Northumberland and Durham

In the absence of the viewer and under-viewer, the responsible charge of the mine is with the overman and back-overman in their respective shifts. The overman is not to leave the mine without communicating with the back-overman, and both officers are to make daily reports of the state of the mine, the overman to the viewer or under-viewer, and the back-overman to the overman or under-viewer. The overman will also confer with the back-overman and deputies every night. The back-overman will receive the reports of the back-deputies at the overman's cabin each day when the pit is done ; and he will see all the workmen and boys safely out of the mine, it being his special duty to remain until they have quitted it : he is also, before leaving, to ascertain that all lights are extinguished. In the absence of the overman and back-overman, the deputies are responsible for carrying out the orders of their superiors, and the duties prescribed to them by the regulations of the colliery.

No workman or boy shall enter any working place until it has been examined by the overman, back-overman, or deputy, whose duty it is to make such examination before work is commenced, and to ascertain that the place is properly ventilated, free from firedamp or stithe, and in a safe condition, by sufficient props and timbering. And until such examination shall be made and leave given, no workman or boy shall go beyond the flat or other station appointed by the overman. If a place be found insecure from the causes above mentioned, or any of them, on its examination, such place shall not be set to work until it is secured or made safe and free from foulness, as the case may be ; and if, in the course of being worked, the place prove insecure from any of the causes mentioned, the overman or deputy shall stop such place and remove the workman ; and should the unsafe state of the place be owing to the issue of firedamp, a danger-signal is to be placed at the entrance to it ; any person passing beyond which with a candle or other naked light is to be sent out of the mine and not allowed to have employment until his misdemeanor shall be inquired into and punished.

No workman or boy is allowed (unless authorised so to do) to go into any part of the mine excepting that in which he is placed by the overman, deputy, or other officer.

The waste is to be properly examined by the master wasteman or other wastemen, who shall report its condition to the under-viewer, in a book kept for that purpose. The intake and return currents of air are to be examined by the master wasteman every morning. The quantities of air passing into each district are to be noted by him, and if any deficiency be experienced, he is not to leave the mine until the cause of such deficiency is ascertained and remedied. He is to see that the waste is properly ventilated. He is to keep the air course in a proper state, and to make them of sufficient are for good ventilation : if any part of the waste be foul, he is to inform the viewer, under-viewer, or overman, of the same. Safety-lamps are to be used exclusively in the waste, the master wasteman, or other authorised person examining and locking the lamps of the men employed under him. The overman and the deputies are to travel the air course with the master or other wasteman occasionally, in order to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the same.

The edges of all the goaves in the broken workings are to be carefully examined by the overmen or deputies, very day, with the safety lamp ; and during the day the condition of the edges of the goaves and the working juds are to be frequently examined by the deputies, and, should inflammable gas be at any time observed, the working of the jud to be immediately stopped until the gas has been cleared away. Where danger is apprehended no juds are to be drawn until after the pit is done, and no naked lights are to be allowed in the district during such drawing of props.

All waggonways and tramways are to be kept in a safe and working state, throughout the colliery, by the persons in charge of them, to whom it is a special instruction to secure them properly and to make safe, by removal or otherwise, any overhanging stone or "side-wafers". No workman is allowed to ride inbye or outbye upon the corves, nor upon any incline bank or engine plane, except by permission.

A stock of props and timber to be provide for the security of the working places, roads, and all other portions of the mine. The overman to see that a sufficient quantity of it is sent down the pit, and into the working places. It is the duty of the deputies (acting under the orders of the overmen) to have the props and timber conveyed into the workings, and to set the same for the safety of the workmen. The supply us to be renewed as often is found necessary ; and if, in the absence of a deputy, any place requires additional timber the hewer not to continue his work, but to leave his place and to find the deputy for the purpose of having the requisite timber set.

The deputies are responsible for putting, on all occasions, a sufficient quantity of timber into every working place in the best possible manner, so as to afford the greatest safety to the workmen employed.