Mines and Quarries Act 1954

4 Qualifications of mine managers

(1) No person shall be qualified to be appointed or to be the manager of a mine of coal, stratified ironstone, shale or fireclay at which more than thirty persons are employed below ground unless he is the holder of a first-class certificate of competency valid with respect to the mine, has attained the age of twenty-six years and satisfies such other conditions (if any) as may be prescribed.

(2) No person shall be qualified to be appointed or to be the manager of a mine of coal, stratified ironstone, shale or fireclay at which more than fourteen but not more than thirty persons are employed below ground—

(a) except in a case falling within paragraph (b) of this subsection, unless he is the holder of a first-class or second-class certificate of competency valid with respect to the mine, has attained the age of twenty-three years and satisfies such other conditions (if any) as may be prescribed;

(b) in a case where there is for the time being in force a direction, given by an inspector by notice served on the owner of the mine, that this paragraph shall apply to the mine, unless he is the holder of a first-class certificate of competency valid with respect to the mine, has attained the age of twenty-six years and satisfies such other conditions (if any) as may be prescribed:

Provided that an inspector may, by notice served on the owner of any such mine as aforesaid, exempt the mine from the provisions of this subsection.

(3) In the case of a mine of coal, stratified ironstone, shale or fireclay at which not more than fourteen persons are employed below ground, an inspector may by notice served on the owner of the mine direct that this subsection shall apply to the mine and, while the direction remains in force, no person shall be qualified to be appointed or to be the manager of the mine unless he is the holder of a first-class or second-class certificate of competency valid with respect to the mine, has attained the age of twenty-three years and satisfies such other conditions (if any) as may be prescribed.

(4) Regulations may direct, or empower an inspector to direct, that no person shall be qualified to be appointed or to be the manager of a mine other than of coal, stratified ironstone, shale or fireclay unless he satisfies such conditions as may be prescribed.