Story: Workplace safety and accident compensation

Brunner mining disaster, 1896

Brunner mining disaster, 1896

A crowd gathers in the West Coast mining town of Brunner as the bodies of 65 miners are brought to the surface. Some were so badly injured that they could only be identified by their clothing. Terrible industrial accidents like this one helped bring in laws to properly compensate workers or their families for injury and death.

Using this item

Christchurch City Libraries
Reference: PhotoCD 2 IMG0071

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Hazel Armstrong, 'Workplace safety and accident compensation - Working in the 19th century', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/23269/brunner-mining-disaster-1896 (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Hazel Armstrong, published 11 Mar 2010, reviewed & revised 18 Apr 2016