Mines and Collieries Act 1842
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
(5 & 6 Vict.) C A P. XCIX.
[10th August 1842]
'WHEREAS it is unfit that Women and Girls should be employed in any Mine or Colliery, and it is expedient to make Regulations regarding the Employment of Boys in Mines and Collieries, and to make Provisions for the Safety of Persons working therein:' Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, Thatfrom and after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful for any Owner of any Mine or Colliery whatsoever to employ any Female Person within any Mine or Colliery, or permit any Female Person to work or be therein, for the Purpose of working therein, other than such as were at or before the passing of this Act employed within such Mine or Colliery; and that from and after Three Calendar Months from the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful for any Owner of any Mine or Colliery to employ any Female Person who at the passing of this Act shall be under the Age of Eighteen Years within any Mine or Colliery, or permit such Person to work or be therein as aforesaid; and any Indentures of Apprenticeshipwhereby any Female Person who at the passing of this Act was under the Age of Eighteen Years shall be bound to work or be liable to be called on to work in any Mine or Colliery shall, at the Expiration of Three Calendar Months from the passing of this Act, be absolutely void; and from and after the First Day ofMarch One thousand eight hundred and forty-three it shall not be lawful for any Owner of any Mine or Colliery to employ any Female Person whatsoever within any Mine or Colliery, or to allow or permit any Female Person to work or be therein as aforesaid; and every Indenture of Apprenticeship, or other Contract or Engagement, whereby any Female Person whatsoever shall be bound to work or be liable to be called on to work within any Mine or Colliery (other than such as are before declared to be void at the End of Three Calendar Months as aforesaid) shall, from and after the said First Day of March One thousand eight hundred and forty-three, be absolutely void.
II Males not to be employed in Mines or Collieries under Ten Years of Age, &c.
II. And be it enacted, That from and after the First Day ofMarch One thousand eight hundred and forty-three it shall not be lawful for any Owner of any Mine or Colliery to employ any Male Person under the Age of Ten Years within any Mine or Colliery, or to permit any such Male Person to work, or be therein for the Purpose of working therein, other than such as at the passing of this Act shall have attained the Age of Nine Years, and were at or before the passing of this Act employed within such Mine or Colliery.
III Appointment of Inspectors of Mines and Collieries;
III. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for One of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, if and when he shall think fit, to appoint any proper Person or Persons to visit and inspect any Mine or Colliery; and it shall be lawful, for every Person so authorized to enter and examine such Mine, or Colliery, and the Works, Buildings, and Machinery belonging thereto, at all Times and Seasons, by Day or by Night, and to make Inquiry touching any Matter within the Provisions of this Act; and the Owner or Occupiers of such Mines and Collieries, or their Agents, are hereby required to furnish the Means necessary for such Person or Persons so appointed to visit and inspect such Mines and Collieries, Works, Buildings, and Machinery; and every Person to be so appointed shall report his Proceedingsin the Execution of this Act in such Manner as may be directed by the Secretary of State; and he shall in like Manner report the State and Condition of the Persons working in such Mine or Colliery, and whether or not the Provisions of this Act are properly observed in the Mine or Colliery which he shall so inspect.
IV No Person to be apprenticed under 10 Years of Age, nor longer than 8 Years; and Indentures contrary to Act, or in force when Apprentice attains 18, void.
IV. And be it enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act no Person or Persons shall take any Apprentice who shall be bound to work, or be liable to be called on to work, or be otherwise occupied, within a Mine or Colliery, who shall be under the Age of Ten Years, or for a longer Term of Apprenticeship than Eight Years, except as the Apprentice of a Mason, Joiner, Engine Wright, or other Mechanic whose Services may be required occasionally below as well as above Ground; and every Indenture of Apprenticeship whereby any Person shall be hereafter bound contrary to the Provisions of this Act shall be void; and when any Person who is now serving under Articles of Apprenticeship within any Mine or Colliery shall attain the Age of Eighteen Years, he shall be discharged from such Apprenticeship, and the Articles of Apprenticeship shall become absolutely null and void.
V Penalties for Offences against this Act.
V. And be it enacted, That every Person or Persons, Body or Company, offending against any of the aforesaid Provisions, shall forfeit a Sum not more than Ten Pounds nor less than Five Pounds, for every Person employed or suffered to be in a Mine or Colliery contrary to the aforesaid Provisions, to be sued for and recovered as after mentioned.
VI Penalty on Parents or Guardians misrepresenting Ages of Persons employed.
VI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That if it shall appear on Inquiry before any Justices under the Provisions of this Act that any Person under the Age herein-before specified has been employed in any Colliery on the Representation of the Parent or natural Guardian of such Person that he was above the Age so herein-before specified, and if it shall appear to such Justices that such Person was so employed under thebon fide Impression and Belief on...
To continue reading
Request your trial