The Huskar Pit Disaster - Confined Spaces and Water

Majestic and powerful, nature often creates some of the most awe-inspiring sights, seen and revered by generations, but these sights are rarely benign even in the most tranquil of situations.

The village of Silkstone Common near Barnsley, South Yorkshire is a beautiful place with woodland and rolling hills, historically famed for the 'Silkstone seam', which was mined for generations.

Linked to the Moorend Colliery to provide ventilation, could the incident that unfolded at Huskar Pit remind us of why we have certain provisions in place when looking at the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and the updated Mines Regulations 2014?

Similar to the weather experienced in recent weeks the 4th July 1838 was a hot and humid day, which would give way to a nightmarish thunderstorm that caused devastation to the village and surrounding area.

Water flooded the Moorend Colliery boiler yard extinguishing the furnace and rendering the winder inoperable preventing a speedy evacuation of over 170 people. Fearing the consequences of flooding, instruction was given for everyone to stay together at the pit bottom while a slow manual evacuation took place.

The Mines Regulations 2014 says that the mine operator must ensure that inrush into any working in a mine of water or material that flows or is likely to flow when wet, from any source is prevented.

Oblivious to the unfolding events on the surface the workers mistake a clap of thunder for the ignition of firedamp and in the ensuing panic 40 children disregard the instruction to remain at the pit bottom - this miscommunication will have fatal consequences.

The Confined Spaces ACOP touches on the importance of 'unambiguous' communication for workers inside and outside of the confined space as well as in the event of an emergency.

Stating that an 'adequate communication system must be in place and can be based on speech, tugs on a rope, the telephone and radio etc'.

Tragically the children climb 15m to the old Huskar Pit, knowing that as a drift they will be able to walk out to the surface.

A part filled hole in the ground hides the sloping remains of the Huskar Pit day hole where 40 children attempted to make their escape. To the right of this image lies a stream, which on that day became violently engorged and raging.

Pushing open a heavy oak ventilation door the children made their way up at the same time as the stream burst its bank - water poured down the drift.

Rapidly the weight and power of the water took their feet and prevented their attempts to retreating back through those heavy oak doors.

Ironically, ventilation doors would normally be doors of life, allowing breathable air to enter the workings and facilitate the removal of a contaminated atmosphere. Out of forty children aged between seven and seventeen twenty-six were pinned against that heavy oak door and drowned.

The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 has five 'Specified Risks', which every reasonable person involved in this topic should be familiar, but for the purpose of this article I will highlight two:

• the drowning of any person at work arising from an increase in the level of liquid
• the asphyxiation of any person at work arising from a free flowing solid or the inability to reach a respirable environment due to entrapment by a free flowing solid

Is there enough recognition within industry about physical water hazards, such as:

• Debris - what tools equipment and supplies are commonplace, which could become mobile in the presence of flowing water? This debris can cause personal injury, structural damage and obstructions in a confined space.
• Siphon - water flows under and around and object with a gap underneath it, such as a piece of plant. This could cause a person to be sucked down and under the object and trapped.
• Inspection covers - often the job itself for confined space operatives. A fast inrush of water can cause vortices, which are extremely powerful. If there is extensive flooding the drain covers can be displaced due to the force of water and hidden from view.
• Abutments - underground structures will have supporting features, which could trap or pin a person or equipment when in the presence of water.
• Strainers - what furniture is present in your confined spaces? Ladders, safety barriers and fencing is a common feature, but what happens when flowing water makes an appearance? Water will pass through it easily, but not a solid object like a person who will likely be pinned as a result.

The list is non-exhaustive, but terrifying to consider and the full weight of your safe systems of work, permits, risk assessments, isolations, purchasing, training and competency schemes should all have a part to play.

Modern flooding events have become more commonplace in recent years with infrastructure damaged and recovery hampered by such events. Could workers become affected by a small stream a few meters away from their workplace because they didn't know it was there?

The Huskar Pit Disaster was a tragedy, but the UK safety system evolved around tragedies like these to become one of the most pro-active safety systems in the world.

Likely the biggest tragedy would come from a modern incident where we didn't learn from past mistakes.