Mining metal ores is high-hazard work: underground ground instability, dust, plant and confined working all engage the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and, for underground mines, the Mines Regulations 2014. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates workplace safety in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) regulates it in Northern Ireland.

On top of the workplace duties, opening or extending a mine needs planning permission, environmental permits and — where blasting is used — an explosives licence. Uranium and thorium ore mining additionally engages the radioactive-substances regime.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - primary UK workplace health and safety legislation establishing employer and employee duties. Pure data reference.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in the United Kingdom. It establishes the legal framework for protecting the health, safety and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

Legal status: Primary legislation - principal UK health and safety statute
Royal Assent: 31 July 1974
Came into force: 1 April 1975 (in stages)
Geographic scope: Great Britain (separate legislation applies in Northern Ireland)
Applies to: All employers, employees, self-employed persons, and those who control work premises
Primary duty (Section 2): Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
Duty to non-employees (Section 3): Employers must protect persons not in their employment (contractors, visitors, public) who may be affected by work activities
Employee duties (Sections 7-8): Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, cooperate with employers, and not misuse safety equipment
Enforcement authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities
Maximum penalties (post-2008 amendments): Unlimited fines in Crown Court; imprisonment up to 2 years for individuals; up to 12 months and/or an unlimited fine in Magistrates' Court in England and Wales (12-month custody powers from 18 November 2024; fines unlimited since March 2015 under LASPO 2012, s.85)
Referenced by regulators: Cited in 31 regulatory documents in the ORDS (Office for Regulatory Delivery and Simplification) dataset
Secondary regulations: Enables creation of health and safety regulations (e.g. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, COSHH, Manual Handling)

Reasonably practicable: The Act uses the term "so far as is reasonably practicable" throughout. This means employers must balance the level of risk against the time, trouble and cost of controlling it. However, the law is weighted in favour of health and safety - employers must demonstrate that control measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk before they can be considered not reasonably practicable.

Self-employed persons: The Act also places duties on self-employed persons to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work activities.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk)

HSE - Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 guidance

What you need to do

Work through the guides below in order. The spine covers running a safe mine and employing people. The permits guide covers the consents you need before you start. The checklist lets you confirm you have covered everything.

1

Set up and run a safe metal ore mine

The universal spine. Follow this for your health and safety duties, mine-safety regime under the Mines Regulations 2014 and COSHH controls for silica and ore dust. It also covers work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection.
2

Get the permits and consents for metal ore mining

The pre-operational gateways. Follow this for minerals planning permission and environmental permits for mine-water discharge and extractive waste. It also covers explosives licensing for blasting, and the radioactive-substances permit for uranium and thorium ore.
3

Confirm you have covered everything

Finish with the metal ore mining compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.

Your guides

Set up and run a safe metal ore mine — the universal spine
Get the permits and consents for metal ore mining — the pre-operational gateways
Metal ore mining: compliance checklist — confirm you have covered everything

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for mining regulation.

Which metal ore mining regulations apply to your business

Environmental compliance for construction sites

Structural works compliance checklist

Film and TV production tax reliefs and regulation

Clinical governance and quality improvement

Excavation and foundation safety

What you need to do

Set up and run a safe metal ore mine

Get the permits and consents for metal ore mining

Confirm you have covered everything

Your guides

Official sources

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Environmental compliance for construction sites

Structural works compliance checklist

Film and TV production tax reliefs and regulation

Clinical governance and quality improvement

Excavation and foundation safety

What you need to do

Set up and run a safe metal ore mine

Get the permits and consents for metal ore mining

Confirm you have covered everything

Your guides

Official sources