Posted By ernie luney
What is the connection between Aberfan and the health and safety at work act 1974 other than lord robens being appointed as chair man. Was the feeling so bad at the time people demanded change in the system or did any of this result from the inquiry that was held after the tragedy.

Posted By Joe
I always have found it somewhat bizzare though that Lord Robens was also in a high level position within the Coal Board at the time of the disaster.

Yet he was given the task of investigating the broad scope of health and safety management!

Ironical or Cynical??

Posted By Robert K Lewis
I think even I am not that cynical. The government of the day actually understood that the mining industry was recognised as high risk; and rationalised that a top person from within such an organisation might have fresh ideas to bring to industry at large. We can thank the Case law developed around the master/servant relationship in coal mining for most, if not all, of section 2.

As for Aberfan this was dealt with under the Mines and Quarries Act changes with the need for tip inspections tightened even on closed tips. Other responsibilities were also more clearly defined in the changes.

We sometimes do well to rember history but there are deconstructionists about who deny that the past has any impact on today. I cannot go that far because I think it can teach us that mistakes and ommissions will always be repeated in some way, eg the lesson of unplanted slopes giving rise to mudslides in the presence of significant amounts of water - Aberfan v the Philipines today - Same root cause?

Bob