OpenLegislation

Mines and Quarries Act 1954

2 & 3 Eliz. 2 c. 70 · Enacted 25 November 1954 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 26 May 2015.

An Act to make fresh provision with respect to the management and control of mines and quarries and for securing the safety, health and welfare of persons employed thereat; to regulate the employment thereat of women and young persons; to require the fencing of abandoned and disused mines and of quarries; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

[25th November 1954]C1C2C3C4C5

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act extended (S.) by Education (Scotland) Act 1962 (c. 47), s. 136

C2

Act amended by S.I. 1988/1729, regs. 1(1), 12(2), 1930, regs. 3, 16(2), 1989/635, reg. 33(3)

C3

Act except s. 151 amended by S.I. 1990/1380, regs. 3, 4

C4

Act except s. 151 saved by virtue of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. (c. 37, SIF 43:3), s. 53, Sch. and Tay Road Bridge Order Confirmation Act 1991 c. iv Sch. Pt. VII s. 62

C5

Act except s. 151 saved by virtue of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37, SIF 43:3), s. 53, Schedule and Highland Regional Council (Harbours) Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. xii), s. 61(1)(f)

The definition of "mine" in this Act applied (30.11.1991) by Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 (c. 45, SIF 86), s. 1(4)(b), (with s. 37(4), Sch. 7); S.I. 1991/2508, art. 2.

The definition of "mine" in this Act applied (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), ss. 89(6), 161(6), 225(2), (with ss. 16(6), 179, 222(3), Sch. 22 para. 1)

The definition of "quarry" in this Act applied (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), ss. 89(6), 225(2), (with ss. 16(6), 179, 222(3), Sch. 22 para. 1)

Contents

  1. Part I: General Duties of Mine and Quarry Owners
  2. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  3. Part II: Management and Control (Mines)
  4. Managers and Under-managers
  5. 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  6. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  7. 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  8. 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  9. 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  10. 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  11. 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  12. 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  13. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  14. Surveyors
  15. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. Officials and Technicians
  17. 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  18. 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  20. Provisions ancillary to foregoing Sections
  21. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  22. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. Plans
  24. 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  25. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  26. 19Faulty plans. Repealed
  27. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  28. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  29. Part III: Safety, Health and Welfare (Mines)
  30. Provisions for securing safe Ingress and Egress
  31. 22Provision of shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.
  32. 23Communications between shafts and outlets in coal, &c., mines.
  33. 24Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in places with single exits.
  34. 25Limitation on number of persons to be employed at coal, &c., mines in shafts and outlets and their insets.
  35. 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  36. 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  37. 28Provision of winding and haulage apparatus. Repealed
  38. 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  39. Safety Precautions in connection with Shafts, &c., and Entrances to disused Workings
  40. 30Securing of shafts and staple-pits. Repealed
  41. 31Safety precautions with respect to entrances to shafts, staple-pits and outlets.
  42. 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  43. 33Safety precautions with respect to entrances to unfit parts of mines.
  44. Roads
  45. 34General provisions with respect to construction and maintenance of roads.
  46. 35Height and width of travelling roads.
  47. 36Prohibition of use of vehicles and conveyors in roads not affording free movement. Repealed
  48. 37Transport rules. Repealed
  49. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 39Provisions for securing safety of foot-passengers in transport roads. Repealed
  51. 40Provision of refuge holes. Repealed
  52. 41Safety measures relating to use of vehicles. Repealed
  53. Provisions for securing safe operation of Winding and Rope Haulage Apparatus and Conveyors
  54. 42Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are carried. Repealed
  55. 43Charge of winding and rope haulage apparatus when persons are not carried. Repealed
  56. 44Charge of conveyors at working faces. Repealed
  57. 45Signalling in shafts and outlets. Repealed
  58. 46Signalling in roads. Repealed
  59. 47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  60. Support
  61. 48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  62. 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  63. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  64. 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  65. 52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  66. 53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  67. 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  68. Ventilation
  69. 55Duty to provide adequate ventilation. Repealed
  70. 56Avoidance of danger from gas in waste. Repealed
  71. 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  72. 58Provisions as to means of ventilation. Repealed
  73. 59Prevention of leakage of air between airways. Repealed
  74. 60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  75. Lighting, Lamps and Contraband
  76. 61Lighting. Repealed
  77. 62Permitted lights. Repealed
  78. 63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  79. 64Prohibition of taking into mines safety-lamps not provided by owner or of approved type. Repealed
  80. 65Offences relating to safety-lamps. Repealed
  81. 66Prohibition of possession of smoking materials in certain mines and parts of mines. Repealed
  82. 67Prohibition of taking into certain mines and parts of mines of articles producing flames or sparks. Repealed
  83. 68Section 68
  84. Blasting Materials and Devices
  85. 69Blasting materials and devices. Repealed
  86. Fire Precautions and Provisions as to Rescue
  87. 70Fire precautions in case of workings served by single intake airway.
  88. 71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  89. 72Fire-fighting and rescue operations.
  90. 73Means of escape from rooms in which there is special risk of fire, &c. Repealed
  91. Dust Precautions
  92. 74Dust precautions. Repealed
  93. Precautions against external Dangers to Workings
  94. 75—77. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  95. 78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  96. Duties of Officials and Workmen in Cases of Danger
  97. 79Withdrawal of workmen in cases of danger. Repealed
  98. 80Duty of workmen to deal with, or report, danger.
  99. Machinery and Apparatus
  100. 81Construction, maintenance, &c., of machinery and apparatus.
  101. 82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  102. 83Restrictions on use below ground of certain engines, &c. Repealed
  103. 84Air, gas and steam containers. Repealed
  104. 85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  105. Buildings, Structures, Means of Access, &c.
  106. 86Buildings and structures to be kept safe. Repealed
  107. 87Safe means of access and safe means of employment. Repealed
  108. Training and Discipline
  109. 88Restriction on doing of work by unskilled persons.
  110. 89Penalization of failure to observe safety directions, &c.
  111. 90Penalization of negligent acts or omissions and unauthorised removal, &c.,ofarticles.
  112. First Aid
  113. 91. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  114. Medical Examinations and Prohibition of Heavy Work
  115. 92. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  116. 93. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  117. General Welfare Provisions
  118. 94Sanitary conveniences. Repealed
  119. 95Measures against vermin and insects. Repealed
  120. 96. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  121. 97Supply of drinking water. Repealed
  122. Part IV: Management and Control (Quarries)
  123. 98. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  124. 99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  125. 100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  126. 101. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  127. 102. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  128. 103. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  129. 104. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  130. 105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  131. 106. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  132. 107. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  133. Part V: Safety, Health and Welfare (Quarries)
  134. 108. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  135. 109. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  136. 110. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  137. 111. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  138. 112Dust precautions. Repealed
  139. 113. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  140. 114. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  141. 115. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  142. Part VI: Notification and Investigation of Accidents and Diseases
  143. Notification
  144. 116—122. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  145. Part VII: Workmen’s Inspections
  146. 123Inspections of mines and quarries on behalf of workmen employed thereat. Repealed
  147. Part VIII: Employment of Women and Young Persons
  148. Prohibition of Employment below Ground
  149. 124Prohibition of employment below ground in certain cases.
  150. Hours of Work
  151. 125—128Provisions as to hours worked by women and young persons. Repealed
  152. Special Exceptions
  153. 129. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  154. 130Special exception for emergencies. Repealed
  155. Miscellaneous Provisions
  156. 131Register of women and young persons employed. Repealed
  157. 132Supplemental. Repealed
  158. Part IX: Records, Returns and Information
  159. 133. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  160. 134. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  161. 135. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  162. 136. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  163. 137Furnishing to workers of information with respect to this Act and orders and regulations thereunder. Repealed
  164. 138. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  165. 139. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  166. 140. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  167. Part X: Regulations
  168. 141Regulations.
  169. 142. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  170. 143Variation, revocation, &c., of regulations. Repealed
  171. Part XI
  172. 144,145. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  173. 146. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  174. Part XII: Grant, Cancellation and Suspension of Certificates
  175. 147. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  176. 148. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  177. 149. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  178. 150Cancellation or suspension of certificates. Repealed
  179. Part XIII: Fencing of Abandoned and Disused Mines and of Quarries
  180. 151Fencing of abandoned and disused mines and of quarries.
  181. Part XIV: Offences, Penalties and Legal Proceedings
  182. 152Offences.
  183. 153Accessories.
  184. 154Supplementary provisions as to offences.
  185. 155Penalty for offences for which no express penalty is provided.
  186. 156Defence available to person charged with offence not committed personally.
  187. 157Persons not to be under liability for contraventions which it was impracticable to avoid or prevent.
  188. 158. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  189. 159Liability of owners for breaches of statutory duty by their servants.
  190. 160Liability of parents for unlawful employment of young persons
  191. 161. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  192. 162. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  193. 163Prosecution of offences.
  194. 164Restriction on institution of certain proceedings.
  195. 165Duty to report results of proceedings against persons employed at mines or quarries.
  196. 166Liability of parents for unlawful employment of children.
  197. 167. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  198. Part XV: Miscellaneous and General
  199. Supplementary Provisions
  200. 168Division of mines. Repealed
  201. 169. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  202. 170Provisions as to references upon notices served by inspectors. Repealed
  203. 171Provisions as to knowledge by officials, &c., of Welsh language. Repealed
  204. 172. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  205. 173Revocation and variation of orders and rules.
  206. 174†Parliamentary control of orders, rules and regulations. Repealed
  207. 175. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  208. 176Provisions as to exemptions, &c.
  209. 177. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  210. 178Expenses and receipts.
  211. 179Application to the Crown.
  212. Interpretation
  213. 180Meaning of “mine”
  214. 181Meaning of “owner”.
  215. 182General interpretation provisions.
  216. 183Application of Act to training mines.
  217. Relationship of Factories Acts and this Act in case of certain premises
  218. 184. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  219. Repeals, Savings, Transitional Provisions, &c.
  220. 185. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  221. 186Repeal of s. 21 of 16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. 28.
  222. 187. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  223. 188Minor and consequential amendments of other enactments.
  224. 189. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  225. 190. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  226. 191General savings.
  227. 192Saving for persons managing certain small mines at commencement of this Act.
  228. 193Saving for common law rights of workmen, &c.
  229. 194Commencement.
  230. 195Short title and extent.
  231. Schedule FIRST AND SECOND SCHEDULESSchedule FIRST AND SECOND SCHEDULES
  232. Schedule THIRD: Inquiries into Fitness of Holders of Certificates and Delivery up and Custody of Certificates in connection with Prosecutions and Inquiries.
  233. Part I: Inquiries into Fitness of Holders of Certificates Repealed
  234. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  235. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  236. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  237. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  238. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  239. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  240. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  241. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  242. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  243. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  244. Part II: Delivery up and Custody of Certificates in Connection with Prosecutions and Inquiries Repealed
  245. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  246. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  247. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  248. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  249. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  250. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  251. Part III: Modifications of Parts I and II for the Purposes of their Application to Scotland Repealed
  252. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  253. Schedule FOURTHMinor and Consequential Amendments of Enactments
  254. Schedule FIFTHSchedule FIFTH