Set up and run a safe coal mining operation

Before tackling the mining-specific licensing and safety regimes, your operation must meet the universal workplace duties that bind every employer. Coal and lignite extraction carries particular risks from dust, heavy plant and manual tasks, so the foundational duties are not a formality — they are the base on which the mining safety regime is built.

A. Health and safety at work

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 employees and anyone else affected by your undertaking. HSE is the enforcing authority for mines and quarries across Great Britain. If you employ five or more people you must have a written health and safety policy and record your risk assessments. You must appoint a competent person to assist with health and safety. Northern Ireland has equivalent general-duty provisions under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

B. COSHH — hazardous substances

Coal and lignite extraction generates respirable coal dust and respirable crystalline silica — both are subject to workplace exposure limits. Every operator must assess exposure, implement controls (dust suppression, ventilation, enclosed cabs on plant), monitor airborne dust concentrations and provide health surveillance for dust-exposed workers. Underground operations must also manage firedamp (methane) and diesel exhaust particulate. The Mines Regulations 2014 set a respirable-dust action level that reinforces the COSHH control objective underground. COSHH applies across Great Britain; Northern Ireland has equivalent COSHH regulations.

C. PUWER — work equipment

Excavators, draglines, continuous miners, cutting and winning equipment, conveyors, crushers, pumps, winding apparatus and all other work equipment must be suitable for the intended use, maintained in an efficient state and safe to use under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. PUWER applies across deep mining, opencast and lignite operations. Guards, emergency stops and inspection regimes must be in place. The Mines Regulations 2014 and Quarries Regulations 1999 impose additional equipment-specific duties (shaft winding, tip vehicle controls). PUWER applies across Great Britain; Northern Ireland has equivalent regulations.

D. Manual handling

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require you to avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, assess the risk where it cannot be avoided, and reduce the risk of injury. In mining, manual handling risks arise from moving supports, materials, equipment and maintenance components across uneven or confined workings. Apply the TILE factors (task, individual, load, environment) to each operation and provide mechanical aids where possible. The regulations apply across Great Britain; Northern Ireland has equivalent manual handling regulations.

E. Fire safety

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to surface buildings — offices, workshops, stores and welfare facilities. The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment, provide escape routes, fire detection and alarm equipment, and train staff. Underground fire and explosion risk is regulated through the Mines Regulations 2014 (firedamp, conveyor fire) and DSEAR, not the Fire Safety Order. In Scotland the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 applies; in Northern Ireland the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

F. Employers' liability insurance

If you employ anyone — including part-time, agency or contract workers under your direction — you must hold employers' liability insurance with at least £5 million cover under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. The certificate must be displayed at your premises or accessible electronically. The insurer issues the certificate — not HSE.

G. Equality

The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination, harassment and victimisation across the nine protected characteristics in employment and service provision. You must consider reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. The Equality and Human Rights Commission enforces across Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, equivalent protections are provided by separate equality legislation enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

H. Data protection

If you process personal data — employee records, contractor records, supplier records, CCTV — you must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Register with the Information Commissioner's Office and pay the data protection fee unless you are specifically exempt. The data protection regime applies UK-wide.