Mines and Quarries Act 1954

68 Electricity and electrical apparatus

(1) Regulations may make provision with respect to any of the following matters, namely,—

(a) the generation, storage, transformation, transmission and use of electricity at mines; and

(b) the use, construction, installation, examination, repair, maintenance, alteration, adjustment and testing of electrical apparatus and electric cables at mines ;

shall make provision for requiring that, where the amount of inflammable gas in the general body of the air in a part of a mine below ground exceeds such percentage by volume (which shall not exceed one and a quarter) as may be prescribed, the supply of electricity to all apparatus in that part of the mine (other than such apparatus as may be prescribed, being apparatus as to which the Minister is satisfied that the continued use thereof will not involve undue risk), shall be cut off; and may make provision for requiring the cutting off, in such circumstances (other than as aforesaid) as may be prescribed, of the supply of electricity to apparatus, below ground in a mine.

(2) If, with respect to a mine, an inspector is of opinion that the use of electricity below ground therein or in any part thereof below ground would or might involve substantial risk of an explosion of gas or dust, he may serve on the manager of the mine a notice stating that he is of that opinion, and prohibiting, or restricting to such extent as may be specified in the notice, the use of electricity below ground in the mine or in that part thereof, as the case may be.

The provisions of Part XV of this Act with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this subsection and any such notice shall, if it is so specified therein, become operative forthwith.