A new coalface was excavated too close to an abandoned, flooded 19th century mineshaft. The coal is cut from the coalface by a machine called the shearer (power loader). In 1977, Roberts began work as a coalface miner. They continue to work at this coalface even into the year 2020. Old Lambert (John Barrett) is marked physically and mentally by his work at the coalface. The flame spread quickly across the coalface into a deadly wall of fire. The coalface where the explosion occurred was being worked on the retreating principle.