CONTROL OF THE MINING ENVIRONMENT.

Advances in the tempo of mining activities are steadily accentuating the impact of environmental conditions on the health and safety of the mineworker. Simultaneously, the statutory obligations of both employer and employee have been considerably widened by the U. K. 's Health and Safety at Work Act. This paper reviews objectives, achievements and expectations regarding control of the mining environment in the several fields of ventilation, respirable dust, noise and physical safety. Due emphasis is placed on the need for full considerations of environmental issues in the initial planning of all mining operations, as well as in the technical design of coal cutting equipment.