MINES ACT, 1952

An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to the regulation of labour and
safety in mines. The act include several welfare and safety measure provisions and to
provide certain amenities to the workers employed therein.

Structure of mines act:

The act basically contain 10 chapters of provision and each section having certain
number of section that dictate the interpretation of legislation. The chapters of act are
as follows.
 CHAPTER I – PRELIMINARY
 CHAPTER II - INSPECTORS AND CERTIFYING SURGEONS
 CHAPTER III - MINING BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
 CHAPTER IV - MINING BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
 CHAPTER V - PROVISIONS AS TO HEALTH AND SAFETY
 CHAPTER VI - HOURS AND LIMITATION OF EMPLOYMENT
 CHAPTER VII - LEAVE WITH WAGES
 CHAPTER VIII - REGULATIONS, RULES AND BYE-LAWS
 CHAPTER IX - PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
 CHAPTER X – MISCELLANEOUS

FEATURES OF MINE ACT:

 INSPECTORS AND CERTIFYING SURGEONS

 Chief Inspector and Inspectors (Section 5)

 Functions of Inspectors (Section 6)
 Powers of Inspectors of Mines(Section 7)
 Powers of Special Officer to enter, measure, etc. (Section 8)
 Facilities to be provided for occupational health survey (Section 9)
 Secrecy of information obtained (Section 10)
 Certifying Surgeon (Section 11)
 COMMITTEES

 Central Government is to constitute Committee for the purpose of the Act,

consisting of (Section 12-)
 A person, not being Chief Inspector, to act as Chairman
 Chief Inspector of Mines
 Two persons to represent the interest of miners appointed by Central
Government
 Two persons to represent the interest of miners appointed by Central
Government
 Two qualified mining engineers not directly employed in mining industry
provided one person in (3rd) and (4th) point, represents the interest of
workers in coal mines
 Functions of the Committee (Section 13)
 Powers etc. of the Committee (Section 14)
 Recovery of expenses (Section 15)

 MINING OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MINES

 Notice to be given of mining operations (Section 16(1)

 Duties and responsibilities of owners, agents and managers (Section 18)

 PROVISIONS AS TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

 Drinking water (Section 19)

 Conservancy (Section 20)
 Medical appliances (Section 21)
 Powers of Inspectors when causes of danger not expressly provided against
exists or when the employment of a person is dangerous. Inspector may give
notice in writing to require it to be remedied (Section 22(1)
 Power to prohibit employment in certain cases (Section 22A(1)
 Notice to be given of accidents (Section 23)
 Power of Government to appoint Court of Inquiry in accidents (Section 24)
  Notice of certain diseases (Section 25)
 Power to direct investigation of causes of disease (Section 26)
 Publication of Reports (Section 27)

 HOURS AND LIMITATION OF EMPLOYMENT

 Weekly day of rest (Section28)

 Compensatory days of rest (Section 29)
 Hours of work above ground (Section 30)
 Hours of work below ground (Section 31)
 Night shifts (Section 32)
 Extra wages for overtime (Section 33)
 Prohibition of employment of certain persons (Section 34)
 Limitation of daily hours of work including overtime work (Section 35)
 Notices regarding hours of work (Section 36)
 Supervising staff (Section 37)
 Exemption from provisions regarding employment (Section 38)
 Power to make exempting rules (Section 39)
 Employment of persons below eighteen years of age (Section 40)
 Power to require medical examination (Section 43)
 Prohibition of the presence of persons bellow eighteen years of age in a mine
(Section 45)
 Employment of women(Section 46)
 Registers of persons employed(Section 48)

 LEAVE WITH WAGES

 Application of Chapter (Section 49)

 Leave defined (Section 50)
 Calendar year defined (Section 51)
 Annual leave with wages(Section 52)
 Wages during leave period (Section 53)
 Payment in advance in certain cases (Section 54)
 Mode of recovery of unpaid wages (Section 55)
 Power to exempt mines (Section 56)