Division 09
Mining Support Services
Requirements for all mining support services
These requirements apply to all business activities in this division.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties
Enforced by HSE
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by the undertaking. HSE is the lead enforcing authority for extractive support work, onshore and offshore. NI: Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance)
Enforced by HSE
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Compulsory for any business employing at least one person.
UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018
Enforced by ICO
Data Protection Act 2018; UK General Data Protection Regulation (retained EU law)
Applies to any business processing personal data — staff, contractors, customers, suppliers. ICO data protection fee payable unless specifically exempt.
Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics
Enforced by EHRC
Equality Act 2010
No discrimination, harassment or victimisation in employment or in services across the nine protected characteristics. NI has a separate equality regime enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Enforced by LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The responsible person must carry out and maintain a fire risk assessment for the workplace (offices, depots, stores, non-process buildings). Fire and explosion risk at the actual worksite is regulated primarily through DSEAR and the offshore/mining safety regimes. Devolved variants: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
Enforced by HSE
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Assess and control exposure to hazardous substances common to extractive support work — drilling fluids and muds, respirable crystalline silica from rock dust, hydrogen sulphide, cement and chemical additives. Health surveillance and exposure monitoring where required. NI: COSHH Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR)
Enforced by HSE
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
This applies across the whole industry: support work around petroleum and gas extraction handles flammable hydrocarbons and can create explosive atmospheres, and other-mining support handles combustible dust and stored explosives. Duties to assess fire/explosion risk, eliminate or reduce it, classify hazardous-area zones and provide suitable (ATEX-compliant) equipment. NI: DSEAR (Northern Ireland) 2003.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
Enforced by HSE
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Drilling rigs, pumps, winches, lifting gear, well-service equipment and site plant must be suitable, maintained, inspected and safe to use, with adequate operator training and guarding.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Enforced by HSE
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Avoid, assess and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling — drill pipe and casing handling, valves, sampling, and materials movement on rig floors and worksites.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR)
Enforced by HSE
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
The responsible person must notify and report specified work-related deaths, injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority (HSE). Extractive support work has additional reportable dangerous occurrences (e.g. well-control incidents, shaft/escape route events) under the RIDDOR schedules.