Roof supports in rock-crush mine ‘not fit for purpose’
AMAN who rescued a fellow miner after a half-ton rock fell on him said roof supports in the mine where the accident happened were “not fit for purpose” – and told a court a safety document signed was ‘fabricated’.
Huw Thomas went to the aid of Gwyn Woodward following the incident at the Danygraig colliery near Crynant in the Dulais Valley May 15, 2017, when cheap wooden roof supports gave way at the coal face.
He saved the life of colleague Gwyn Woodland, who had become wedged under the rock, by smashing through the rock with a sledgehammer and leading him to safety, before returning to the mine to make it safe.
The company which owned the drift mine, Three Ds Mining Ltd, is on trial at Swansea Crown Court accused of breaches of health and safety laws - offences it denies.
Mr Woodland, who suffered broken bones in his spine and other injuries and has been unable to return to work, gave evidence to the court yesterday, in which he said he had raised safety concerns with mine manager Vivian Gedamke and mine manager Dave Jones.
The concerns centre around material used for roof supports; instead of standard “flats” traditionally used in Welsh mines – vertical posts split down the middle length-ways and used horizontally – the workers had been “cheap” broken pallet boards which the prosecution argues were less than half the thickness and not up to the job.
Taking to the dock to give evidence, Mr Thomas was asked by Alan Fuller, on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, whether he thought the pallets they were using at a coalface called North West Nine were safe for use.
Mr Thomas said they were used to working with timber which two metres long and 50 ml thick, but “all of a sudden” they were provided with pallets which had been broken up, and were half the length and thickness.
“They were virtually half the size and would say quarter of the strength,” said Mr Thomas. “They were not fit for purpose. They would bend in the middle and split before any weight was put on it.”
He added: “I have worked in mines for more than 30 years and I have never seen timber as flimsy as that to support the face”.
James Buchanan, for Three Ds Mining, asked Mr Thomas about a statement he made to the Health and Safety Executive following the accident, and why it didn’t include any mention of complaints made to mine owner to Dave Jones.
“I do not know but I assure you I did complain about that timber. I complained a number of times and other colliers did.”
He added that he did not mention the flats to Mr Jones two days later when Mr Jones told him the mine was closing.
“Maybe, but I did on numerous occasions,” he replied.
Mr Buchanan also asked about a pre-shift report signed by Mr Gedamke which said the supports in mine were satisfactory and that it was safe to work.
Mr Thomas said the inspection did not take place.
Mr Buchanan asked: “You are saying it [the document] is fabricated?”
“Without a shadow of doubt,” replied Mr Thomas.
The trial continues.