Mining & Resources

Mining support service: compliance checklist

Use this checklist to confirm your mining support service business (SIC division 09) meets its obligations. Work through the universal workplace items every support contractor shares, then the worksite compliance duties that apply where you work. If you answer no to any item that applies to you, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

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Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Use this checklist to confirm your business meets its obligations. Work through each item and answer yes or no. Section 1 covers your workplace duties and employing people; Section 2 covers the worksite compliance duties that apply where you work. If you answer no to an item that applies to you, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

Workplace health and safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain and by HSENI in Northern Ireland. HSE is also the competent authority for the offshore safety-case regime (jointly with the Secretary of State) and for the onshore mines and quarries regimes.

Section 1 — Workplace duties and employing people

These duties apply to every mining support service. Confirm each one.

  1. 1

    Have you written your risk assessments and put safe systems of work in place?

    Your general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your people and others affected by your work. Risk-assess every activity and put safe systems of work, training and supervision in place. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe mining support service".

  2. 2

    Have you assessed and controlled hazardous substances under COSHH?

    COSHH requires control of drilling fluids, rock dust, hydrogen sulphide, cement and chemical additives, with health surveillance and exposure monitoring where required.

  3. 3

    Have you assessed fire and explosion risk under DSEAR?

    DSEAR requires assessment and control of fire and explosion risk from flammable hydrocarbons, combustible dust and stored explosives, with hazardous-area classification and ATEX-compliant equipment.

  4. 4

    Is your plant safe under PUWER?

    Keep drilling rigs, pumps, winches, lifting gear and site plant maintained, guarded and used by trained operators, with LOLER for lifting equipment.

  5. 5

    Have you managed manual handling, fire safety and RIDDOR reporting?

    Reduce hazardous handling risks; meet fire safety duties for your premises; and report work-related deaths, injuries and dangerous occurrences to HSE under RIDDOR.

  6. 6

    Do you hold employers' liability insurance and meet your equality and data duties?

    Hold at least £5 million of cover once you employ anyone; do not discriminate under the Equality Act 2010 (or separate NI equality law enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland); and comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, registering with the ICO unless exempt.

Section 2 — Worksite compliance duties

Confirm the duties that apply at your worksite.

  1. 1

    If you work on an offshore installation: are you cooperating with the operator's safety case?

    You have duties under the offshore safety-case regime — cooperate with the duty holder (the operator or owner), contribute well-notification information and work within the safety management system. The well operator holds the primary well-construction duties; you work within the well operator's arrangements. If not, follow "Meet your worksite compliance duties for mining support".

  2. 2

    If you work at a mine: are you complying with the Mines Regulations 2014?

    You must work within the mine operator's safety management and comply with the escape, ventilation, fire and ground-control provisions. The Mines Regulations 2014 apply in Great Britain; Northern Ireland has separate mining safety provisions.

  3. 3

    If you work at a quarry: are you complying with the Quarries Regulations 1999?

    You must cooperate with the quarry operator's safety management and comply with the geotechnical, traffic and shotfiring provisions. The Quarries Regulations 1999 apply in Great Britain; Northern Ireland has separate quarry safety provisions.

If you answered no to anything

Work through the guide linked in that item. The two task guides — the workplace spine and the worksite compliance guide — set out what to do. Start from the router if you are not sure which apply to you.

Official sources

Authoritative mining support regulation guidance.