HC Deb 04 November 1993 vol 231 cc437-8W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many violations of the dust regulations are known or suspected to have occurred in British mines in each of the last three years and so far in 1993.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

According to the Health and Safety Executive's inspectorate of mines, violations of the Respirable Dust Regulations 1975 have occurred at three British mines, one in financial year 1991–92 and two in 1993–94.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of consistency between independent sampling of dust in British mines and the official monitoring carried out by British Coal; and what action he proposes to take.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The Respirable Dust Regulations 1975 require mine owners to put in place arrangements to collect and analyse dust samples. The regulations do not require independent sampling of dust to take place in British mines, but British Coal has voluntarily put in place an additional procedure to check on its own statutory dust sampling arrangements, to evaluate the continuing effectiveness of its systems. Some results of such check sampling have been higher than those taken under routine sampling and therefore, in addition to the action that British Coal is taking to establish the reasons for the variation in sample checks, the Health and Safety Executive's inspectorate of mines will be carrying out a full investigation of the procedures for statutory and check samples.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the action taken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of mines in regard to dust sampling in British mines and by granting exemption for working under unsupported roofs and the use of roof bolts.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) inspectorate of mines are responsible for the enforcement of the statutory health and safety regulations which apply in British mines. They have advised me that the prevalence of pneumoconiosis in British coal mines has dropped progressively throughout the last 30 years, and they are satisfied that the Respirable Dust Regulations have been appropriately applied and wish to see the continuance of the downward trend in this disease. The HSE's inspectorate of mines will continue to work with mine owners to ensure compliance with the regulations.

I understand that no exemptions have been issued which allow men to work under unsupported ground. HSE's inspectorate of mines advise me that a district inspector of mines will grant an exemption for the use of rockbolts only after thorough scrutiny of the proposed system by an inspector of mines, and only if he is satisfied that the health and safety of the work force will not be jeopardised.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action was taken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of mines in regard to the under-reporting of dust counts in British mines which was referred to the inspectorate earlier this year; and when the inspectorate was first aware of the under-reporting.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Dust levels are not routinely notified to the Health and Safety Executive's inspectorate of mines unless they are in excess of the statutory limits. Managers have to record the results of statutory sampling and these are examined by the inspectorate. I understand that the inspectorate first became aware of differences between statutory samples and British Coal's check samples in August. The Chief Inspector of Mines has advised me that these differences are being investigated.