COLLIERY GAS DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1938, Page 10

COLLIERY GAS DEATH

C-xLRBON MONOXIDE. GESSNOCK, August 13. The case of Allen Dyson, a deputy,who was overcome by carbon monoxide when cleaning- .out gas -at Aberdare Central colliery, was described: at the inquest to-day as being unique: in Australia!) mining history. It was .stated that, after intensive' investigation it has been .discovered that the carbon monoxide had been generated in a small heap of coal by. the oxidisation of the heap on a timber scaffolding.

Dyson was overcome when lie stood cn the scaffolding, which had been erected beneath a cavity in one of the bortls, which ho was preparing to clear of gas.' An unexpected development was the discovery that he had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Analysis showed there was no. oxygen in the cavity, and that Dyson would immediately collapse on the scaffolding , where there was comparatively pure atULOspliere, where becould get oxygen and breathe long; enough to .absorb carbon monoxide, • The Coroner’s finding was acei-j dental death from carbon monoxide: poisoning, to -which the absence of exyge-n in the cavity was contributory/

I NT ENS IVE INVEST IG AT lON. Senior Inspector R. P. Jack said that Dyson and another fully qualified deputy were engaged in the work of clearing out gas which had' been detected. They ' had with them the means of detecting normal gas in the mines, There had been no indication of the presence of carbon monoxide in the mine, and it was thought at first that Dyson hud met his death as a result of oxygen starvation. He knew that he could breathe in an explosive mixture, but he did not know what wc know now, after having found his blood saturated with 70 per cent, of carbon mon oxide.

“A very close investigation to solve the problem of the- origin of the carbon niono-xidc had to be instituted,” said Inspector Jack. Explosions and fires heating any sources where there might be incomplete combustion, were all gradually ruled out. An analysis ■taken before anything was disturbed in the cavity where Dyson was working showed a complete lack of oxygen and 512.5 of methane. De could not breathe in that atmosphere, .and the testimony showed that he would collapse immediately, and then, at the intake to the cavity, where there was meic or less pure atmosphere, lie could get oxygen and only there lie could get the carbon monoxide. “Tho point then arose liow the curLun monoxide was generated. Jt was of vital importance to all in the industry that tho question should be solved satisfactorily. There was a., email heap, of coal on the scaffolding which had fretted awa.y from the cavity, and the inevitable conclusion was that the carbon monoxide was generated in that heap. The heap was admirably saturated tor the purpose and it was in that way we suggested he met his death. It was definitely established that the carbon monoxide was not given off from the seam. By the process of oxidisation of Die heap on the timber, the carbon monoxide had been generated.”

Air B. A. IJelmore, ter Caledonian Collieries, Ltd., congratulated Inspector .'ack for the fhoioughness of ills investigalion and the skill which he hud brought to bear. By a process of elimination he had established the source of the gas. The place where tho deputy met his death was not. a

working place in the ordinary- sense

It had been fenced off and made part of tho waste workings. Wlum gas accuniulacd. it was the duly of the management to clear it out, ami that was being done al. the lime of the I ra god'y.