LOGISTICS – PETROL LAMPS: UNDER LOCK AND KEY

Above: Miners checking their petrol lamps if they are in order. © Historisch Centrum Limburg / DSM Voorlichtingsdienst – Fotocollectie DSM [pr8852] Below: Illustration of a petrol lamp.

For safety reasons, petrol lamps were reserved for specially trained miners and supervisory staff only. On presentation of his tag, the authorized miner received a petrol lamp. The miner himself had to check whether the lamp was in order, that is to say, that the mesh basket was not damaged, the glass intact and that the lamp was airtight. For this purpose there was a special control device in the lamp room. At the end of the shift, the miner returned his petrol lamp to the lamp room.

Lamp room staff issued the petrol lamps and took them back in, a self-service system was not applicable. The petrol lamps were located in a closed section of the lamp room, where only lamp room staff were allowed to enter.