Coal Dust. It saddens me when I see ex-miners fighting for breath, these same men, who not so many years ago were fit as fiddles, they could throw a stint of coal off 5 or 6 days a week, week in week out, play football on Saturday afternoon, then again on Sunday morning. Fit as fiddles is probably an understatement, but look at them now, coughing and choking, struggling to carry out normal everyday tasks. Only surviving thanks to the various medications they have to take each and every day for the rest of their lives. Their dignity destroyed by the very product they were employed to remove from the bowls of the earth. So what actually caused this deterioration?, What was so bad that it brought about this dramatic change in miners? The answer is dust, primarily coal dust which became airborne in every mining operation you can imagine. With the introduction of more and more efficient cutting machines, more and more dust particles were thrown up into the air and carried towards anyone in the path of the airflow. Sometimes you could not see your hand in front of your face, the dust was so thick. Miners had no option but to breath this slow killing dust into their lungs, I've seen hundreds of men cover their mouths as best they could, pulling their shirts or jumpers up over their mouths and noses to try to reduce the severity of dust inhaled. Then the coughing and spluttering would begin, no one was immune, one after the other the chorus of coughs could be heard. When dust masks were introduced for each man they had limited effect and quickly became clogged up, replacement filters were not always available when required. It was not only shearers, dosco's, and other machines which caused airborne dust. Every time the coal was transferred from one system of transport to another, there was a dust problem. The face chain loaded onto the stage loader chain, then onto the gate belt conveyor which loaded onto the main belt conveyor, this may then load onto a bunker infeed belt conveyor, where the mineral is then dropped into the bunker. At each transfer point the mineral dropped and dust would rise. Often pieces of mineral ended up on the bottom stretch of the conveyor which meant it was transported back inbye, the drive rollers and even more the belt return roller continuously threw up the dust as the mineral was taken into the roller thrown over the top and dropped back where it had been previously, only to be taken back into the roller. This was an enormous problem which could be eliminated by correctly positioned water sprays. The water helped to stop the dust from becoming airborne. However, if too much water was used the belt became slippery which sometimes caused the belt to lose traction, it would ride up on one side which meant the mineral sometimes dropped off the belt. The belt could also slip on the drive rollers, the belt remained stationary as the rollers turned. Men occasionally thought it better to suffer the dust rather than cause themselves extra work, the problem with this line of reasoning was that others were seriously affected by their poor judgement. Although we now know that coal dust can cause breathing problems, many years ago, some "experts" were saying that coal dust was harmless as it was formed from vegetation. How wrong they were. Presently many miners are pursuing compensation claims for the damage caused to their health through working in the mines and inhaling dust. It's a sad reflection on our society that so many sufferers have died before they or their families received any compensation. I remember hearing some of them say, " money, it's too late for me ". "how can I enjoy the benefits of compensation ", " at least my Family will get something ". Comments like these are heard so often by men who are only thinking of their loved ones. Is it not time all these claims were settled before anyone else dies. The Government receives millions of £s from the surplus in the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme every year since the mines were privatised. This year the figure looks like being £525 million (2001). It makes you think doesn't it? To finish on a less depressing note, after working in such dusty conditions during their shift, many would still be coughing up a black coloured mucus (posh name for something else) many hours afterwards. No wonder so many went for a pint to soothe their dry throats when their shift was over. The Men of The Deeps choir sing of the problems with dust. Listen to a sample of their singing. Dust in the air all through the mine, It's concrete on your lungs and your old before your time.