Law

Mines and Quarries Act 1954

United Kingdom · statute

Ask the law about thisMore laws of United KingdomFor machines: Markdown

Open at the publisher →

In force since 2015-05-26, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 188 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  3. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  4. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  5. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  6. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  7. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  8. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  9. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  10. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  11. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  12. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  13. 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  14. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  15. 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  16. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  17. 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  18. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  19. 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  20. 19 Faulty plans.
  21. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  22. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  23. 22 Provision of shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.
  24. 23 Communications between shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.
  25. 24 Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in places with single exits.
  26. 25 Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in shafts and outlets and their insets.
  27. 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  28. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  29. 28 Provision of winding and haulage apparatus.
  30. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  31. 30 Securing of shafts and staple-pits.
  32. 31 Safety precautions with respect to entrances to shafts, staple-pits and outlets.
  33. 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  34. 33 Safety precautions with respect to entrances to unfit parts of mines.
  35. 34 General provisions with respect to construction and maintenance of roads.
  36. 35 Height and width of travelling roads.
  37. 36 Prohibition of use of vehicles and conveyors in roads not affording free movement.
  38. 37 Transport rules.
  39. 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  40. 39 Provisions for securing safety of foot-passengers in transport roads.
  41. 40 Provision of refuge holes.
  42. 41 Safety measures relating to use of vehicles.
  43. 42 Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are carried.
  44. 43 Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are not carried.
  45. 44 Charge of conveyors at working faces.
  46. 45 Signalling in shafts and outlets.
  47. 46 Signalling in roads.
  48. 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  49. 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  50. 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  51. 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  52. 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  53. 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  54. 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  55. 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  56. 55 Duty to provide adequate ventilation.
  57. 56 Avoidance of danger from gas in waste.
  58. 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  59. 58 Provisions as to means of ventilation.
  60. 59 Prevention of leakage of air between airways.
  61. 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  62. 61 Lighting.
  63. 62 Permitted lights.
  64. 63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  65. 64 Prohibition of taking into mines safety-lamps not provided by owner or of approved type.
  66. 65 Offences relating to safety-lamps.
  67. 66 Prohibition of possession of smoking materials in certain mines and parts of mines.
  68. 67 Prohibition of taking into certain mines and parts of mines of articles producing flames or sparks.
  69. 68
  70. 69 Blasting materials and devices.
  71. 70 Fire precautions in case of workings served by single intake airway.
  72. 71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  73. 72 Fire-fighting and rescue operations.
  74. 73 Means of escape from rooms in which there is special risk of fire, &c.
  75. 74 Dust precautions.
  76. 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  77. 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  78. 79 Withdrawal of workmen in cases of danger.
  79. 80 Duty of workmen to deal with, or report, danger.
  80. 81 Construction, maintenance, &c., of machinery and apparatus.
  81. 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  82. 83 Restrictions on use below ground of certain engines, &c.
  83. 84 Air, gas and steam containers.
  84. 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  85. 86 Buildings and structures to be kept safe.
  86. 87 Safe means of access and safe means of employment.
  87. 88 Restriction on doing of work by unskilled persons.
  88. 89 Penalization of failure to observe safety directions, &c.
  89. 90 Penalization of negligent acts or omissions and unauthorised removal, &c.,ofarticles.
  90. 91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  91. 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  92. 93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  93. 94 Sanitary conveniences.
  94. 95 Measures against vermin and insects.
  95. 96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  96. 97 Supply of drinking water.
  97. 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  98. 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  99. 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  100. 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  101. 102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  102. 103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  103. 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  104. 105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  105. 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  106. 107 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  107. 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  108. 109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  109. 110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  110. 111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  111. 112 Dust precautions.
  112. 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  113. 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  114. 115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  115. 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  116. 123 Inspections of mines and quarries on behalf of workmen employed thereat.
  117. 124 Prohibition of employment below ground in certain cases.
  118. 125 Provisions as to hours worked by women and young persons.
  119. 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  120. 130 Special exception for emergencies.
  121. 131 Register of women and young persons employed.
  122. 132 Supplemental.
  123. 133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  124. 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  125. 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  126. 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  127. 137 Furnishing to workers of information with respect to this Act and orders and regulations thereunder.
  128. 138 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  129. 139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  130. 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  131. 141 Regulations.
  132. 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  133. 143 Variation, revocation, &c., of regulations.
  134. 144 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  135. 146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  136. 147 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  137. 148 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  138. 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  139. 150 Cancellation or suspension of certificates.
  140. 151 Fencing of abandoned and disused mines and of quarries.
  141. 152 Offences.
  142. 153 Accessories.
  143. 154 Supplementary provisions as to offences.
  144. 155 Penalty for offences for which no express penalty is provided.
  145. 156 Defence available to person charged with offence not committed personally.
  146. 157 Persons not to be under liability for contraventions which it was impracticable to avoid or prevent.
  147. 158 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  148. 159 Liability of owners for breaches of statutory duty by their servants.
  149. 160 Liability of parents for unlawful employment of young persons
  150. 161 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  151. 162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  152. 163 Prosecution of offences.
  153. 164 Restriction on institution of certain proceedings.
  154. 165 Duty to report results of proceedings against persons employed at mines or quarries.
  155. 166 Liability of parents for unlawful employment of children.
  156. 167 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  157. 168 Division of mines.
  158. 169 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  159. 170 Provisions as to references upon notices served by inspectors.
  160. 171 Provisions as to knowledge by officials, &c., of Welsh language.
  161. 172 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  162. 173 Revocation and variation of orders and rules.
  163. 174 †Parliamentary control of orders, rules and regulations.
  164. 175 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  165. 176 Provisions as to exemptions, &c.
  166. 177 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  167. 178 Expenses and receipts.
  168. 179 Application to the Crown.
  169. 180 Meaning of “mine”
  170. 181 Meaning of “owner”.
  171. 182 General interpretation provisions.
  172. 183 Application of Act to training mines.
  173. 184 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  174. 185 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  175. 186 Repeal of s. 21 of 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. 28.
  176. 187 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  177. 188 Minor and consequential amendments of other enactments.
  178. 189 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  179. 190 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  180. 191 General savings.
  181. 192 Saving for persons managing certain small mines at commencement of this Act.
  182. 193 Saving for common law rights of workmen, &c.
  183. 194 Commencement.
  184. 195 Short title and extent.
  185. FIRST AND SECOND SCHEDULES
  186. THIRD SCHEDULE Inquiries into Fitness of Holders of Certificates and Delivery up and Custody of Certificates in connection with Prosecutions and Inquiries.
  187. FOURTH SCHEDULE Minor and Consequential Amendments of Enactments
  188. FIFTH SCHEDULE

Proposed changes to this act

No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

188 provisions

82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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83 Restrictions on use below ground of certain engines, &c.

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84 Air, gas and steam containers.

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85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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86 Buildings and structures to be kept safe.

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87 Safe means of access and safe means of employment.

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88 Restriction on doing of work by unskilled persons.

It shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to secure that no person is employed thereat in any work otherwise than under the instruction and supervision of some person competent to give instruction in, and supervise, the doing of that work, unless the first-mentioned person has received adequate instruction in, and (where necessary) training for, the doing of that work and is competent to do it without supervision.

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89 Penalization of failure to observe safety directions, &c.

A person employed at a mine who contravenes— (a) any transport or support or tipping rules having effect with respect to the mine; or (b) any directions given to him by or on behalf of the owner or manager of the mine or any rule made by the manager of the mine for regulating the conduct either of all persons employed thereat or any class of persons so employed to which that person belongs, being directions given, or a rule made, for the purpose of securing compliance with this Act, orders made thereunder or regulations or any transport or support or tipping rules having effect with respect to the mine or of securing the safety or health of that person or any other person employed at the mine; shall be guilty of an offence.

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90 Penalization of negligent acts or omissions and unauthorised removal, &c.,ofarticles.

(1) A person who negligently or wilfully does at a mine anything likely to endanger the safety of the mine or the safety or health of persons thereat or negligently or wilfully omits to do at a mine anything necessary for securing the safety of the mine or the safety or health of persons thereat shall be guilty of an offence. (2) A person (not being an official of the mine) who, without permission granted by such an official, removes, alters or tampers with anything provided at a mine for the purpose of securing the safety or health of persons employed thereat shall be guilty of an offence.

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91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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94 Sanitary conveniences.

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95 Measures against vermin and insects.

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96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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97 Supply of drinking water.

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98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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107 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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112 Dust precautions.

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113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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123 Inspections of mines and quarries on behalf of workmen employed thereat.

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124 Prohibition of employment below ground in certain cases.

(1), (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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125 Provisions as to hours worked by women and young persons.

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129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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130 Special exception for emergencies.

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