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Mines and Quarries Act 1954

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I General Duties of Mine and Quarry Owners

    1. 1. General duties of mine and quarry owners.

  3. Part II Management and Control (Mines)

    1. Managers and Under-managers

      1. 2. Appointment, and general duties and powers, of mine managers.

      2. 3. Rights of mine manager with respect to instructions given by or on behalf of owner.

      3. 4. Qualifications of mine managers.

      4. 5. Limitation on number of mines which a person may manage.

      5. 6. Under-managers.

      6. 7. Temporary appointments during vacancy in office of mine manager or under-manager.

      7. 8. Daily supervision by mine managers and under-managers.

      8. 9. Charge of mine when neither manager nor under-manager nor substitute is present.

      9. 10. Duties of mine managers with respect to reading of reports, &c.

    2. Surveyors

      1. 11. Surveyors.

    3. Officials and Technicians

      1. 12. Deputies.

      2. 13. Other officials, engineers, technicians, &c.

      3. 14. Duty of mine manager to ensure that persons appointed by him understand their duties.

    4. Provisions ancillary to foregoing Sections

      1. 15. Notification to district inspector of appointments by mine owners.

      2. 16. Disqualification of contractors and their employees for appointment as managers, &c., of mines.

    5. Plans

      1. 17. Keeping of plans.

      2. 18. Furnishing of documents and information requisite for preparation of plans.

      3. 19. Faulty plans.

      4. 20. Transmission to inspector, and preservation, of plans of abandoned or disused mines, seams and veins.

      5. 21.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  4. Part III Safety, Health and Welfare (Mines)

    1. Provisions for securing safe Ingress and Egress

      1. 22. Provision of shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.

      2. 23. Communications between shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.

      3. 24. Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in places with single exits.

      4. 25. Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in shafts and outlets and their insets.

      5. 26.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      6. 27.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      7. 28. Provision of winding and haulage apparatus.

      8. 29.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. Safety Precautions in connection with Shafts, &c., and Entrances to disused Workings

      1. 30. Securing of shafts and staple-pits.

      2. 31. Safety precautions with respect to entrances to shafts, staple-pits and outlets.

      3. 32.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 33. Safety precautions with respect to entrances to unfit parts of mines.

    3. Roads

      1. 34. General provisions with respect to construction and maintenance of roads.

      2. 35. Height and width of travelling roads.

      3. 36. Prohibition of use of vehicles and conveyors in roads not affording free movement.

      4. 37. Transport rules.

      5. 38.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      6. 39. Provisions for securing safety of foot-passengers in transport roads.

      7. 40. Provision of refuge holes.

      8. 41. Safety measures relating to use of vehicles.

    4. Provisions for securing safe operation of Winding and Rope Haulage Apparatus and Conveyors

      1. 42. Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are carried.

      2. 43. Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are not carried.

      3. 44. Charge of conveyors at working faces.

      4. 45. Signalling in shafts and outlets.

      5. 46. Signalling in roads.

      6. 47.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    5. Support

      1. 48. Duty to secure safety of roads and working places.

      2. 49. Systematic support in coal, shale and fireclay mines.

      3. 50.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 51. Supply of materials for support.

      5. 52. Withdrawal of support.

      6. 53. Duties of deputies in relation to support.

      7. 54. Provisions as to support rules.

    6. Ventilation

      1. 55. Duty to provide adequate ventilation.

      2. 56. Avoidance of danger from gas in waste.

      3. 57.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 58. Provisions as to means of ventilation.

      5. 59. Prevention of leakage of air between airways.

      6. 60. Provision of barometers and other measuring instruments.

    7. Lighting, Lamps and Contraband

      1. 61. Lighting.

      2. 62. Permitted lights.

      3. 63.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 64. Prohibition of taking into mines safety-lamps not provided by owner or of approved type.

      5. 65. Offences relating to safety-lamps.

      6. 66. Prohibition of possession of smoking materials in certain mines and parts of mines.

      7. 67. Prohibition of taking into certain mines and parts of mines of articles producing flames or sparks.

      8. 68.(1) . . . . . . . . ....

    8. Blasting Materials and Devices

      1. 69. Blasting materials and devices.

    9. Fire Precautions and Provisions as to Rescue

      1. 70. Fire precautions in case of workings served by single intake airway.

      2. 71.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      3. 72. Fire-fighting and rescue operations.

      4. 73. Means of escape from rooms in which there is special risk of fire, &c.

    10. Dust Precautions

      1. 74. Dust precautions.

    11. Precautions against external Dangers to Workings

      1. 75—77.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. 78.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    12. Duties of Officials and Workmen in Cases of Danger

      1. 79. Withdrawal of workmen in cases of danger.

      2. 80. Duty of workmen to deal with, or report, danger.

    13. Machinery and Apparatus

      1. 81. Construction, maintenance, &c., of machinery and apparatus.

      2. 82. Fencing of exposed parts of machinery.

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

      4. 84. Air, gas and steam containers.

      5. 85. Loading of cranes, &c.

    14. Buildings, Structures, Means of Access, &c.

      1. 86. Buildings and structures to be kept safe.

      2. 87. Safe means of access and safe means of employment.

    15. Training and Discipline

      1. 88. Restriction on doing of work by unskilled persons.

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

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

    16. First Aid

      1. 91. First aid.

    17. Medical Examinations and Prohibition of Heavy Work

      1. 92.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. 93. Prohibition of heavy work by women and young persons.

    18. General Welfare Provisions

      1. 94. Sanitary conveniences.

      2. 95. Measures against vermin and insects.

      3. 96.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 97. Supply of drinking water.

  5. Part IV Management and Control (Quarries)

    1. 98. Appointment of quarry managers.

    2. 99. General powers and duties of quarry managers.

    3. 100. Power of quarry owner to exclude matters from manager’s control.

    4. 101. Rights of quarry manager with respect to instructions given by or on behalf of owner.

    5. 102. Temporary appointments during vacancy in office of quarry manager.

    6. 103. Supervision by quarry managers.

    7. 104.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    8. 105. Duties of quarry managers and owners with respect to reading of reports, &c.

    9. 106.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    10. 107. Notification to district inspector of appointments by quarry owners.

  6. Part V Safety, Health and Welfare (Quarries)

    1. 108. Provisions for securing safe methods of working.

    2. 109. Safe means of access to working places.

    3. 110. Provisions relating to use of ropeways and vehicles.

    4. 111. Lighting.

    5. 112. Dust precautions.

    6. 113. Withdrawal of workmen in cases of danger.

    7. 114.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    8. 115. Application of certain provisions of Part III of this Act.

  7. Part VI Notification and Investigation of Accidents and Diseases

    1. Notification

      1. 116—122.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  8. Part VII Workmen’s Inspections

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

  9. Part VIII Employment of Women and Young Persons

    1. Prohibition of Employment below Ground

      1. 124. Prohibition of employment below ground in certain cases.

    2. Hours of Work

      1. 125—128. Provisions as to hours worked by women and young persons.

    3. Special Exceptions

      1. 129.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. 130. Special exception for emergencies.

    4. Miscellaneous Provisions

      1. 131. Register of women and young persons employed.

      2. 132. Supplemental.

  10. Part IX Records, Returns and Information

    1. 133. Form of official books and preservation and inspection of entries therein.

    2. 134. Records of certain appointments.

    3. 135. Provision of copies of this Act and other instruments.

    4. 136. Posting of notices

    5. 137. Furnishing to workers of information with respect to this Act and orders and regulations thereunder.

    6. 138.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    7. 139. Notification of beginning and ending of certain mining and quarrying operations.

    8. 140. Notification of change of ownership or name of mine or quarry.

  11. Part X Regulations

    1. 141. Regulations.

    2. 142.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    3. 143. Variation, revocation, &c., of regulations.

  12. Part XI

    1. 144,145.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. 146.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  13. Part XII Grant, Cancellation and Suspension of Certificates

    1. 147. Grant of certificates.

    2. 148. The Mining Qualifications Board.

    3. 149. Qualifications for grant of certificates.

    4. 150. Cancellation or suspension of certificates.

  14. Part XIII Fencing of Abandoned and Disused Mines and of Quarries

    1. 151. Fencing of abandoned and disused mines and of quarries.

  15. Part XIV Offences, Penalties and Legal Proceedings

    1. 152. Offences.

    2. 153. Accessories.

    3. 154. Supplementary provisions as to offences.

    4. 155. Penalty for offences for which no express penalty is provided.

    5. 156. Defence available to person charged with offence not committed personally.

    6. 157. Persons not to be under liability for contraventions which it was impracticable to avoid or prevent.

    7. 158. Special defence available to mine under-managers with limited jurisdiction.

    8. 159. Liability of owners for breaches of statutory duty by their servants.

    9. 160. Liability of parents for unlawful employment of young persons

    10. 161.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    11. 162. Removal or defacement of notices, &c.

    12. 163. Prosecution of offences.

    13. 164. Restriction on institution of certain proceedings.

    14. 165. Duty to report results of proceedings against persons employed at mines or quarries.

    15. 166. Liability of parents for unlawful employment of children.

    16. 167.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  16. Part XV Miscellaneous and General

    1. Supplementary Provisions

      1. 168. Division of mines.

      2. 169. Demarcation of quarries.

      3. 170. Provisions as to references upon notices served by inspectors.

      4. 171. Provisions as to knowledge by officials, &c., of Welsh language.

      5. 172.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      6. 173. Revocation and variation of orders and rules.

      7. 174.†Parliamentary control of orders, rules and regulations.

      8. 175.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      9. 176. Provisions as to exemptions, &c.

      10. 177.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      11. 178. Expenses and receipts.

      12. 179. Application to the Crown.

    2. Interpretation

      1. 180.Meaning of “mine”

      2. 181. Meaning of “owner”.

      3. 182. General interpretation provisions.

      4. 183. Application of Act to training mines.

    3. Relationship of Factories Acts and this Act in case of certain premises

      1. 184. Relationship of Factories Acts and this Act in case of certain premises.

    4. Repeals, Savings, Transitional Provisions, &c.

      1. 185.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. 186. Repeal of s. 21 of 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. 28.

      3. 187. Application of Part XIV of this Act to enactments relating to check-weighing and hours of work below ground.

      4. 188. Minor and consequential amendments of other enactments.

      5. 189.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      6. 190.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      7. 191. General savings.

      8. 192. Saving for persons managing certain small mines at commencement of this Act.

      9. 193. Saving for common law rights of workmen, &c.

      10. 194. Commencement.

      11. 195. Short title and extent.

  17. SCHEDULES

    1. FIRST AND SECOND SCHEDULES

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    2. THIRD SCHEDULE

      Inquiries into Fitness of Holders of Certificates and Delivery up and Custody of Certificates in connection with Prosecutions and Inquiries.

      1. Part I Inquiries into Fitness of Holders of Certificates

        1. 1.The tribunal holding an inquiry under section one hundred and...

        2. 2.The Health and Safety Executive may pay to the persons...

        3. 3.The inquiry shall be public and shall be held at...

        4. 4.The Health and Safety Executive shall, before the beginning of...

        5. 5.The said person may appear at the inquiry either in...

        6. 6.At the conclusion of the inquiry the tribunal shall send...

        7. 7.The tribunal shall, for the purposes of the inquiry, have...

        8. 8.A person attending as a witness before the tribunal shall...

        9. 9.The tribunal may make such orders as it thinks fit...

        10. 10.If a person— (a) without reasonable excuse (proof whereof shall...

      2. Part II Delivery up and Custody of Certificates in Connection with Prosecutions and Inquiries

        1. 11.The holder of any such certificate as is mentioned in...

        2. 12.A certificate so delivered up may be retained by the...

        3. 13.Where the court or tribunal cancels or suspends a certificate...

        4. 14.Where on an appeal (whether by way of case stated...

        5. 15.Where a certificate has been sent to the Health and...

        6. 16.For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, the...

      3. Part III Modifications of Parts I and II for the Purposes of their Application to Scotland

        1. 17.In the application of this Schedule to Scotland—

    3. FOURTH SCHEDULE

      Minor and Consequential Amendments of Enactments

    4. FIFTH SCHEDULE

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

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