0 the surface from which coal is cut --
1 the surface in a mine from which coal is cut --
2 doing the work involved in a job, in real working conditions, rather than planning or talking about it: --
Those at the coalface of the business may occasionally lose patience with management theories and abstractions.
Luckily, my father worked for long enough at the coalface before his death to ensure that she had a £4 a week pension.
Piece rates were always fixed for what was regarded as the normal coalface, but geological conditions can change rapidly.
In fact, it means more men on the coalface although there are fewer coal getters.
In addition, one-fifth of the coalfaces are on the retreat mining system.
The number of coalfaces dropped from 46 to 42.
We should realise that there are 650 coalfaces, that this year 400 must be replaced, and that each has an average life of 18 months.
Between £5 million and £10 million worth of expensive machinery has been damaged, and in addition there are the losses of roads and coalfaces.
I have crawled along the coalfaces in all the coalfields, and have spoken to the miners there.
