Northumberland and Durham

Safety-lamps are to be used whilst examining all workings also in old or suspended workings, in backpillars, in drawing timber (whether in the whole or broken), in stow boards, and in the waste. Where the pillar working or broken is in operation, or in such districts of the whole mine as the viewer may direct, or as the viewer or overman may, from time to time, judge necessary, stations will be fixed upon, with proper notice boards, on the inbye side of which no candles, lanterns, or tobacco pipes are to be taken. From these stations no person is to take a safety-lamp into the pillar working, broken, or waste, without its having been first examined and securely locked by the overman, deputy, or other responsible officer. The overman and deputies to have full power to direct the workmen how to use their safety lamps during the time of working and it is particularly enjoined that every workman strictly attend to such directions. None but the overman, or person authorized so to do, to be allowed to carry a safety-lamp key.

Should any accident happen to a lamp whilst in use, by which the gauze is injured, or oil is spilt upon the gauze, or it be in any other way rendered unsafe, the light to be immediately extinguished by drawing the wick down within the tube with the pricker ; such lamps to be immediately taken out to the station where the lamps are examined, and not to be again used until after having been properly examined by the overman or some other responsible person. Every person whom a safety lamp is entrusted shall take the gauze home and clean the same every time it is used, and if it require repairing, he shall take it to the workshops.

Every person using a safety-lamp shall frequently notice it ; and should he detect, by the usual indications, the appearance or presence of firedamp, he is to pull down the wick with the pricker, as before mentioned, and then to retreat to the lamp station, and give information of the same to the nearest possible person.

Every hewer, or other person to whom a safety-lamp is entrusted, is hereby strictly prohibited from interfering in any way whatever with the lamps, whilst in use on the inbye side of the stations, beyond the necessary trimming of the wick with the pricker. And in no case shall the safety-lamp be suspended upon the row of props next the goaf or old work, nor in any situation which is not at least two feet from the stroke or swing of the pick or other gear.

Should any hewer, putter, or other person whatever in charge of a safety-lamp, in any case lose his light, he is to take it himself to the station where the lamps are examined, to be relighted, examined, and locked by the overman, or some other responsible person, before being again used.

The person who keeps his safety-lamp in the best order for a period of three months will be entitled to a premium of 5s., and for the second best 2s. 6d.

No putter, pony driver, helper-up, or other person is, under any pretext whatever, to carry a lamp during his work, except in cases where the parties have leave to do so from the viewer. Lamps will be hung up where required to afford sufficient light for the performance of the work.

Any person found smoking tobacco, or having in his possession a pipe in any part of the said colliery where safety-lamps are used, will be liable to be fined or taken before a magistrate, at the option of the owners or viewer of the said colliery. No Lucifer matches, or other self-igniting apparatus, under any pretext whatever to be taken down the pit by workmen or boys.

It is expressly directed that any workmen or other person witnessing any improper treatment of the safety-lamps by any one, shall give immediate information to the overman then in charge of the pit, so that a reoccurrence of such conduct may be prevented by the offending party being brought to justice.

In the event of any of the instructions or rules herein set forth not being attended to, it is particularly requested that whosoever may know of such neglect will instantly make complaint, so that immediate measures may be taken for applying a remedy, and inflicting such penalties upon the parties so neglecting as ay be deemed necessary, or as the magistrate may order. And any person informing against offending party or parties will, in every case, be handsomely rewarded.