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Underground Checks
Two of these were issued to all miners when going underground. One to be handed in to the Banksman/Onsetter when first entering the cage, to go down the mine, the other to be given in, on your return to the surface to the same Banksman/Onsetter.
Self Rescuer
All miners had to carry one of these contraptions, on their belts, at all times. The reson? Quite simply in case of gas. They had to whip it out of its shell and put it on ASAP in case of an emergency. In fact it was a mini-gas mask. Provides emergency respiratory protection against carbon monoxide gas resulting from underground fires or explosions. A one-time-use device
for escape purposes only, it provides respiratory protection against carbon monoxide in otherwise respirable air. Should not be used in atmospheres containing less than 19.5 percent oxygen or in atmospheres containing
other toxic gases and vapors.
Deputy's Safety Lamp
To ensure that dangerous gases do not accumulate. originally, men carried flame safety lamps (Davy lamps) for illumination. But once electric lights came in, these were abandoned by the workforce.
The Deputy however continued to use the lamp because it can
demonstrate to presence of methane (fire damp), and carbon diaoxide
(stythe) easily and cheaply.
The flame safety lamp is still in use by Deputies in British Collieries today. Before the Davy lamp, the Deputy used to disperse methane by buring it off.
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