib. | |
| 1897 | March | 12 | Bothwell Park | Lanark | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | John | Hall | Brusher | 48 | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | The fireman fired a shot of carbonite in an accumulation of fire-damp, and the sparks from the tape fuse lighted the gas. Other four men were injured. From Main body of report: The first fatal explosion took place in Bothwell Park Colliery, and by it one man lost his life and four men were injured. It appears that the night fireman inspected the road in which the explosion happened, and subsequently recorded in the report-book the finding of gas at the "brushing" face. The deceased brusher was sent to prepare a shot in the "brushing face," which he did, and charged the shot-hole with 1/4lb. of carbonite. using a tape fuse four or five feet long. The fireman thereafter lit the fuse, and when he and the brusher were retiring to a place of safety the explosion took place, burning them and other three men who were repairing the road about 50 yards distant from the shot-hole. That the explosion was caused by the fuse and not by the charge of carbonite was proved by the shot having gone off after the explosion. The fireman afterwards admitted that he lit the fuse while there was an accumulation of fire-damp at the face of the "brushing," and for his reckless conduct in disregarding the regulations he was prosecuted, but as he himself had been severely injured he was allowed to get off with a small fine. Safety lamps alone are used in the colliery. |
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| 1897 | March | 12 | East Roughrigg | Stirling | R Forrester | James | Jenkins | Miner | 25 | Falls of roof | Deceased worked in a longwall slope road. His attention was called to a "lype" which lay parallel to one side of his road, and a prop was set under the lip of the brushing. Finding that the prop was in his way when holing, he removed it, and some time thereafter the stone which it had been supporting fell upon him, killing him almost instantly. | Newspaper report - Stirling pages |
| 1897 | March | 17 | Fallahill | Linlithgow | Peter Thornton | Wm. | McKnight | Shunter | 31 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Deceased was between two loaded waggons to couple them, when they became buffer locked through the points being wrongly set, and he was fatally crushed. | |
| 1897 | March | 18 | Kirkwood No 2 | Lanark | Kirkwood Coal Co | John | Holmes | Assistant hanger-on | 50 | In shafts – falling into shaft from surface | Fell down shaft from surface by pushing a full hutch into open shaft, expecting the cage to have been there. From Main body of report: The second fatal accident occurred at Kirkwood Colliery during the night when the winding engine was being used to raise hutches of coal filled off the bing from the ground level up to the pithead. Although a man was appointed to attend to the gate fencing the entrance to the shaft at the ground level, and was instructed not to keep the gate open when the cage was not there, he failed to comply with the instructions and left the gate open while the cage was at the pithead. The result was that the deceased, evidently thinking that the cage was at the ground level, pushed a loaded hutch into the open shaft and fell after it. | Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages |
| 1897 | March | 19 | Earnock | Lanark | John Watson Ltd | James | Wyper | Miner | 13 | Falls of sides | Deceased, who had only been employed underground for ten days, worked with his father and two brothers. He was struck by a piece of falling coal, and sustained compound fractures of right leg above and below the knee. He subsequently succumbed to "exhaustion, the result of delayed union of fractures." | |
| 1897 | March | 21 | Foulshields | Linlithgow | Loganlea Coal Co Ltd | John | Livingstone | Pump attendant | 40 | In shafts – falling from part way down | Deceased went down the shaft to attend to the pumps, and by some means fell into the ''sump," and while struggling in the water the water-chest came down on him and he was drowned. | |
| 1897 | March | 22 | Drongan Castle | Ayr | Wm Black & Sons | Wm. | Huggart | Brusher | 40 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof on road while repairing it. | |
| 1897 | March | 22 | Prestongrange | Haddington | Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co | George | Goodwin | Manager | 45 | Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planes | Deceased was riding down a dook on a bogie behind an empty descending rake, when four empty tubs ran away from the top of the dook and overtook him. | |
| 1897 | March | 24 | Bannockburn No 1 | Stirling | Alloa Coal Co | James | Welsh | See entry under 12 November 1896 in section at top of page | ||||
| 1897 | March | 24 | Burnt Broom | Lanark | Dunn Brothers | John | Craig | Clerk | 19 | On Surface – On railways and tramways | Caught by a waggon while spragging it. | |
| 1897 | March | 24 | Kirkhill No 2 Pit | Lanark | Kirkhill Coal Co | Gilbert | Paterson | Miner | 49 | Falls of side | Fall of coal and "falling." | |
| 1897 | March | 24 | Skellyton | Lanark | Larkhall and Fairholm Collieries Co Ltd | William | Lindsay | Bottomer | 18 | In shafts – falling from part way down | Deceased pushed a loaded hutch into the shaft at a mid-working when the cage was not there. The gate at the mid-working was connected with an indicator in the engine-house as required by Special Rules, | |
| 1897 | March | 26 | Devon | Clackmannan | Alloa Coal Co | John | Nicol | Miner | 45 | Miscellaneous underground – irruptions of water | Rupture of door or valve in a dam. | See report |
| Peter | Allan | Oversman | 42 | |||||||||
| David | Allan | Drawer | 29 | |||||||||
| George | Blair | Fireman | 46 | |||||||||
| William | Grant | Haulageman | 22 | |||||||||
| Charles | Taylor | Roadsman | 57 | |||||||||
| 1897 | March | 29 | Balquhatstone | Stirling | John Nimmo & Son Ltd | Alex. | McMillan | Miner | 52 | Falls of roof | Deceased worked with his son in a longwall place which was stripping a downthrow. While near the fault shovelling out coal, a stone, estimated to weigh about a ton, dropped from between two lypes and killed him instantly. | Newspaper report - Stirling pages |
| 1897 | April | 3 | Ochiltree (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Linlithgow Oil Co Ltd | Hugh | Law | Brakesman | 15 | Miscellaneous underground – By machinery | Fell on to drum of self-acting incline which he was braking. | Newspaper report - Lothian pages |
| 1897 | April | 6 | Loanhead | Edinburgh | Shotts Iron Co Ltd | Edward | McManus | Miner | 24 | Falls of sides | Deceased was stooping in a seam having a dip of 45°. While holing near centre of stoop, a block of coal came away from a foul cleavage plane, and fell upon him, fracturing his skull. | |
| 1897 | April | 6 | Tannochside No 1 | Lanark | Calderbank Steel & Coal Co Ltd | Thos. | Russell | Miner | 58 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at stoops. | Newspaper report- Bothwell pages |
| 1897 | April | 12 | Blantyre No 1 | Lanark | Wm Dixon Ltd | Hugh | Donelly | Waggon shifter | 31 | On Surface – On railways and tramways | Run down by N. B. Railway engine while engaged waggon shifting. | |
| 1897 | April | 14 | Cadzow | Lanark | Cadzow Coal Co | Robert | Anderson | Stableman | 68 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Deceased was crossing the sidings from the stables when he was run down by a train of empty waggons. | |
| 1897 | April | 15 | New Cove (Sandstone) | Dumfries | New Cove Quarries Limited | Wm. | McLean | Quarryman | 21 | In quarries | While a stone was being swung round by a steam crane it fell upon him. He failed to keep clear as required by the regulations | |
| 1897 | April | 22 | North Motherwell No 3 | Lanark | Merry & Cunninghame Ltd | James | Waller | Miner | 22 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at cousie head. | Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages |
| 1897 | April | 24 | Woodend | Linlithgow | Coltness Iron Co Ltd | Henry | McNeil | Miner | 46 | Falls of roof | Deceased had contracted to take out a strip of coal between two adjacent goaves. He was setting props to secure the roof, when a large stone fell at his side and crushed him against the coal face; and before anything could be done to extricate him, he was completely buried by a second fall of about five tons. His skull was fractured and his spine injured. He died on the following day. | |
| 1897 | April | 26 | Lanemark No 1, Afton | Ayr | Lanemark Coal Co Ltd | Thos. | Gracie | Miner | 22 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at stoops. | |
| 1897 | April | 27 | Ladyha' | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Edward | McMechan | Assistant pit-headman | 60 | On Surface – On railways and tramways | Run over by waggons in a tunnel. | |
| 1897 | April | 27 | Loanhead | Edinburgh | Shotts Iron Co Ltd | Daniel | Potter | Brakesman | 38 | Miscellaneous underground – By machinery | Deceased came in contact with the drum while it was revolving, and thrown over against the frame, whereby he was crushed. | |
| 1897 | April | 30 | Bathville | Lanark | James Wood Ltd | William | Gorman | Drawer | 19 | Miscellaneous underground – sundries | Deceased was running in-bye along his drawing road, after taking breakfast, and is supposed to have fallen. Death was supposed to have resulted from syncope, produced by shock. | |
| 1897 | April | 30 | Pumpherston (Oil shale) | Edinburgh | Pumpherston Oil Co Ltd | George | Scott | Miner | 18 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | Deceased appears to have been charging or stemming a shot, and using a steel pinch or lever as a stemmer. The charge exploded, killing him on the spot, and seriously injuring a fellow workman. | |
| 1897 | May | 6 | Little Raith | Fife | Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd | Robt. | McGaughy | Wood sawyer | 23 | On surface – By machinery | While deceased was engaged sawing prop wood at a steam circular saw, a door swung to and threw him against the saw while it was in motion, and his jugular vein was cut. | Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| 1897 | May | 7 | Broxburn (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Broxburn Oil Co Ltd | James | McNee | Miner | 50 | Falls of roof | Deceased was driving a 12-feet place in the "Curly" seam, about 6 feet above the stooped waste of the "Broxburn" seam. The fireman detected a break in the roof which he considered to be dangerous, and requested him to set a prop to it. Deceased demurred, but as the fireman insisted, he agreed. While he was setting the prop, the roof suddenly gave way, killing him instantly. | |
| 1897 | May | 7 | Wallyford | Edinburgh | Deans & Moore | Robert | Gordon | Pony driver | 18 | Falls of roof | Deceased was taking a set of empty tubs inbye along a level road, when a fall of roof took place at a point where the road was barred and poled, the distance between the poling and the roof being about 3 feet. A large flat stone broke one pole, displaced some others, and fell upon deceased, killing him instantly. | |
| 1897 | May | 13 | Darngavil | Lanark | Darngavil Coal Co Ltd | James | White | Repairer | 53 | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | Deceased men and others, including the undermanager, were engaged in the pit on an idle day endeavouring to connect two places, in one of which there was firedamp : after endeavouring unsuccessfully to expel the firedamp by "waffing" and running a hutch backward and forward, it was agreed to fire a charge of gunpowder near the gas to "break it up," and while doing this an explosion took place. From Main body of report: The explosion at Darngavil Colliery was caused by an act of rashness and disregard of the provisions of the Coal Mines Act on the part of the undermanager, for which no excuse can be offered, except that the pit being off work no person was exposed to risk except those engaged in removing the gas. A suggestion to "break up" the gas by firing a charge of gunpowder appears to have been made by one of the deceased men, who had seen a similar operation performed in the bottom of a sinking pit, and was agreed to by the undermanager who nearly lost his life in the explosion that followed. The under-manager was fined £5 for a breach of General Rule 12 (g) of the Coal Mines Act. | Newspaper report - new Monkland pages |
| John | Port | Fireman | 35 | |||||||||
| 1897 | May | 22 | Alloa | Clackmannan | Alloa Coal Co | William | Leslie | Screenman | 75 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Run over by waggons which were being shunted at screens. | |
| 1897 | May | 27 | Oakbank (Oil shale) | Edinburgh | Oakbank Oil Co Ltd | John | Callender | Miner | 14 | Falls of sides | Deceased, who worked with his father, had just commenced his shift. He was "backening out" shale brought down by a shot fired on the previous day, when a large piece of midstone fell from the face, causing injuries which terminated fatally on the following day. | |
| 1897 | May | 28 | Muiravonside | Stirling | James Nimmo & Co Ltd | Francis | Lamond | Labourer | 35 | On Surface – Miscellaneous | Deceased and another were on the top of a pithead frame fixing a pulley-block with which to raise the stays, when it fell. | |
| 1897 | June | 2 | Farme No 3 | Lanark | Farme Coal Co Ltd | James | Winning | Night gaffer | 37 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof on main haulage road while repairing it. | |
| 1897 | June | 4 | Blairadam | Fife | Blairadam Coal Co Ltd | William | Lowe | Miner | 20 | Falls of roof | A fall of the rock roof took place at face of deceased's longwall working. | |
| 1897 | June | 10 | Murdostoun | Lanark | John McAndrew & Co | James | Martin | Miner | 22 | Falls of roof | Deceased was holing his coal in the rise side of his place, when the roof suddenly fell. | |
| 1897 | June | 11 | Cleland No 3 Pit | Lanark | Wm Dixon Ltd | John | Wilson, jr. | See entry under 11 September 1896 in section on top of this page | ||||
| 1897 | June | 11 | Dalbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Thomas | Duncan | Miner | 51 | Falls of sides | Deceased was holing the coal in his long wall face, when a quantity came over on him from between two sprags. | |
| 1897 | June | 16 | Merryton | Lanark | Merryton Coal Co | Robert | Dick | Miner | 45 | Falls of roof | While engaged with others drawing props from part where stoop had been extracted, a stone fell from the roof on deceased. | |
| 1897 | June | 16 | Westrigg | Lanark | James Wood Ltd | Matthew | Somerville | Labourer | 21 | In shafts – falling into shaft from surface | Deceased was engaged running tubs filled with ashes from boiler furnaces to the shaft, and putting them on the cage at bottom scaffold, from whence they were raised to the top scaffold and emptied on the dirt bing ; he inadvertently opened the gate and pushed a tub into shaft when cage was not there, and was precipitated to the bottom. | Newspaper report - Lothian pages |
| 1897 | June | 17 | Bonnyton No 8 | Ayr | Gilmour, Anderson & Co | David | Storrie | Miner | 36 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | Newspaper Report - Ayrshire pages |
| 1897 | June | 21 | North Motherwell No 1 | Lanark | Merry & Cunninghame Ltd | Richard | Menzies | Miner | 43 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages |
| 1897 | June | 23 | Auchenharvie No 1 Pit | Ayr | Glengarnock Iron & Steel Co Ltd | Wm. | Hamilton | Miner | 24 | Falls of side | Fall of stone from the side of a dook. | |
| 1897 | June | 23 | Banknock, Livingstone Pit | Stirling | John Young & Co | Wm. | Ovenand | Oversman | 35 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof on main road while redding a previous fall. | Newspaper report - Stirling pages |
| 1897 | June | 24 | Cowdenbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Joseph | Sharp | Miner | 51 | Falls of sides | Deceased was holing the coal when it came over on him. | |
| 1897 | July | 3 | Dalmeny (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Dalmeny Oil Co Ltd | Wm. | Williamson | Oncostman | 26 | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | Deceased and another oncostman went through a fence into an abandoned rising road to get rails, when gas was kindled by their naked lights. From Main body of report: The explosion at Dalmeny Oil Shale Mine was caused by an accumulation of fire-damp in an abandoned exploring place, being ignited by one of the open lights of two oncostmen, who had entered it for the purpose of lifting rails. The place was fenced off and known to contain gas, and it appeared that the existence of gas in it was known to the oncostmen, who should not have entered the place until authorised by the fireman, but, as in a conversation with the undermanager and fireman the place had been mentioned, amongst others, as containing rails, they may have thought themselves justified in going into it. |
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| 1897 | July | 6 | Whitehill | Edinburgh | Lothian Coal Co Ltd | James | Brown | Miner | 42 | Falls of roof | Deceased and another were driving a 12-feet place through a stoop. They had taken out the coal for a distance of about 5 feet in advance of the lip of the brushing, under which they had set two props. In taking down their last cut of coal, they had relieved a lype. Deceased was filling some coal into a tub, when a quantity of blaes fell upon him, crushing him so severely that he died on the following day. | |
| 1897 | July | 7 | Eddlewood | Lanark | John Watson Ltd | John | McLauchlan | Labourer | 25 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Deceased was cleaning weeds off the engine road between the screening sheds, when he was run down by a tank locomotive, which passed over both of his legs. He succumbed to his injuries on the following day. | |
| 1897 | July | 7 | Lochgelly | Fife | Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd | Chas. | Fitzsimmons | Oiler | 60 | Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planes | While attending to his duties on an endless rope haulage road a rake of full hutches became detached from the rope, and ran back to deceased and crushed him. | |
| 1897 | July | 9 | Neilsland | Lanark | John Watson Ltd | James | Richardson | Roadsman | 20 | Falls of roof | Deceased and some others were drawing the props in a road which had been cut off, deceased being in charge. While knocking out a prop, a large flat stone suddenly fell from the roof, its edge striking him, and causing injuries to which he succumbed on the following day. | |
| 1897 | July | 31 | Cowdenbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | David | Westwood | Miner | 48 | Falls of sides | Fall of coal at face of heading. | |
| 1897 | July | 31 | Struther | Lanark | Struther Coal Co | William | Russell | Miner | 28 | Falls of roof | Deceased was engaged wedging down coal, when the roof suddenly fell and buried him and his neighbour. The stone fell away from a lype unseen,and the baring of the coal left it inadequately supported. | |
| 1897 | August | 1 | Shotts | Lanark | Shotts Iron Co Ltd | Andrew | Duncan | Joiner | 40 | In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery | New wheels were being put in at shaft bottom for haulage and deceased was engaged at the frames; he had occasion to ascend the shaft to get some parts connected with the frames, and while being raised he by some means unknown fell off the cage. | Newspaper report - Shotts pages |
| 1897 | August | 4 | Clyde | Lanark | Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co Ltd | John | Rowan | Roadsman | 56 | Falls of roof | Deceased was engaged alone doing some repairs on a disused horse road, and while so engaged the roof fell and pinned him to the ground. He was discovered alive about fifteen hours afterwards. A fireman passed near to the place while he was under the stone, but did not hear his cries for help. | |
| 1897 | August | 4 | Hallside | Lanark | Jas Dunlop & Co Ltd | Gavin | Marshall | Miner | 17 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages |
| 1897 | August | 5 | Glenboig (Fireclay) | Lanark | Glenboig Union Fireclay Co Ltd | Frank | Armstrong | Driver | 25 | Falls of roof | Deceased was proceeding down the horse dook, leading his horse, when the roof which was a brick arch gave way, and fell on him. | |
| 1897 | August | 6 | Donibristle | Fife | Donibristle Colliery Co | Jane | Paterson | Pithead worker | 23 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Run over by waggons on the colliery siding. | Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| 1897 | August | 7 | Portland No 8 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | James | Scobie | Miner | 53 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof and coal. | |
| 1897 | August | 11 | Wemyss | Fife | Wemyss Coal Co Ltd | Samuel | McNeish | Sinker | 28 | Falls of sides | Deceased was drilling a shot hole at the face of a crossent mine when a large stone suddenly fell upon him, killing him almost instantly. The stone had probably been shaken by some shots fired about four hours previously, although deceased's fellow workmen failed to see any indication of danger. | |
| 1897 | August | 12 | Garturk, Bank No 1 | Lanark | Wm Dixon Ltd | James | Thom, jun | Miner | 17 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages |
| 1897 | August | 17 | Neilston No 3 Mine | Stirling | James Wood Ltd | John | Monachan | Drawer | 17 | Miscellaneous underground – By ropes and chains breaking | By the breaking of a rope on a "cuddie-brae," the "cuddie" ran away and struck deceased. | |
| 1897 | August | 18 | Common No 6 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | James | Brown | Miner | 45 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | After lighting the match of a shot and retiring round a corner, he looked back to see if the match was burning, when the shot went off, and he was struck by a stone. | |
| 1897 | August | 18 | Herbertshire No 3 | Stirling | Robt Addie & Sons Collieries Ltd | Frances | Donachie | Drawer | 16 | Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubs | A drawer allowed his hutch to run away on an incline, and it struck deceased at the foot. | Newspaper report - Stirling pages |
| 1897 | August | 21 | Sanquhar, Gateside Pit | Dumfries | J I McConnell | Archd. | Wilson | Fireman | 40 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof while drawing props at the stooping. | Newspaper report - Dumfriesshire pages |
| 1897 | August | 26 | Blantyre No 3 | Lanark | Wm Dixon Ltd | Thos. | McDonald | Miner | 27 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working place at stoops. | Newspaper Report - Blantyre pages |
| 1897 | August | 31 | Limerigg | Stirling | John Nimmo & Son Ltd | Allan | Farmer | Drawer | 18 | Falls of roof | Deceased was filling a hutch at a point in an old road where a new place was broken off, when the roof above where the coal had been extracted fell over on to him. | |
| 1897 | September | 3 | Broomhouse | Lanark | Haughhead Coal Co Ltd | Edward | Cameron | Drawer | 17 | Miscellaneous underground – By ropes and chains breaking | While walking up the dook, worked by an endless rope, the rope broke, and he was run over by a full hutch. | Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages |
| 1897 | September | 3 | Clackmannan | Clackmannan | Clackmannan Coal Co | David | Muir | Brusher | 34 | Falls of roof | Deceased and another were brushing a slope road head. Deceased knocked out the props which supported the brushing, and thereafter tapped it; and, although it was cut along the centre by a longwall break, considered it to be safe, and was passing out underneath it when it fell upon him, inflicting injuries which resulted fatally two hours later. Deceased might readily have got out by passing along the longwall face to the nearest branch road. | |
| 1897 | September | 4 | Devon | Clackmannan | Alloa Coal Co | David | Anderson | Drawer | 22 | Falls of sides | Deceased had gone inbye to a working place for a tub, and while the miners were completing the loading of it, he began to shear the coal. A large block came away suddenly from a foul cleavage plane and rolled over him, fracturing his pelvis. The miner had sounded the coal immediately before, and believed it to be safe. | |
| 1897 | September | 8 | Fairholm | Lanark | Larkhall and Fairholm Collieries Co Ltd | John | Hodge | Brusher | 26 | Falls of roof | Deceased and some others were brushing a slope road. He was setting brushing trees when a large stone suddenly fell upon him causing injuries to which he succumbed two days after. | |
| 1897 | September | 9 | Dunmore (Sandstone) | Stirling | Baird & Stevenson | Michael | Cusick | Labourer | 45 | In quarries | Found with his neck broken at the foot of a heap of debris, having apparently fallen over. | |
| 1897 | September | 11 | Auchlochan | Lanark | W C S Cunningham | William | Barrie | Fireman | 60 | Falls of roof | Deceased and two others were brushing a short piece of a main road which had become too low. He had driven a wedge into the brushing and stepped back a few feet to lift a crowbar, when a quantity of fireclay slipped off the roadside and fell upon his legs, breaking them in several places. He succumbed to his injuries 5 days later. | |
| 1897 | September | 20 | Viewpark No 1 | Lanark | R Addie & Sons Collieries Ltd | Joseph | Currie | Miner | 29 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | Newspaper report- Bothwell pages |
| 1897 | September | 28 | Bothwell Castle No 3 | Lanark | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | James | McGregor | Brusher | 26 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at brushing face. | Newspaper Report - Blantyre pages |
| 1897 | September | 29 | Dechmont No 1 | Lanark | Dechmont Colliery Co Ltd | Andrew | Millar | Chain runner | 25 | Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planes | Crushed against the roof while riding up dook on front of "race." | Newspaper Report - Blantyre pages |
| 1897 | September | 29 | Drumpeller, Nos 3 and 4 Pits | Lanark | Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co | Bernard | Rodgers | Fireman | 60 | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | While making his morning inspection with a naked light, he ignited an accumulation of fire-damp. From Main body of report: The second fatal explosion happened in Nos. 3 and 4 pits, Drumpeller, and was caused by an old fireman, 60 years of age, making his morning inspection with his naked light. While looking for gas in this manner he found it, and paid the penalty of his rashness with his life. | Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages |
| 1897 | October | 5 | Cowdenbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | James | Bryden | Pony driver | 13 | Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubs | Deceased had apparently been standing up in a tub of an empty rake while rake was proceeding in-bye, and his head had come into contact with the roof gearing, whereby he was thrown back among the tubs and crushed. | |
| 1897 | October | 5 | Fairlie Colliery, Windyedge Pit | Ayr | W C S Cuninghame | John | Fulton | Miner | 43 | Falls of side | Fall of coal while holing. Due to want of sprags. | |
| 1897 | October | 11 | Newliston (Oil shale) | Linlithgow | Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co Ltd | John | Walker | Drawer | 19 | Explosions of fire damp or coal dust | Deceased and another were driving a slope road up through some stoops near to the outcrop. While the latter was charging a shot, the former went up an adjoining upset for a private purpose, and ignited some gas with his naked light. The upset had been inspected by the fireman about eight hours previously, and reported clear; and his chalk mark was subsequently found in it. From Main body of report: The explosion at Newliston Oil Shale Mine was due to the ignition of fire-damp by the open light of a drawer, who had gone into an old place for a private purpose. |
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| 1897 | October | 16 | Merryton | Lanark | Merryton Coal Co | John | Smith | Miner | 55 | Falls of roof | Deceased were driving a place alongside a stoop when a large stone fell on them. | Newspaper report - Hamilton pages |
| James | Smith | Miner | 15 | |||||||||
| 1897 | October | 18 | Garturk, Bank pit | Lanark | Wm Dixon Ltd | John | McLaren | Miner | 50 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face while holing. | |
| 1897 | October | 19 | Ballochmyle Nos 5 & 4 | Ayr | Wm. Walker Hood | Robert | Cree | Overman | 47 | In shafts – falling from part way down | While descending the shaft, a fall of roof took place at the mouth of an air-drift at the ground level, and the falling stones crashed through the cage cover. The two deceased and another man fell out of the cage, while a fourth, who remained in the cage, was injured. From Main body of report: The third fatal accident happened at Ballochmyle Colliery, and by it the overman and a miner were killed, and the fireman and another miner were injured. The downcast shaft is 10 feet in diameter and lined from top to bottom with 10 inch brickwork. At the ground level there is a drift extending from the shaft to the open air outside the pithead retaining wall. The roof of this drift was composed of timbering, and the space between the timbering and the plates on the pithead, a height of 12 feet, was filled with stones and debris. While the cage containing the 4 men was being lowered, the timbering above the drift gave way close to the shaft, and the result was that the debris poured down the shaft, broke the cage cover and knocked out three of the occupants who fell to the bottom of the shaft. |
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| Jos. | Calligan | Miner | 26 | |||||||||
| 1897 | October | 20 | Hamilton Palace | Lanark | Bent Colliery Co Ltd | John | McGroarty | Miner | 18 | Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planes | While travelling out to pit-bottom, he was run over by an empty hutch on the haulage road. | Newspaper report - Hamilton pages |
| 1897 | October | 22 | Walkinshaw No 2 | Renfrew | Merry & Cunninghame Ltd | John | Rennie | Drawer | 15 | In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery | While descending the shaft with other seven persons, he fell out of the cage. From Main body of report: The fourth fatal accident was caused by the deceased falling out of the cage in some unexplained manner while being lowered in the shaft along with other seven persons. |
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| 1897 | October | 25 | Redding | Stirling | James Nimmo & Co Ltd | James | Ritchie | Brusher | 33 | Falls of roof | Deceased and his neighbour were engaged building the stones blasted down from brushing, and while doing so the roof fell and crushed his head on a part of the building. | Newspaper report - Stirling pages |
| 1897 | October | 26 | Earnock | Lanark | John Watson Ltd | John | Miles | Pithead worker | 49 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Crushed between an empty and half-loaded waggon at the screens. | Newspaper report - Hamilton pages |
| 1897 | October | 28 | Foulshields | Linlithgow | Loganlea Coal Co Ltd | John | Barrons | Bottomer | 55 | In shafts – falling from part way down | Deceased pushed a loaded hutch into the shaft at a mid-working when the cage was not there. The gate at the mid-working was connected with an indicator in the engine-house as required by Special Rules, but the Rules appear to have been disregarded as to the working of the gate as it was kept open constantly. | |
| 1897 | October | 29 | Shieldhall | Stirling | Carron Co | John | Thomson | Miner | 63 | Falls of roof | While proceeding inbye with an empty tub, and when near his working place the roof suddenly fell, part striking the tub and part striking deceased. | Newspaper report - Stirling pages |
| 1897 | November | 11 | Cowdenbeath | Fife | Fife Coal Co Ltd | Archibald | Penman | Labourer | 35 | On surface – By machinery | Deceased was engaged with others in putting a belt on a pulley in connection with a coal washing machine, and in returning he passed through another belt and, stumbling, he was caught and drawn into the pulley. | |
| 1897 | November | 13 | Pollock Lochinch Pit | Renfrew | Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co Ltd | Thos. | Urie | Furnaceman | 45 | On Surface – Miscellaneous | Collapse of a brick retaining wall. From Main body of report: The only fatal accident which did not happen on a railway was caused by the collapse of a brick wall in front of a range of boilers, the wall having been unable to withstand the pressure of the dross heaped up behind it. |
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| 1897 | November | 15 | Kames No 1 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | John | Blyth | Roadsman | 55 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof on horse road while repairing it. | |
| 1897 | November | 15 | Niddrie | Edinburgh | Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd | Alexander | Milne | Miner | 25 | Falls of sides | Fall of coal at face. Deceased lay for some hours before he was relieved. | |
| 1897 | November | 16 | Grangemouth | Stirling | Grangemouth Coal Co Ltd | Alex. | Marshall | Accident was included in 1898 report - see section on 1898 page | ||||
| 1897 | November | 22 | Lassodie | Fife | Thos. Spowart & Co Ltd | Patrick | Condron | Labourer | 65 | On Surface – On railways, sidings or tramways | Deceased had finished his work for the day, and went to lift the jacket of another workman from off the drawbar hook of a waggon, when locomotive engine pushed another waggon up, and fatally crushed him. | Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| 1897 | November | 23 | Polquhairn | Ayr | Polquhairn Coal Co | Andrew | Stuart | Miner | 17 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | |
| 1897 | November | 24 | Portland Nos 6 and 7 | Ayr | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | Gilbert | Aird | Waggon trimmer | 13 | On Surface – On railways and tramways | Crushed between top of waggon and scree. | |
| 1897 | November | 28 | Blochairn (Sandstone) | Lanark | Ralph P. Meiklem | Robert | Brooks | Pump attendant | 21 | In quarries | While walking
along the brink of the quarry he fell over it. It was not fenced as
required by the regulations From Main Body of Report: With reference to the fatal accident in Blochairn, the deceased was walking along the unfenced brink of the quarry in the dark to go and visit a pump placed in the quarry. It is supposed that the wind blew out his lamp, or that he stumbled and fell over to the bottom: a distance of 50 feet. The manager was prosecuted for failing to fence the top of the quarry as required by the special rules. He pled guilty to the charge and was dismissed with an admonition. |
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| 1897 | November | 30 | Greenfield | Lanark | A Russell | Joseph | Chapman | Miner | 50 | Falls of roof | Deceased was engaged taking down coal, when the roof suddenly fell upon him. The stone was relieved when the coal was taken off. | |
| 1897 | December | 8 | Barrwood No 2 | Stirling | Wm Baird & Co Ltd | David | Marshall | Brusher | 41 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at roadhead while brushing the pavement. | Newspaper report - Stirling pages |
| 1897 | December | 10 | Hartwoodhill | Lanark | Shotts Iron Co Ltd | John | Graham | Fireman | 39 | Falls of roof | Deceased entered a longwall place for the purpose of making his second inspection for the day. He crawled under the brushing, and had just reached the face when a large stone suddenly fell upon him, killing him instantly. | |
| 1897 | December | 11 | Hareshaw | Lanark | Hareshaw Coal Co | James | Gillilin | Miner | 28 | Miscellaneous underground – sundries | Deceased had the fingers of his right hand slightly injured by his loaded tub roofing ; blood poisoning set in, and he died three weeks thereafter. | |
| 1897 | December | 13 | Loganlea | Edinburgh | Loganlea Coal Co Ltd | Alexander | Brown | Bencher | 14 | Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planes | Deceased was riding up an engine dook in front of a set of loaded tubs. He fell or was knocked off, and received injuries which resulted fatally about an hour after. He had not received permission to ride, and was warned against it by some fellow-workmen who saw him leave the landing. | |
| 1897 | December | 13 | Newbattle | Edinburgh | Lothian Coal Co Ltd | William | Campbell | Repairer | 22 | Falls of roof | Deceased and others were repairing a dook road when a stone fell from the roof on him. | |
| 1897 | December | 17 | Cumbernauld (Fireclay mine) | Dumbarton | Glenboig Union Fireclay Co Ltd | James | Blair | Miner | 37 | Falls of side | Fall of fireclay at working face. | |
| 1897 | December | 18 | Wemyss | Fife | Wemyss Coal Co Ltd | George | Laing | Miner | 56 | Falls of sides | Deceased was proceeding up the rise side of his place to take off his holed coal, when it fell on him. | |
| 1897 | December | 21 | Fordell | Fife | Fordell Trustees | James | Burt | Wheeler | 51 | Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planes | Two loaded tubs were run from the top of a cut chain brae, and when down a short distance they stopped ; in order to restart them deceased began to "pump" the rope, and when they moved off suddenly the rope left the wheel and, breaking the frame, got entirely free of the wheel, the tubs on the brae consequently ran away dragging the rope with them, and deceased was struck with the rope as it passed down. | |
| 1897 | December | 27 | Glencraig | Fife | Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co Ltd | John | Glidden | Bottomer | 37 | In shafts – falling from part way down | Deceased pushed a loaded hutch into the shaft at a mid-working when the cage was not there. The gate at the mid-working had been connected with an indicator in the engine-house as required by Special Rules, but the wire forming the connection had broken during the previous shift and had not been repaired. | |
| 1897 | December | 27 | Home Farm | James | Wilson | natural causes (Not listed) | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages | ||||
| 1897 | December | 28 | Dechmont No 1 | Lanark | Dechmont Colliery Co Ltd | John | Mathieson | Miner | 40 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof at working face. | Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages |
| 1897 | December | 30 | Bridgeness | Linlithgow | Bridgeness Coal Co | George | Sneddon | Contractor | 38 | Miscellaneous underground – By explosives | A brushing shot was prepared in the pavement and charged with gunpowder. Deceased inadvertently lighted the gunpowder train ofthe squib instead of the wick, and the shot exploded on him before he got out of harm's way. | |