Victorian mines and factories could be very dangerous places, especially for young boys who would be given the worst jobs to do when they first start work after leaving school.
There were none of the safety measures which must be followed nowadays, and deaths and injuries were very common.

This was written in the Ynscedwyn School Log Book in 1893:
"Two boys, David Owen and Johnny Morgans have been re-admitted this week, the former having lost his leg, and the latter two or three of his toes, in the colliery. They are both about 14 years of age, and have been presented in the Fifth Standard at this school..."

The school records from August of the year before, 1892, noted that "attendance has been very low during the last two days owing to a catastrophe which occurred at the Ynscedwyn Colliery whereby six men were killed and others injured very severely".

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