SUMMARY

1. The purpose of this inquiry was to estimate the need for employment among men in South Wales suffering from Pneumoconiosis and to determine the suitability of different types of work that might be provide for them.

2. A sample of 764 men was interviewed in February 1946. These men were a representative sample of the 6,531 men who had been ‘certified’ by the medical Boards and suspended from their work as coalminers before January 1st, 1945.

3. Of all the men interviewed 501, (or 66% of the sample),had either worked at some time since certification or were at the time of interview. The employment of these men was associated with the severity of their illness, their age at certification, and the availability of work.

4. 595 men, or 78% of the sample said that they were fit for full or part-time work in February 1946. 36% were in employment and 42% were unoccupied when interviewed. The remaining 22% considered themselves unfit for work.

5. The Employment Exchange was the most important avenue to employment. 41% the jobs the men had done were obtained through an Exchange. 6% of the men had trained at a Government Training Centre. 12% had migrated in search of work.

6. The majority of the men who had worked had worked consistently. This consistency was associated with availability of work and X-ray category. Of the two it is possible that availability was the most important.

7. The men had worked normal hours a normal week when in employment, despite a large proportion of unsuitable jobs, mainly very heavy and moderately heavy labouring. 410 of the 961 jobs held by the men had finished because the work they were doing had come to an end or because they had become redundant.

8. The men suffered very severely financially as a result of leaving mining, a fact which might be related to their anxiety to work. 7% took a ‘lump-sum’ settlement of their compensation at the time of certification, the remainder being on weekly compensation. Nearly half of the men on weekly compensation later settled their claim so that at the time of interview 395, or 52%, had ‘settled’. 82% of these received less than £700. The association between ‘settlement’ and work is discussed.

9. Many men also found themselves in a difficult financial position between leaving the mines and being seen by the Silicosis Medical Boards.

10. In general, the men were more concerned with their emotional problems immediately after certification than they ware with particular financial problems or with future employment, although these came to the forefront as they recovered their balance. It is suggested that a case could be made out for an organisation which would help men over this initial period of adjustment and bring to their notice the range of jobs that have been done by men with Pneumoconiosis.