Double prosecution for coal mining company

摘要

The former UK Coal Mining Ltd was sentenced on 22 October for serious safety failings that led to the death of a miner and, in a separate prosecution, for an underground pit explosion, both at Kellingley Colliery in North Yorkshire. Gerry Gibson, from Elmet, Leeds, was killed on 27 September 2011 when 15 tonnes of rock forming a section of roof collapsed as a powered roof support was being operated. He was trapped near to the centre of the roof fall and died from asphyxiation. A second miner, Philip Sheldon, was released after being trapped toward the edge of the collapse and was allowed home after hospital treatment. Mr Gibson's death came six days after a similar roof fall occured in the same vicinity of the mine with the same powered roof support in operation.