THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

AND JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Vol. CV.

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1913.

No. 2733.

BATHS FOR MINERS.

New Draft Regulations-

The Home Secretary proposes to make Regulations
under sections 77 and 86 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911,
with reference to the provision of washing and drying
accommodation at mines under that Act, in which such
accommodation is required in pursuance of section 77 to
be provided. The Regulations are based on the recom-
mendations of the Departmental Committee, consisting
of Mr. W. Walker, H.M. inspector of mines for
Scotland, Mr. Frank Brain and Mr. Robert Smillie,
who were appointed to consider the question.

In a circular letter to mineowners, it is pointed out
that the Regulations do not take effect at any mine
until a two-thirds majority of the workmen affected
(i.e., underground workers and workers engaged on the
surface in handling tubs, screening, sorting or washing
coal, or loading coal into wagons) ask for the provision
of washing and drying accommodation, and that the
following classes of mines are altogether exempt:—

(1)	Mines where the total number of workmen affected
is less than 100; (2) mines held on a lease with an
unexpired term of less than 10 years ; (3) mines which,
in the opinion of the Secretary of State, will be worked
out within 10 years.

The Committee considered it unnecessary to lay down
different requirements for different classes of mines, but
recommended that, so long as there was no loss of
efficiency, modifications of the Regulations might be
allowed in particular cases where the accommodation
prescribed by the Regulations could not be provided
within the limit of expenditure fixed by the Act. The
procedure of special regulations in section 87 of the
Act provides the means by which such modifications
can be made after the general regulations have come
into force.

In accordance with the requirements of the Act, the
Regulations are issued in the first instance as a draft.
If within 30 days from this date a “general objection”
is made to the Regulations—that is, an objection made
either by or on behalf of owners of mines employing not
less than one-third of the total number of men employed
at the mines affected by the Regulations, or by or on
behalf of not less than one-third of the total number of
men so employed—the objection will, under the statute,
be referred to a referee appointed under section 117 of
the Act. Further, if any objection, though not a
general objection, is made on behalf of the owners of
mines of any particular class or mines in any separate
area, and it is alleged in the objection that, having
regard to the special natural conditions or special
methods of working in mines of that class or mines in
that area, the proposed Regulations ought not to apply
to those mines, the Secretary of State will also, unless
he is opinion that the objection is frivolous, refer it to a
referee.

Every such objection must be in writing, and must
state (a) the specific grounds of objection, and (6) the
omissions, additions, or modifications asked for.

The following is the text of the draft Regulations:—
Bathing Accommodation and Facilities.

(1)	The accommodation and facilities for taking baths
shall be provided in a building of sufficient dimensions,
efficiently lighted and ventilated, kept in good repair, and
while the accommodation is in use heated to a temperature
of not less than 60 nor more than 75 degrees Fahr.

(2)	The accommodation shall consist of spray or douche
baths supplied with water at a temperature as near as may
be of 100 degs. Fahr., and each bath shall be contained in
a cabinet constructed so as to secure privacy and having
suitable arrangements for dressing and undressing.

(3)	The number of baths shall be in the proportion of one
to every six persons in the largest shift employed at the
mine.

(4)	The building shall be constructed of non-inflammable
material and shall have a floor of cement or similar material
so graded and drained as to allow any water to run to and
be carried away at the sides of the building.

The building shall also be so constructed as to permit of
its being easily cleaned and to prevent accumulations of
dirt in any part, and for this purpose—

(a) all corners and ledges shall be rounded and all
inner surfaces of the building shall be smooth ;

(&) a space of not less than in. shall be left between
the walls of each cabinet and the sides of the
building, and a space of not less than 10 in.
between the walls of the cabinet and the floor of
the building;

(c)	the inside wall of the building shall be constructed,

to a height of not less than 7 ft. from the floor,
of impervious material which is capable of being
readily cleaned;

(d)	wood shall not be used for the purpose of any

inside fittings except seats;

(e)	the surface of every seat shall be of hard wood and

shall be made in two or more parts, with spaces
between the parts of not less than f in.

(5)	No water shall be used for the baths which is liable
to cause injury to health or to yield effluvia, and for the
purpose of this Regulation any water which absorbs from
acid solution of permanganate of potash in four hours at
60 degs. Fahr, more than 0'5 grain of oxygen per gallon of
water shall be deemed to be liable to cause injury to health.

(6)	The interior of the building and cabinets shall be
thoroughly cleansed once every day, and if the accommo-
dation is used by more than one shift of persons during the
day the cabinets shall be cleansed after each shift has
bathed.

(7)	Every person using the accommodation shall be
provided with soap, and, at the beginning of each week and
at such other times as the person in charge of the baths
may think necessary, with a clean towel for his sole use.

Drying Accommodation and Facilities.

(8)	Arrangements shall be made for suspending in the
roof of the building the clothes of each person using the
accommodation, by means of a chain which shall be so
arranged and fitted as to be under the sole control of the
person to whom it is allotted and to keep the clothes of
such person when suspended entirely separate from the
clothes of any other person, and efficient means shall be
provided for drying clothes when so suspended.

Constitution, Powers and Duties of Committee
of Management.

(9)	The Committee of Management shall consist of three
persons appointed by the owner of the mine and three
persons elected by ballot by the workmen at the mine who
are liable to contribute to the cost of maintenance of the
bathing and drying accommodation; provided that where
there are several mines belonging to the same owner of
which all the shafts or exits for the time being in use in
working the mines lie within a circle having a radius of
5 miles and baths are installed at two or more of the
mines, a Joint Committee may be appointed to manage the
bathing and drying accommodation and facilities at all
the mines at which such accommodation and facilities are
provided. Each such mine shall be represented on the
Joint Committee by two persons appointed by the owner
and by two persons elected by ballot by the workmen at the
mine who are liable to contribute.

(10)	The procedure of the Commitee shall be in accordance
with rules made by the Committee, and minutes of all
proceedings shall be kept. In the event of the Committee
being equally divided on any question and not being able
to come to an agreement, the question shall be referred to
some person selected jointly by the representatives of the
owner and of the workmen, whose decision shall be final.

(11)	The Committee shall be responsible for the main-
tenance of the building and fittings in good condition and
repair and clean and fit for use; for the maintenance of due
order and discipline in the use of the accommodation and
facilities provided ; for the provision of all supplies; for the
efficient working of the arrangements and for the appoint-
ment and supervision of attendants.

(12)	The Committee shall have power (i) to undertake
any structural or other work necessary to the discharge of
their duties as aforesaid, (ii) to appoint attendants, and
(iii) to make rules as to the cleansing of the building and
fittings, the maintenance of discipline and orderly behaviour
among persons using the accommodation, the order in which
men are to take their baths, the times for bathing, the

prevention of any nuisance by persons using the accommo-
dation or otherwise, and the prohibition of any person
using the accommodation who fails to comply with the rules
made by the Committee or with any directions given by the
attendant in charge of the building in pursuance of such
rules, or who is suffering from an’ infectious or contagious
disease, or is liable to communicate infection, or for other
sufficient reason. The Committee shall forward a copy of
any rules made by them to the Inspector in charge of the
Division.

(13)	The Committee shall appoint a sufficient number of
attendants one of whom shall be in charge, under the
general control of the Committee, of the accommodation
and facilities provided, and shall be responsible to the
Committee for enforcing the rules made by the Committee.
The attendant in charge shall have power to exclude from
the building any person refusing to comply with the rules
of the Committee or any direction given by him in pursuance
of those rules, and he shall immediately report the case to
the Committee.

(14)	The owner shall pay over to the Committee on each
pay day the sums deducted by him, in pursuance of sub-
section (4) of section 77, from the wages of the workmen
liable to contribute, and shall also pay over to the Com-
mittee at such times as may be agreed the amount which
the owner is liable to contribute less interest at a rate not
exceeding 5 per cent, per annum on capital expenditure.
Proper accounts shall be kept by the Committee of all
income and expenditure, and a balance sheet shall be made
out annually and shall be placed in the building in a
conspicuous place where it can be read by all persons liable
to contribute.

Fig. 1.—Interior of Bath-house at Lens No. 5
Colliery, Pas-de-Calais.

THE COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The report of the Departmental Committee—upon
whose recommendations the foregoing Regulations are
based—has also been published. [Cd. 6724.]

The Committee, as originally constituted, consisted
of the late Mr. W. H. Pickering (chairman), Mr. Frank
Brain and Mr. Robert Smillie, and were appointed
under the following terms of reference :—(1) What
should be regarded as sufficient and suitable accommo-
dation and facilities ? (2.) Are different requirements
necessary in respect of different classes and descriptions
of mines, and if so, what ? (3) What should be the
composition and procedure, powers and duties of the
committee of management of the accommodation and
facilities provided ? Since the date of its appointment
on May 20, 1912, one change occurred in the personnel
of the committee, Mr. W. Walker having been appointed
to succeed as chairman the late Mr. W. H. Pickering,
who was killed by the explosion at Cadeby Main Colliery
on July 9 last. For the purpose of making enquiry and
inspecting the baths and drying facilities provided, the
Committee have visited works and mines in England,
Germany, Belgium and France.

On the Continent the owners and managers of mines
j were most kind, placing every information as regards
the cost, organisation and equipment at the disposal of
the Committee, and have since forwarded plans and
other particulars of their installations. It is proposed
| to deposit such of the information as is not given in