（解説文要約）
坑道などの保全や修理を行う作業員を仕繰方（しくりかた）と言います。

仕繰方も先山（さきやま）と後山（あとやま）の二人一組で作業を行います。

後山は先山の助手です。
この作品は仕繰方が、重圧で天井が下がり杭木が折れ曲った箇所の補修を行っている様子を描いています。

天井と壁を切り広げ、巧みに杭木で支えます。

ベテランの仕繰方にしかできない、熟練を要する作業です。
また、後山にも機敏さが必要です。

 

The workers in charge of maintenance and repair of the coal mine drives were called Shikurikata.
The same as miner couples, they also worked in a pair known as Sakiyama and Atoyama.
Sakiyama was the main repairer, and Atoyama the assistant.
In this picture, this pair of Shikurikata is repairing a bent timber frame where the ceiling is starting to buckle under from pressure.
They cut and widened the ceiling and walls, using wooden pillars to support the ceiling.
Shikurikata were extremely experienced and skillful workers. 
Atoyama were also very attentive.