The Mines (Control of Ground Movement) Regulations 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations impose health and safety requirements with respect to the control of ground movement in mines. Existing provisions which are replaced by these Regulations are repealed or revoked (regulation 18).

2.  The Regulations impose duties upon managers of mines and officials of mines as defined in regulation 2(1).

3.  The Regulations make provision with respect to–

(a) the taking of ground control measures as defined in regulation 2(1) (regulation 4);

(b) the assessment of ground conditions and the review and revision of any such assessment (regulation 5);

(c) the preparation of a design document and the review and revision of any such document (regulation 6);

(d) rules setting out ground control measures and instructions on how to implement them (regulation 7);

(e) notification to the Executive of any significant change to existing ground control measures in use at a mine of coal (regulation 8 and the Schedule to these Regulations);

(f) implementation of the rules required under regulation 7 and the installation of support material (regulation 9);

(g) the preparation and implementation of a scheme for assessing the adequacy of ground control measures (regulation 10);

(h) the supply, installation and withdrawal of support material (regulations 11 to 13);

(i) falls of the roof or sides of a mine in any place where a person is likely to work or pass (regulation 14);

(j) the granting of exemptions from any requirement or prohibition of the Regulations in specified circumstances by the Executive (regulation 15);

(k) the disapplication of section 157 of the 1954 Act in specified circumstances (regulation 16);

(l) the amendment of specified instruments (regulation 17).

4.  A copy of the regulatory impact assessment prepared in respect of these Regulations can be obtained from the Economic Adviser’s Unit, the Health and Safety Executive, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.