§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now instruct the Health and Safety Executive to undertake research regarding the health damage caused by humidity levels and high temperatures to mineworkers working at great depth; and if he will consider introducing legislation to safeguard men working under such conditions.
§ Mr. NichollsA research project on working in hot conditions in mining has already been undertaken on behalf of HSE by the Institute of Occupational Medicine. A report will be published later this year and its conclusions will be taken into account in the course of the revision of existing mining legislation. Section 55(3) of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 currently requires that
the manager of a mine shall have regard … to securing … the maintenance in the mine of working conditions that are reasonable so far as regards the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere.