Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Sad day for all concerned with these gentlemen, RIP.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Another thing also if by any chance this was n unsafe by mining standards working, like yeh said Gynn, its 2011, i have no doubt the cause will be uncovered,with investigation, but thats fer another day.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Has there been any suggestion that the mine was using unsafe practice........I can't recall hearing anything or for that matter reading anything about the safety of the mine........and in any case, if there was such a suggestion, we should wait until investigations have taken place before casting aspersions.
Nothing should detract from the sadness of the community at a time like this.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

i think i heard that it had been closed for a while

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

And did it say why it was closed Shaz?
Just thinking that it may have been for economic reasons......I think I have read or maybe heard, that it was only bringing out a small amount of coal each year.
There was nothing about the safety of the mine in the article I read this morning,or the one I read online yesterday.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Gleision Colliery

Some info here as to the history of the colliery.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Thank you for that information Lindsay.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Reading the information, it sounds like getting the coal out is a job of hard graft......and in inhospitable conditions too.

The men were doing what men have been doing since caveman times....supporting and providing for their family.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Margaret, that's just what i thought when I read it, hard, dirty graft for little reward. Apparently only 8 employees there and now half of them gone, it's very sad.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

This drift mine changed hands in 2006, with the former owners having gone bust.
The miners were working on an extended bit of the workings...for which they had sought council consent, which had been granted, after much research/recognition of the dangers and with rigorous conditions for the consent, being laid down.
The mine also passed the pit inspection in 2010.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

Well another miner has died in the UK.

I'm sorry, but I still can't believe that in 2011 its acceptable in the UK for human beings to have to put themselves in danger in this way to make a profit for someone else. It's obscene.

Re: Welsh Mine Deaths
 

There are many dangerous occupations that men and women pursue, so that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their head.
Sometimes it is not the fault of the owners of the mine, but human beings are fallible and sometimes make mistakes.......sometimes they don't follow laid down principles of safety.......they may cut corners in an attempt to make more money in their pay packet.(I am not saying that this is what happened in this case.)
The HSE will, I am sure, be investigating this death....and if it was caused by inappropriate action/ bad practice will make recommendations and may even prosecute.