Coal Mines Act of 1911
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| Long title | An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Coal Mines and certain other mines |
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| Citation | 1911 ch. 50 |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 December 1911 |
| Commencement | 16th December 1911 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Coal Mines Act 1911 amended and consolidated legislation in the United Kingdom related to collieries. A series of mine disasters in the 19th and early-20th centuries had led to commissions of enquiry and legislation to improve mining safety. The 1911 Act, sponsored by Winston Churchill, was passed by the Liberal government of H. H. Asquith. It built on earlier regulations and provided for many improvement to safety and other aspects of the coal mining industry. An important aspect was that mine owners were required to ensure there were mines rescue stations near each colliery with equipped and trained staff. Although amended several times, it was the main legislation governing coal mining for many years.
In the United Kingdom a series of disasters in the 19th century brought about Royal Commissions which developed the idea of improving mine safety. In 1906 a major explosion at a colliery in Courrières, northern France, caused the deaths of more than 1,000 miners. The subsequent report blamed the accidental ignition of firedamp, exacerbated by coal dust in the air. Concerned that a similar disaster might happen in British collieries, the Royal Commission was formed, reporting back in 1907, 1909 and 1911. On 9 April 1908 an explosion at Norton Hill Collieries at Westfield approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) underground killed 10 men and boys. As there were no mine rescue teams at that time, the manager and volunteers searched for survivors for 10 days.
The civil servant Malcolm Delevingne had a significant influence on safety regulations in factories and mines. He did a considerable amount of work on the Coal Mines Act, 1911.Richard Redmayne joined the Home Office as the first Chief Inspector of Mines in 1908 and worked with Delevingne to bring about the Act 1911. The Royal Commission reports led to the Coal Mines Act 1911, which came force into December that year.
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