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Post by John on Nov 30, 2004 9:30:18 GMT -5
I wonder how many Fitters or Electricians have ever written the word dangerous in an M&Q report book! I did once, when I was an electrician at BG's Marblaegis Mine, we used Secoma twin book drill rigs, diesal engine, for traction, electric motor for pump and controls. The engine had electric starter and alternator with 12 volt battery etc.. The engine compartment was oily and greasy and needed a good steam clean. I'd reported the heavy buildup of grease and oil around the starter motor and alternator and that it needed a good steam clean in the M&Q report for weekly examination at least three weeks on the trot, nothing done as a follow up. The machine came to the workshops for a service every Saturday after the day shift, so no excuse. I got peed off with the state of the engine compartment, so in desperation on my weekly report wrote, the engine compartment is in a dangerous condition and is a severe fire risk......... The following day the machine was pulled from production and brought to the workshops and steam cleaned from top to bottom..... I'd loved to have seen the Managers face when he read my report!
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Post by dazb on Nov 30, 2004 10:33:44 GMT -5
"Apparently" always seemed a good word to me for report writing, "It is in an apparent dangerous condition", seems to take the edge off any potential retribution but takes very little away from the description of dangerous. I always thought it wise to use the same word in the conclusion of reports where no defects were found........."The machine was left in apparent good working order" whereas "Left in good working order" suggests that every single function and component had been checked
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2005 11:43:04 GMT -5
"Apparently" always seemed a good word to me for report writing, "It is in an apparent dangerous condition", seems to take the edge off any potential retribution but takes very little away from the description of dangerous. I always thought it wise to use the same word in the conclusion of reports where no defects were found........."The machine was left in apparent good working order" whereas "Left in good working order" suggests that every single function and component had been checked No defects found, or defects found and rectified, were also good words for M&Q reports. As was once pointed out to me, we couldn't be held responsible after 24 hours had elapsed, as by law, the state of the mine had altered.
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ejb
Trainee
Posts: 15
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Post by ejb on Jan 29, 2005 16:44:28 GMT -5
In the late '70s I was working in Mid Wales. A museum had a local contractor driving a rock level for them at the rate of £68 per day,but they thought that was too dear. I think I quoted £11 per ft all in,again,that was a "bit pricey". So they got this bloke in who would do it a lot cheaper. I went to have a look one evening to see how it was going. He was using a modified Drag Cut,3 holes across,by 5 up. So,15 delay dets @ 75p each,oohh,bit expensive he thought,I know,if I use 1 det for each row of 3 holes,I can use det cord(Cordtex) branch lines to link those shots,and only need 5 dets per round. £7.50 saved on each round,luvvly jubbly.
I watched him connecting up,but said nothing,and then we went outside the level so he could fire the shot. He took the battery off the compressor and placed it in the entrance of the level. By this time I was getting even more concerned,and politely asked what he was doing,he replied that he was going to fire it by sticking the wires on the battery terminals. I suggested that it might be a good idea to stand well to one side of the level,as flyrock can be a bit nasty. He agreed and I went off to get my exploder from the van for him to use. I told him to wind the handle until the light came on,and then press the red button,this he did. I was counting the bangs,but only heard 2,not the 5 there should have been. Osh 1t,I thought. We turned on the airline for 10 mins,and then went up the level. What a bloody sight,there where bits of det cord and powder everywhere in the small rock pile. The bloody obvious had happenend,the first 2 holes had gone off and the flyrock had cut the other det cords.
I picked up my exploder,made my excuses,and quickly drove off.
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Post by John on Jan 29, 2005 18:29:19 GMT -5
Don't know whether Daz ever did this, but when we changed the drum on the shearer way back, if it didn't shift with a jack behind it, we got the shotfirer to put a part charge behind the drum and fire it. Usually, it "cracked" the tightness and the drum would come off easily. One drum didn't So from a quarter of a stick, we went to half a stick....bummmpp, hadn't moved a thou, so a full stick was used Bannnggg, and a sound of tortured steel, my boss came out with a juicy expletive and we went under the ripping lip and examined the drum and shearer. The guard plate around the drums shaft looked like my tie after a good night on the grog! Trouble was, the drum hadn't budged. We ended up removing the drum and it's gearcase off and sending it to surface. Turned out, the drum had to be cut off it's shaft, they found the key had sheared and dug into the drum, more we forced it the more it dug in.
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Post by John on Jan 29, 2005 18:32:42 GMT -5
Always amazed me how the shotfirer could tell whether a full round had fired in the ripping lip. I've seen him stop the belt and do a search for a "missed" round, just sounded like a big bang to me, I couldn't hear any difference with one round failing to fire.
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Post by dazb on Jan 30, 2005 3:48:28 GMT -5
"Don't know whether Daz ever did this," WHAT!!!!!!!!!!.... using powder to blow shearer drums off? ?? Well I never, I just can’t believe that one John…………..officially of course, unofficially I might just be persuaded to recall a few examples of such heinous practices. Most of these “enhanced” drum removal situations produced perfect results even to the extent that some collieries used this as the preferred method rather than even attempt to use the drawing screws or other mechanical / hydraulic drawing off systems. But when the N.A.M. (Nobel Assisted Method) failed the resultant was often catastrophic, from a mechanical engineering point of view that is, I have never heard of anyone being injured by N.A.M but that is likely down to the grace of God rather than the enthusiastic capabilities of a cajoled shot-firer. I seem to recall that the secret was in the location of the device and the packing / stemming between the drum vanes and the gearhead / arm casting, obviously the “amount of assistance” in pill size was a major consideration. I remember an incident at the NCB Central Workshops when a group of Burton suit clad Group and Area engineers appeared in order to conduct a “Blame the Workshops” investigation, as to why a BiDi shearer gearhead had catastrophically failed, the drum shaft had been torn completely from the casting, the housing studs had been sheared at their heads and the cast steel housing simply mangled, a great puzzlement and indepth discussion regarding the possible damage being as a result of the output bearing failing was brought to studious end when one of the lads from the workshop strip bay poked his head in and said “Well chuff me, another one where they’ve tried to blow the drum off, we get dozens of them in here”. I have also seen the N.A.M. method successfully applied to the rectification and straightening of shearer under frames bed plates, shoe posts and AFC sprocket drive removal. That Alfie from Stockholm and his chemistry set has a lot to answer for, both good and bad.
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Post by John on Jan 30, 2005 8:39:24 GMT -5
I presumed were weren't the only ones to use "Alfs" method of drum removel Boss wasn't too pleased when an AB15 stable hole machine was wrecked one shift. The stable hole machine driver had left the cutter too close to the dint when it was fired. Result, the motor casting was cracked, and connecting bolts all sheared. I have seen 12inch web RSJ's that were bent out of recognition at a junction being backripped "cut" with "Alfs' method of demolition. Absolutely perfect cut, you'd swear it had been done with oxy!! but for the absence of heat marks.. Alf made life easy for us U/G ;D
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Post by Barnze on Apr 12, 2005 4:46:37 GMT -5
I wonder how many Fitters or Electricians have ever written the word dangerous in an M&Q report book! I did once, when I was an electrician at BG's Marblaegis Mine, we used Secoma twin book drill rigs, diesal engine, for traction, electric motor for pump and controls. The engine had electric starter and alternator with 12 volt battery etc.. The engine compartment was oily and greasy and needed a good steam clean. I'd reported the heavy buildup of grease and oil around the starter motor and alternator and that it needed a good steam clean in the M&Q report for weekly examination at least three weeks on the trot, nothing done as a follow up. The machine came to the workshops for a service every Saturday after the day shift, so no excuse. I got peed off with the state of the engine compartment, so in desperation on my weekly report wrote, the engine compartment is in a dangerous condition and is a severe fire risk......... The following day the machine was pulled from production and brought to the workshops and steam cleaned from top to bottom..... I'd loved to have seen the Managers face when he read my report! You would have known my dad Pete Barnes then,he worked BG's Marblaegis while i worked at Glebe. Cheers Barnze
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Post by John on Apr 12, 2005 6:45:33 GMT -5
You would have known my dad Pete Barnes then,he worked BG's Marblaegis while i worked at Glebe. Cheers Barnze Old "Shootascoop"!! You know me Barnzy, we have "chatted" on various forums including Nottstalgia! Plus we have emailed over your Dad and Marblaegis... John
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Post by Barnze on Apr 13, 2005 4:18:14 GMT -5
Sorry John i never realised it was you! ;D
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Post by John on Apr 13, 2005 6:51:49 GMT -5
Sorry John i never realised it was you! ;D No probs Barnzy, you must have a story or two from Cotgrave or BG to add
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Post by Barnze on Nov 9, 2005 9:40:59 GMT -5
Sad news to give John..The old man passed away on the 2nd of november,No pain or owt just went to sleep and that was it!
all the best Barnze
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Post by John on Nov 9, 2005 12:13:55 GMT -5
Sad news to give John..The old man passed away on the 2nd of november,No pain or owt just went to sleep and that was it! all the best Barnze Sorry to hear that Barnzy, I got on well with your Dad, nice bloke and funny too! RIP Barny! keep yer powder dry up there old chum!
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Post by Barnze on Nov 10, 2005 6:49:49 GMT -5
Nice one!
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Post by John on Nov 11, 2005 7:12:23 GMT -5
I should have added "And don't shoot no scooptrams up there, the old feller might not like it"
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Post by John on Nov 14, 2005 17:01:33 GMT -5
For those readers who might have missed the point, Pete "Barney" Barnes was a shotfirer.
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Post by Sam from Kent on Jan 6, 2011 9:30:44 GMT -5
I often wrote "dangerous" on reports. I was also the Section 123 Inspector for the union. I also used the word "apparently" must have been my training as a Councilklor and legal training with the Open University!!!
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Post by John on Jan 6, 2011 11:35:46 GMT -5
I often wrote "dangerous" on reports. I was also the Section 123 Inspector for the union. I also used the word "apparently" must have been my training as a Councilklor and legal training with the Open University!!! At Angus Place Colliery, part of the nightshift surface electricians duties are lamproom officer. That job entails servicing and signing for the officials Safety lamps. To cover me I used to write "In my opinion all lamps appear to be in safe working order". That was for the ones I serviced and signed for. If I was in any doubt, I held back the doubtful lamp for the Elec Engineer to make a decision on. That's the only pit I've worked at that appoints the electrical staff and authorizes them to inspect, maintain and repair lamps. The Statutory book stated all defective parts must be destroyed and disposed of immediately... Amazing how many lamps were made up of "defective" parts got to be home ornaments.. ;D
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Post by blueflame on Jan 8, 2011 15:30:35 GMT -5
Yes where did all the lamps go as a kid I remember everyone had them in outside toilets but that way way back in the good old days ;D
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Post by Sam from Kent on Jan 8, 2011 16:19:11 GMT -5
At Tilmanstone the Lamp Room came under the control of the Electrical Engineer, which seemed natural at the time. I am surprised that in other areas this was not the case
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