40 Provision of refuge holes.
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Propose a changeLaw
Mines and Quarries Act 1954
United Kingdom · statute
Ask the law about thisMore laws of United KingdomFor machines: Markdown
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.
sha256 375c6d9f2a6825443da769f29a3207a7c3ab191411bb93e49ac980ace4aec45b
Contents: 188 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 19 Faulty plans.
- 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 22 Provision of shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.
- 23 Communications between shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.
- 24 Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in places with single exits.
- 25 Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in shafts and outlets and their insets.
- 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 28 Provision of winding and haulage apparatus.
- 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 30 Securing of shafts and staple-pits.
- 31 Safety precautions with respect to entrances to shafts, staple-pits and outlets.
- 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 33 Safety precautions with respect to entrances to unfit parts of mines.
- 34 General provisions with respect to construction and maintenance of roads.
- 35 Height and width of travelling roads.
- 36 Prohibition of use of vehicles and conveyors in roads not affording free movement.
- 37 Transport rules.
- 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 39 Provisions for securing safety of foot-passengers in transport roads.
- 40 Provision of refuge holes.
- 41 Safety measures relating to use of vehicles.
- 42 Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are carried.
- 43 Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are not carried.
- 44 Charge of conveyors at working faces.
- 45 Signalling in shafts and outlets.
- 46 Signalling in roads.
- 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 55 Duty to provide adequate ventilation.
- 56 Avoidance of danger from gas in waste.
- 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 58 Provisions as to means of ventilation.
- 59 Prevention of leakage of air between airways.
- 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 61 Lighting.
- 62 Permitted lights.
- 63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 64 Prohibition of taking into mines safety-lamps not provided by owner or of approved type.
- 65 Offences relating to safety-lamps.
- 66 Prohibition of possession of smoking materials in certain mines and parts of mines.
- 67 Prohibition of taking into certain mines and parts of mines of articles producing flames or sparks.
- 68
- 69 Blasting materials and devices.
- 70 Fire precautions in case of workings served by single intake airway.
- 71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 72 Fire-fighting and rescue operations.
- 73 Means of escape from rooms in which there is special risk of fire, &c.
- 74 Dust precautions.
- 75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 79 Withdrawal of workmen in cases of danger.
- 80 Duty of workmen to deal with, or report, danger.
- 81 Construction, maintenance, &c., of machinery and apparatus.
- 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 83 Restrictions on use below ground of certain engines, &c.
- 84 Air, gas and steam containers.
- 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 86 Buildings and structures to be kept safe.
- 87 Safe means of access and safe means of employment.
- 88 Restriction on doing of work by unskilled persons.
- 89 Penalization of failure to observe safety directions, &c.
- 90 Penalization of negligent acts or omissions and unauthorised removal, &c.,ofarticles.
- 91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 94 Sanitary conveniences.
- 95 Measures against vermin and insects.
- 96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 97 Supply of drinking water.
- 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 107 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 112 Dust precautions.
- 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 123 Inspections of mines and quarries on behalf of workmen employed thereat.
- 124 Prohibition of employment below ground in certain cases.
- 125 Provisions as to hours worked by women and young persons.
- 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 130 Special exception for emergencies.
- 131 Register of women and young persons employed.
- 132 Supplemental.
- 133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 137 Furnishing to workers of information with respect to this Act and orders and regulations thereunder.
- 138 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 141 Regulations.
- 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 143 Variation, revocation, &c., of regulations.
- 144 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 147 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 148 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 150 Cancellation or suspension of certificates.
- 151 Fencing of abandoned and disused mines and of quarries.
- 152 Offences.
- 153 Accessories.
- 154 Supplementary provisions as to offences.
- 155 Penalty for offences for which no express penalty is provided.
- 156 Defence available to person charged with offence not committed personally.
- 157 Persons not to be under liability for contraventions which it was impracticable to avoid or prevent.
- 158 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 159 Liability of owners for breaches of statutory duty by their servants.
- 160 Liability of parents for unlawful employment of young persons
- 161 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 163 Prosecution of offences.
- 164 Restriction on institution of certain proceedings.
- 165 Duty to report results of proceedings against persons employed at mines or quarries.
- 166 Liability of parents for unlawful employment of children.
- 167 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 168 Division of mines.
- 169 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 170 Provisions as to references upon notices served by inspectors.
- 171 Provisions as to knowledge by officials, &c., of Welsh language.
- 172 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 173 Revocation and variation of orders and rules.
- 174 †Parliamentary control of orders, rules and regulations.
- 175 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 176 Provisions as to exemptions, &c.
- 177 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 178 Expenses and receipts.
- 179 Application to the Crown.
- 180 Meaning of “mine”
- 181 Meaning of “owner”.
- 182 General interpretation provisions.
- 183 Application of Act to training mines.
- 184 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 185 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 186 Repeal of s. 21 of 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. 28.
- 187 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 188 Minor and consequential amendments of other enactments.
- 189 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 190 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 191 General savings.
- 192 Saving for persons managing certain small mines at commencement of this Act.
- 193 Saving for common law rights of workmen, &c.
- 194 Commencement.
- 195 Short title and extent.
- FIRST AND SECOND SCHEDULES
- THIRD SCHEDULE Inquiries into Fitness of Holders of Certificates and Delivery up and Custody of Certificates in connection with Prosecutions and Inquiries.
- FOURTH SCHEDULE Minor and Consequential Amendments of Enactments
- FIFTH SCHEDULE
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
188 provisions
41 Safety measures relating to use of vehicles.
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Propose a change42 Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are carried.
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Propose a change43 Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are not carried.
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Propose a change44 Charge of conveyors at working faces.
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Propose a change45 Signalling in shafts and outlets.
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Propose a change46 Signalling in roads.
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Propose a change47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change55 Duty to provide adequate ventilation.
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Propose a change56 Avoidance of danger from gas in waste.
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Propose a change57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change58 Provisions as to means of ventilation.
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Propose a change59 Prevention of leakage of air between airways.
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Propose a change60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change61 Lighting.
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Propose a change62 Permitted lights.
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Propose a change63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change64 Prohibition of taking into mines safety-lamps not provided by owner or of approved type.
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Propose a change65 Offences relating to safety-lamps.
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Propose a change66 Prohibition of possession of smoking materials in certain mines and parts of mines.
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Propose a change67 Prohibition of taking into certain mines and parts of mines of articles producing flames or sparks.
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Propose a change68
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change69 Blasting materials and devices.
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Propose a change70 Fire precautions in case of workings served by single intake airway.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall not be lawful for more than one hundred persons to be employed below ground in a mine of coal in circumstances in which, if there were a fire in any length of intake airway through which the air supply to all of those persons passes, none of them would be able to withdraw from the mine without either passing through the fire or following a way out to the surface in which, or in any part of which, the air would or might become so contaminated by the products of combustion generated by the fire as to prejudice seriously the possibility of the withdrawal of persons through it in safety, unless— (a) that length of intake airway and everything with which it is equipped are so constructed or treated, and so maintained and used, that that length of airway is, so far as can be reasonably foreseen, free from the risk that any fire that might break out therein would so develop as to prevent or endanger the withdrawal from the mine of those persons; or (b) means are provided for securing that, in the event of a fire in that length of intake airway, those persons will be able to withdraw in safety. In computing, for the purposes of this subsection, the number of persons employed in such circumstances as aforesaid, a person going to or from his working place at the beginning or end of his shift shall, unless it is otherwise prescribed (either generally or in relation to any particular circumstances), be left out of account. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) Regulations may provide for exempting from the provisions of subsection (1) of this section any prescribed class of mines of coal and an inspector may, by notice served on the manager of a particular mine of coal, exempt the mine or any part thereof from those provisions. (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change72 Fire-fighting and rescue operations.
Regulations may require the making of such provision as may be prescribed for all or any of the following purposes, namely, the prevention, detection and combating of outbreaks of fire at, and spontaneous heating occurring in, mines and the securing of the efficient conduct (as well in an atmosphere dangerous to life as in an atmosphere not dangerous to life) of such operations for the rescue of persons as it may be necessary to conduct at mines in consequence of the occurrence thereat of outbreaks of fire, explosions or other accidents of whatsoever kind, and in particular, but without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, regulations may make provision (a) for the establishment and maintenance at mines of such organisations of persons as may be necessary for any of the purposes aforesaid and the provision and maintenance at mines of suitable and sufficient apparatus for any of those purposes, and, in particular, the provision at mines of adequate supplies of water for use in case of fire; (b) for requiring owners of mines to provide and maintain stations (hereafter in this Act referred to as “central rescue stations”) for the purpose of providing facilities common to a number of mines for the conduct of such operations as aforesaid, and for the establishment and maintenance at such stations of such organisations of persons as may be necessary for the purpose of conducting such operations and the provision and maintenance thereat of suitable and sufficient apparatus for that purpose; and (c) for securing the efficient training of the members of any organisation of persons maintained in pursuance of the regulations.
Propose a change73 Means of escape from rooms in which there is special risk of fire, &c.
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Propose a change74 Dust precautions.
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Propose a change75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change79 Withdrawal of workmen in cases of danger.
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Propose a change80 Duty of workmen to deal with, or report, danger.
If it appears to a person employed at a mine (not being an official of the mine) that a danger affecting the mine or a part thereof has arisen or is about to arise, he shall— (a) if the taking of measures to render the mine or part safe after that danger has arisen or to prevent that danger from arising, as the case may be, falls within the scope of his normal duties, forthwith take those measures; and (b) if not, forthwith report the matter to an official of the mine.
Propose a change81 Construction, maintenance, &c., of machinery and apparatus.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change