Aberfan Disaster Tribunal

The Aberfan Disaster Tribunal was established to investigate the devastating Aberfan disaster, which occurred on October 21, 1966. On that tragic day, a colliery spoil tip—essentially a mountain of mining waste—collapsed and engulfed the village of Aberfan in South Wales. The catastrophe resulted in the deaths of 144 people, including 116 children and 28 adults, most of whom were in the Pantglas Junior School when the disaster struck.

Chaired by Lord Justice Edmund Davies, the tribunal's primary aim was to uncover the causes of the disaster and assign responsibility. It began on October 26, 1966, and lasted 76 days, concluding on April 28, 1967. The inquiry was conducted under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 and involved the examination of evidence from 136 witnesses and 300 exhibits.

The tribunal’s findings were stark and unequivocal. It placed the blame squarely on the National Coal Board (NCB), highlighting "bungling ineptitude" and a failure to act on clear warnings about the instability of the spoil tip. The report named nine NCB employees as having some degree of responsibility for the disaster. The inquiry uncovered that there had been numerous reports and complaints about the spoil tip's dangerous condition, but these had been ignored or inadequately addressed by the NCB.

One of the most significant revelations was that the spoil tip was placed on a known spring, which contributed to its instability. The tribunal criticized the NCB for its lack of proper safety measures and for failing to respond to previous incidents where spoil tips had shown signs of instability. The inquiry concluded that the disaster could have been prevented if the NCB had taken appropriate action.

The tribunal made 76 recommendations aimed at preventing such a tragedy from recurring. These recommendations included comprehensive surveys and monitoring of all existing spoil tips, the implementation of new safety measures, and the establishment of clear lines of accountability within the NCB for the safety of spoil tips. Additionally, it suggested the need for new legislation to ensure such safety standards were legally enforced.

The Aberfan Disaster Tribunal's report was a critical document that highlighted the severe negligence and failures of the NCB, ensuring that steps were taken to prevent a similar disaster in the future. The tragedy of Aberfan remains a poignant reminder of the importance of safety and accountability in industrial operations.