§ 16. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has completed his consultation with the various organisations regarding the use of automatic gas alarms underground; and, if so, whether he can make a statement as to what action he intends to take in the matter?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI have not fully completed my consultation with the various organisations, but the discussions have reached a point at which I feel able to make the following statement on the subject:
The desirability of providing means to enable underground workmen at any time to supplement the tests as to the safety of the atmosphere which are made from time to time by the deputies and other officials, is a problem of safety which was created through the displacement of the flame safety lamp by the electric safety lamp. It was studied in 1922 by the Miners' Lamps Committee and they recommended in effect that the practice already existing at some mines where electric lamps were in general use of providing a proportion of the workmen with flame safety lamps should be made generally compulsory by regulation; the Committee further recommended that workmen so provided should be instructed and qualified in the use of the flame safety lamp as a gas detector. No regulations were made to give effect to these Recommendations: opinions in the industry were sharply divided and there was not generally shown at that time that willingness to accept the new duties which the Committee pointed out to be an essential condition of effective action.
Since that time, the problem has grown both in size and in complexity, and other forms of detector (including the automatic detector) have been developed as an alternative to the flame safety lamp. Moreover I propose to make, early next year, regulations, already under discussion, to secure improved lighting. These 1095 regulations are likely to involve the replacement of a large proportion of the safety lamps now in use at and about the coal face by lamps of much higher candle power, and in this respect are likely therefore to have an important bearing on the problem.
In these circumstances, I think it is necessary that a fresh attempt should now be made to deal with it, and I have given instructions for the framing of a draft of regulations to deal with the matter comprehensively, and as definitely as the very wide variation in the relevant conditions at different mines will permit. Following the usual procedure it is my intention as soon as this draft is ready to communicate it to the representative associations of the industry for their consideration, and subsequent discussion with me.