Sources on coal mining safety, health and welfare
This guide provides information about key sources at the Modern Records Centre which relate to safety, health and welfare in the mining industry. This is not a comprehensive list but is intended to give a sample of the sort of material held at the Centre - other sources can be found by searching our .
Trade union archives
Miners' Federation of Great Britain
The MFGB's annual volumes of , 1894-1944, include information about the work of the union on a range of issues relating to safety, health and welfare, including campaigns relating to working conditions and responses to individual colliery disasters.
The catalogue of the MFGB collection includes a small section on . This includes:
- into the cause of explosions and other serious accidents causing loss of life at collieries between 1890-1908 in connection with the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, [c.1908].
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Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines: submitted by the MFGB, 1936; and , 1939.
- , MFGB pamphlet, 1938.
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Royal Commission on Workmen's Compensation: submitted by the MFGB, 1939.
The collection also contains government publications collected as research material. These include:
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: annual reports for 1921-1924, 1927-1929, 1931-1932, 1934-1935, 1938.
- : district reports for 1922-1938 (incomplete series).
- : annual reports for 1932 and 1936.
- : annual reports for 1929, 1934-1936, 1938.
- : annual reports for 1927, 1929-1930, 1932-1935, 1937.
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: research papers, 1928-1937.
- into individual colliery disasters / accidents, 1925-1943.
- on potential risks and health and safety measures, 1927-1945.
National Union of Mineworkers
General sources on safety, health and welfare
The NUM archives are extensive and it isn't possible to highlight all potentially relevant material in a short guide. Searching within the for keywords (for example , or ) is a good first step to locating sources in the collection.
The catalogue of the NUM archive does include a large section which specifically relates to . This section includes subject files and reports relating to accidents and disasters, inspection and regulation, safety and welfare provision, and research and training.
The NUM's volumes of , 1945-2010, include information about the work of the union on a range of issues relating to safety, health and welfare, including campaigns relating to working conditions and responses to individual colliery disasters.
Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation
The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) was established in 1952 under the Miners' Welfare Act. It was intended to 'promote and improve the health, social well-being and conditions of living' of those employed in the coal industry and their families. Funds paid by the National Coal Board were used for capital spending, whilst subscriptions taken from miners' wages paid for the upkeep of, and activities within, miners' welfare institutes and grounds. CISWO funded a wide range of social activities, from sports teams to brass bands. The archives of the National Union of Mineworkers include records created by CISWO and documents relating to the union's relationship with the organisation. These include:
- : agenda, minutes and circulated papers, 1953-1983, 1985-1987.
- for 1962-1988, 1990-1991.
- relating to CISWO meetings, organisation and welfare provision, 1955-2018
- Subject files on , 1954-1980, and , 1977-1982
National Coal Board / British Coal Medical Service
The NUM archives include reports and other publications relating to the medical service and medical research run by the National Coal Board / British Coal. These include:
- for the National Coal Board Medical Service and Medical Research for 1958-1972, 1978/9 and 1982/3, and for the British Coal Medical Service for 1989-1992.
- : statistical research on mining accidents, 1956, reports on radiological surveys at Mill, Coventry and Northfield Collieries as part of field research into pneumoconiosis, 1960-1961.
- , booklet, c.1957.
- , Markham Main Colliery, undated [1980s].
Government publications: mine safety
The NUM collection also contains government publications which were collected as research material. These include:
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: annual reports for 1939-1974.
- : district reports for 1947-1979, 1982-1983.
- : annual reports for 1952-1954.
- : annual reports on coal mines for 1978-1984.
- : reports on hazards, health and safety, 1976-2006.
- : annual reports for 1944, 1946, 1950, 1954-1962, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1990-1991.
- into individual colliery disasters / accidents, 1945-1993.
Yorkshire Miners' Association / NUM Yorkshire Area
The archives of the Yorkshire Miners' Association / National Union of Mineworkers Yorkshire Area are extensive and it isn't possible to highlight all potentially relevant material in a short guide. Searching within the for keywords is a good first step to locating sources in the collection.
The catalogue of the YMA / NUM Yorkshire Area archive does include a large section which specifically relates to . This section includes documents relating to compensation, welfare committees and convalescent schemes, safety boards and committees, accidents and medical appeals.
Some of the key documents from this and other sections of the catalogue are identified below.
Compensation
Letter books
The union kept records which summarised correspondence between head office and individual branches. 'Letter Books' or ledgers include information about claims for compensation payments on behalf of named individuals:
- , 1904-1959.
- , 1949-1959.
'Damages'
In 1950 the NUM Yorkshire Area Compensation Department began to produce published reports on common law claims for damages. The archive includes produced between 1950-1962.
Registers on compensation / arbitration cases
Registers on 'Compensation intimations' survive for 1906-1911. These have been digitised and are available through .
Later , 1926-1980, are also included in the collection but are subject to access restrictions under data protection legislation.
Mining disasters
The YMA / NUM Yorkshire Area archive includes a relating to mining disasters at Askern Main, 1951; Barnburgh Main, 1957; Bentley, undated [post 1978]; Brookhouse, 1958; Cortonwood, [c.1932]; Criggleston, [1941]; Garforth, [c.1927]; Houghton Main, [c.1930], 1975; Lofthouse, 1973; Markham No.1, [c.1938]; Shireoaks, 1982; Silverwood, 1966; Walton, 1959; Wharncliffe Woodmoor, [c.1936]; Wheldale, [c.1923]; and Wistow, 1982-1991.
The collection also includes:
- into colliery accidents and disasters between 1878-1884.
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, including files relating to relief funds following disasters at Wharncliffe Woodmoor, Thornhill, Lofthouse and Bentley, 1936-1982.
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: files relating to public inquiry held in 1975, compiled by Arthur Scargill, NUM Yorkshire Area President.
- : files relating to public inquiry held in 1978-1979, compiled by Arthur Scargill, NUM Yorkshire Area President.
District Welfare Committees
The South and West Yorkshire District Miners' Welfare Committees were established in March 1922 and included representatives of owners and miners. They provided funding for local welfare schemes, including grants towards sports facilities, pit head baths, miners' institutes, libraries and access to education.
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: minute book, 1922-1926.
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: minute book, 1922-1926.
Cumberland Miners' Association
The archives of the Cumberland Miners' Association / National Union of Mineworkers Cumberland Area includes a small amount of material relating to welfare provision and colliery accidents.
These include notes of meetings of the Association's , 1938-1947, and relating to the investigation into the William Pit disaster, 1947-1950.
'Compensation books' are included in the records of three branches. These contain notes of branch meetings about medical compensation claims made by or on behalf of individual members.
- , 1922-1952.
- , 1931-1952.
- , 1926-1932.
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress archives include several series of subject files relating to the mining industry and industrial health and welfare. These include the following:
Files relating to lung diseases and occupational health, including information relating to pneumoconiosis in the mining industry:
- , 1940-1960.
- , 1970-1990.
Files relating to mine safety:
- , 1923, 1947, 1952.
- , including International Labour Office/Organisation conferences, 1938-1958.
Files relating to mining disasters:
- , 1927-1960.
- , 1960-1967.
- ', 1971-1974.
National Union of Teachers
On the morning of 21 October 1966 a slag heap above the Welsh mining village of Aberfan, Glamorgan, collapsed following heavy rain, engulfing a farm, a housing terrace and Pantglas Junior School. 144 people died, including 116 children and five teachers, all members of the NUT.
The archives of the National Union of Teachers include a , including correspondence and a NUT pamphlet on 'Aberfan and the teachers', 1966.
Miscellaneous publications:
- T, [1908].
- , Women's Labour League pamphlet, [c.1912].
- : 7th annual report of the Board of Management for the year ending 31 Oct 1930.
- , Medical Research Council, 1951.
- , published report submitted to the NUM, 1978.