HSE And Police Investigate Fatal Incident

A workplace injury expert at Irwin Mitchell has called for authorities to work quickly and thoroughly to investigate the death of a miner following a roof collapse at the Kellingley Colliery pit in North Yorkshire.

Police and the Health and Safety Executive are examining what happened in the incident yesterday (September 27th), when two miners were reportedly trapped by debris for around three hours after the collapse at the site.

One of the men died at the scene, while the other was taken to Pinderfields Hospital for treatment for his injuries. The incident is thought to be the latest in several fatal accidents at the mine in the past couple of years, while it also comes weeks after four miners died in an incident at Gleision Colliery in south Wales.

David Urpeth, national head of workplace injury at Irwin Mitchell, acts for the families of people who have suffered serious injuries or been killed in accidents at work.

Commenting on this incident, he said: “It is clear that answers are needed over this terrible work accident and it is vital that the investigation which has been launched by authorities goes as far as possible to provide them.

“It is also hugely concerning to see this accident occur just weeks after the terrible events at the Gleision Colliery and we hope that a full examination of mining safety standards is undertaken with a view to preventing the same problems being seen anywhere else.

“The safety of workers should always be a priority and it is vital that as many lessons as possible can be learnt from both of these devastating incidents.”