HOMEPAGE PERSONAL PROFILE HISTORICAL REVIEW HOWEBRIDGE MRS BOOTHSTOWN MRS PURPOSE OF A MRS MOBILE WINDING ENGINE AMPUTATION KIT OFFICERS AND STAFF SELECTION OF RESCUEMEN BREATHING APP PRIME FEATURES OF BA GENERAL CONDUCT OXYGEN RESUSCITATORS HEAT AND HUMIDITY RESCUE COMMS CANARIES AND LAMPS SELF RESCUERS SEFA BREATHING APPARATUS PROTO BREATHING APPARATUS AERORLOX BREATHING APPARATUS SALVUS BREATHING APPARATUS SAVOX BREATHING APPARATUS MINOX BREATHING APPARATUS ANTIPOYS TUBE APPARATUS

The Lancashire Mines Rescue Service STATION OFFICERS AND STAFF. Photograph on left shows Francis H. Wilson - Superintendent at Boothstown 1932 - 1948, lecturing a team prior to a gallery training exercise. Photo on right shows Arthur Cunliffe - Superintendent at Boothstown 1948 - 1964. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ STATION OFFICERS AND STAFF. Mining Law required every Central Mines Rescue Station to be under the control of a Superintendent who had been trained in mines rescue work and had at least 5 years of underground experience, including a minimum of 2 years at the coalface, prior to his appointment. He was responsible for the day to day running of the Station and the supervision of the Instructors and other Officials. In the case of a Scheme “A” Station, the members of the Permanent Corps would also be accountable to him. He was also responsible for arranging a roster, to provide at least one complete team of rescue men and one Station Official to be ready for immediate turn out at all times - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Rescue Regulations, made no mention of the mining experience of Instructors. They were simply required to be competent to train men to wear self-contained breathing apparatus. In practice, however, it was customary for Instructors to be appointed from the trained breathing apparatus wearers from within the Service, such as ex-permanent corps members. Prior to 1st. January, 1959, Station Officials were appointed largely because of their practical rescue experience with breathing apparatus undergound, although a large proportion of Station Superintendents, would be the holders of managerial qualificiations such as a First or Second Class Certificate of Competency. However, after 1st. January 1959, only trained rescue men who were the holders of a Rescue Officer’s Certificate could be appointed to any of the official positions. This was a special qualification, obtained by examination and organised, jointly by the Institute of Mining Engineers and the National Coal Board, The examination consisted of two separate, 3-hour written papers (Papers 1. and 2. ) and a practical and oral test which included rescue legislation. For the most part, the members of the Permanent Corps at a Station were recruited from the colliery rescue teams and would therefore have the required 2 years underground experience and also be the holder of a First Aid Certificate. The members of the Permament Corps, along with parttime rescue workers, would cease to wear breathing apparatus on reaching the age of 45 and, unless they were promoted to Instructors, would be found suitable work at a colliery. Many went into jobs such as Colliery Safety Officers, Fire Officers, Ventilation Officers etc. Superintendents and other Station Officials would be allowed to work on to the normal retiring age of 65 years. Along with all employees of the National Coal Board, all station staff were members of a Union. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had the negotiating rights for the Permanent Corps and Instructors, but at Boothstown, because these grades had in the past, always been represented by the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (NACODS), the men were allowed to remain in that Union. Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents were represented by The British Association of Colliery Management (BACM). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------