# Mines and Quarries Act 1954, Section 157: Persons not to be under liability for contraventions which it was impracticable to avoid or prevent.

Extent: E+W+S

It shall be a defence in any legal proceedings to recover damages and in any prosecution, in so far as the proceedings or prosecution are or is based on an allegation of a contravention, in relation to a mine . . ., of—
(a) a provision of this Act, of an order made thereunder or of regulations (not being a provision which expressly provides that a person is to be guilty of an offence); or
(b) a direction, prohibition, restriction, or requirement given or imposed by a notice served under or by virtue of this Act by an inspector; or
(c) a condition attached to an exemption, consent, approval or authority granted or given under or by virtue of this Act by the Health and Safety Executive or an inspector;
(d) a requirement or prohibition imposed by or under such health and safety regulations as are mentioned in subsection (1)(d) or (2)(d) of section 152 of this Act;
to prove that it was impracticable to avoid or prevent the contravention.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/2-3/70/section/157 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/mines-and-quarries-act-1954/section-157
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.