Pneumoconiosis of Coal-Miners in Three Northumbrian Collieries

Abstract

Radiological pneumoconiosis is common amongst coal-miners in County Durham, and in four col lieries about 22 % of men at work above and below ground had fairly well-marked lung changes of category 2 or more (McCallum and Browne, 1955). There are no reliable prevalence data for pneumo coniosis of coal-miners in the adjacent coalfield of Northumberland, but its mines are thought to pro duce little pneumoconiosis compared with those of Durham and the rest of the country. In the Out patient Clinic of the Nuffield Department of Indus trial Health relatively few men with pneumoconiosis of coal-miners are seen from Northumberland, the majority being Durham miners. Practically the only information available is the number of men certified under the various pneumoconiosis compensation acts since 1933 when faceworkers in mines were first included (Table 1). During the 10 years follow ing 1933 Hume (personal communication) as a medical referee saw 100 men from Durham pits and only 15 from Northumberland. The figures for South Wales for the period 1933 to mid-1948 are taken from Hugh-Jones and Fletcher (1951). Between 1943 and 1948, the worst three pits in Northumberland had only nine, nine, and four men certified respectively (Hume), and the records of the National Union of Mineworkers (Northumberland) show 41 men certified and six deaths from Nor t umberland compared with the Durham area of th N.U.M. which had 322 men certified and 46 deaths in the same period. There are about two and a hal times as many men employed at coal mines in Durham compared with Northumberland but the certification rate per man in Durham is two to three times greater. Data published by the Ministry of Fuel and Power (1950-1954) of men certified by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel show on the average for 1951-1953 about 1-6 per 1,000 in Nor umberland and 4 per 1,000 in Durham. In these thre years, most Northumbrian miners cer tified by pneumoconiosis boards were over 45 years of age, only two men being less than 35 years of age, and the majority of assessments for disability were under 40 % loss of faculty. Until 1942 the number of men certified was not more than three a year from Northumberland and 21 a year from Durham, but since 1948 the number of men certified by the Pneumoconiosis Panel has increased sharply, following the new National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act.