Mining & Resources UK-wide

Which coal mining rules apply to you

If you operate or plan to operate a coal or lignite extraction site in Great Britain, you must comply with mining-specific licensing, safety and environmental regimes on top of the universal workplace duties that bind every employer. This guide introduces the rules and routes you to the detail.

Guide summary

You must get a coal-mining licence from the Mining Remediation Authority, follow the Mines or Quarries Regulations, hold explosives authorisations and secure environmental permits. You also need to meet universal workplace duties like health and safety, fire safety, insurance and data protection. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces safety rules and can issue unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison.

  • Get a coal-mining operation licence from the Mining Remediation Authority
  • Follow the Mines Regulations 2014 or Quarries Regulations 1999 for your working method
  • Hold the right explosives authorisations for your site
  • Secure environmental permits for waste and discharges from the relevant agency
  • Meet universal duties: health and safety, COSHH, fire safety, insurance, equality, data protection
  • Control coal dust and silica – these are the main hazards in mines
  • HSE is the lead safety enforcer – penalties include unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison
  • Northern Ireland has separate mining safety rules – not covered in this guide
  • Use the compliance checklist to confirm you have met every obligation
On this page

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Coal and lignite extraction is one of the most heavily regulated industries in Great Britain. On top of the workplace health and safety, fire, insurance, equality and data protection duties that bind every employer, a mining operator faces sector-specific regimes covering licensing, mine and quarry safety, explosives, hazardous substances and environmental permitting.

The core mining regimes — the Coal Industry Act 1994, the Mines Regulations 2014 and the Quarries Regulations 1999 — apply in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has separate mining safety legislation and is not covered in detail here.

The Health and Safety Executive is the lead enforcing authority for health and safety at mines and quarries across Great Britain. The Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority) licenses coal-mining operations and manages legacy mine-water pollution. The Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA and NIEA regulate environmental permits in their respective nations.

What you need to do

  • Set up a safe operation — meet the universal workplace duties covering health and safety, COSHH (coal dust and silica are the defining hazards), work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection.
  • Meet your mining regulatory duties — obtain a coal-mining operation licence, comply with the mines or quarries safety regime for your working method, hold the right explosives authorisations and secure environmental permits for waste and discharges.
  • Confirm compliance — use the checklist to verify every obligation is met.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for coal mining regulation.