Sec. 13. Sec. 69. Sec. 38. Sec. 47. Sec. 42. Sec. 26. Sec. 39. Sec. 39. Sec. 39. 65. Register. The owner, agent, or manager, must keep in the office at the mine, a register, containing the particulars prescribed by section 13 as to all persons whose hours of employment are regulated by the Act, and also a memorandum of the certificates of school attendance. The register is to be produced to the inspector, who may inspect or copy it. 66. Returns are to be sent annually by the owner, agent, or manager of each mine to the inspector of the district, namely, on January 1st a return in the form given in Schedule 4 to the Act, and on or before February 1 a return in form to be prescribed by a Secretary of State specifying the particulars mentioned in sect. 38 of the Act. 67. Plans.-The owner, agent, or manager is to keep in the office at the mine an accurate plan and section, or a tracing thereof, showing the workings up to at least six months previously, and is to produce it to the inspector of mines to examine, but not to copy, and if requested, is to mark on the plan the workings up to the time of production. 68. Plans on Abandonment.-Within three months of the abandonment of a mine a plan and section or tracing thereof, showing the boundaries of the workings, are to be sent by the owner to a Secretary of State as a mining record, not, however, to be seen until after the lapse of 10 years, except by an inspector or by consent. 69. Notices must be sent by the owner, agent, or manager of a mine to the inspector of mines for the district as follow: 1. Of the appointment of a manager, together with his name and address immediately after his appointment; and in case of the temporary appointment of an uncertificated manager, the notice shall state the reason of such appointment. 2. Of any accident causing loss of life or serious personal injury within 24 hours after such accident. 3. Of any accident from explosion of gas, powder, or steam boiler, causing any personal injury, within 24 hours after such accident. 4. Of any death resulting from personal injury caused by an accident previously reported, within 24 hours after the death comes to the knowledge of the owner, agent, or manager. Abstract of Act. 5. Of the commencement of any working for the opening of a new shaft. 6. Of the abandonment of a shaft. 7. Of the re-commencement of the working of a shaft after an abandonment for more than two months. 8. Of any change in the name of the mine, or in the name of the owner, agent, or manager. 9. Of any change in the officers of any incorporated company owning a mine. Notice must also be given by the owner or agent (not by the Sec. 25. manager) of the fact that two or more parts of a mine are worked separately, with a view that each may be deemed to constitute a separate mine for the purposes of the Act. 70. Coroners Inquests. In the case of an inquest being held Sec. 50. concerning a death caused by a mine accident, unless the inspector or some other person on behalf of a Secretary of State is present, the coroner is to adjourn the inquest, and to send to the inspector four days notice of the time and place of the adjourned inquest. If, however, only one life has been lost by the accident, and 48 hours notice of the time and place of holding the inquest has been sent to the inspector, the inquest need not be adjourned if the majority of the jury think it unnecessary. At the inquest the inspector of mines may examine any witness subject to the order of the coroner. If the inspector is not present, and evidence is given of any neglect having caused or contributed to the accident or of any defect in or about the mine appearing to require a remedy, the coroner is to send to the inspector notice thereof in writing. In the event of a fatal accident occurring in a mine and an inquest being held, no person who is employed in that mine or is concerned in its management or has a personal interest in that mine is qualified to serve on the jury. EXEMPTIONS. 71. Employment of boys in thin seam mines.—A Secretary of State Sec. 5. may exempt a thin seam mine from the provisions (see above, paragraph No. 17), prohibiting employment below ground of boys under 12. In a mine so exempted, boys of 10 and under 12 may be employed underground, but (a.) Not for more than 6 days a week; (6.) Not for more than 6 hours a day, if employed for more than 3 days in a week; Sec. 7. Sec. 13. Secs. 8, 9, 10, 11. Sec. 12. Sec. 17. 16 The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1872. (c.) Not for more than 10 hours a day, if employed for only 3 An interval of 12 hours rest shall be allowed between each two The period of each employment of a boy is deemed to begin at the time of his leaving the surface, and to end at the time of his return to the surface. The week is deemed to begin at 12 p.m. Saturday, and to end at 12 p.m. on the Saturday following. The immediate employer of any boy of 10 and under 12 is not to take him below ground until he has reported his intention so to do to the manager or to some person appointed by the manager. Boys of 10 and under 12 are subject to the same provisions with regard to schooling as are prescribed (see above, paragraphs 25, 26, 27, 28) for children under 13 employed above ground. 72. Saturday half-holiday-Ireland.--A Secretary of State may exempt any mine in Ireland from the provision (see above, paragraph 30) prohibiting the employment above ground of women, young persons, or children after 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. 73. Weighing provisions.-A Secretary of State may grant an Secs. 17-19. exemption from the weighing provisions (see above, paragraph 34) or postpone their operation with respect to any mine or class of mines, as to which he is satisfied that such exemption or postponement is requisite or expedient by reason of the exigencies of the case. Sec. 22. In any mine so exempted wages may be paid according to measure or gauge, and local measures and gauges may be adopted, subject, however, to inspection by the inspectors of Weights and Measures. A check measurer may be appointed in like manner as a check weigher. 74. Single Shafts.-A Secretary of State may exempt a proved (a.) If satisfied that the quantity of mineral proved is insufficient In a mine so exempted there must not be employed H (b.) If the mine is not a coal mine or mine with inflammable gas, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that sufficient provision has been made against danger from other cause than explosion of gas by using stone, brick, or iron, in the place of wood in the lining of the shaft and construction of the mid wall: In a mine so exempted there must not be employed below ground at any one time in the whole of the different seams in connection with the shaft or outlet more than the number of persons the Secretary of State may allow : (c.) If satisfied that the workings in a seam have reached the boundary of the property or the extremity of the mineral field and that it is expedient to work away the pillars already formed in the course of the ordinary workings notwithstanding that by so working away the pillars one of the shafts or outlets may be cut off: In a mine so exempted there must not be employed below ground at any one time in the whole of the different seams in connection with the shaft or outlet more than 20 persons, or if the mine is not a coal mine or a mine with inflammable gas more than such larger number as the Secretary of State may allow : (d.) If satisfied that by reason of an accident one of the shafts or outlets has become unavailable for the use of the persons employed in the mine: A mine so exempted may only be worked subject to the conditions specified in the exemption : (e.) In the case of a mine not at the time of the passing of the Act required to have two outlets, provided that an application is made in England or Scotland within six months after 1st January 1873, or in Ireland within six months after 1st January 1874, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that the mine is nearly exhausted : If the Secretary of State refuse to grant such exemption, the matter may be referred to arbitration. 75. Also in the case of a mine not at the time of the passing of the Act required to have two outlets, a Secretary of State may grant an extension of time (see above, paragraph 41) for providing an additional shaft or outlet if an application is made to him within six months preceding 1st January 1875. Ventilation. Inspecting and report ing on gaseous mines. Inspecting and report ing on nongaseous mines. Fencing of places not In the event of the Secretary of State refusing such extension of time the matter may be referred to arbitration. GENERAL RULES. 76. The following are the general rules :— (1.) An adequate amount of ventilation shall be constantly produced in every mine, to dilute and render harmless noxious gases to such an extent that the working places of the shafts, levels, stables, and workings of such mine, and the travelling roads to and from such working places, shall be in a fit state for working and passing therein. (2.) In every mine in which inflammable gas has been found within the preceding twelve months, then once in every twenty-four hours if one shift of workmen is employed, and once in every twelve hours if two shifts are employed during any twenty-four hours, a competent person or competent persons, who shall be appointed for the purpose, shall, before the time for commencing work in any part of the mine, inspect with a safety lamp that part of the mine, and the roadways leading thereto, and shall make a true report of the condition thereof, so far as ventilation is concerned, and a workman shall not go to work in such part until the same and the roadways leading thereto are stated to be safe. Every such report shall be recorded without delay in a book which shall be kept at the mine for the purpose, and shall be signed by the person making the same. (3.) In every mine in which inflammable gas has not been found within the preceding twelve months, then once in every twentyfour hours a competent person or competent persons, who shall be appointed for the purpose, shall, so far as is reasonably practicable immediately before time for commencing work in any part of the mine, inspect that part of the mine and the roadways leading thereto, and shall make a true report of the condition thereof so far as ventilation is concerned, and a workman shall not go to work in such part until the same and the roadways leading thereto are stated to be safe. Every report shall be recorded without delay in a book which shall be kept at the mine for the purpose, and shall be signed by the person making the same. (4.) All entrances to any place not in actual course of working and extension shall be properly fenced across the whole width of in working. such entrance, so as to prevent persons inadvertently entering the same. |
