Safety Risks Arising From Coal and Abandoned Coal Workings

Important Public Safety Information

Under the Coal Industry Act 1994 ownership of coal, (excluding coal in tips), coal mines (both current and disused) and coal mine shafts & adits (previously vested in British Coal) transferred to the Coal Authority (“the Authority”). Any activities which intersect, disturb or enter any of the Authority’s coal interests require the prior written permission of the Authority. Such activities include initial site investigation boreholes and any subsequent treatment of coal mine workings and coal mine entries for ground stability purposes.

Failure to obtain permission for such activities is a trespass, with the potential for court action. In the interests of public safety the Coal Authority is concerned that safety risks specific to the nature of coal and abandoned coal workings are identified and mitigated. These risks include the potential for:

Collapse of shallow mine workings
Coal mining subsidence
The collapse of, or risks of entry to, mine entries including shafts and adits
Gas emissions from mines including methane and carbon dioxide
Spontaneous combustion of coal which may lead to underground heatings and production of carbon monoxide
Transmission of gases to adjacent properties through underground pathways including ground fractures
Water emissions from workings

The Authority has an established regime for approving activities which may intersect its property and all Developers need to consider these specific risks in addition to risks which may exist from both activities on site and public safety. Risks will require assessment both in terms of how they may affect the land under investigation as well as the wider environment.

Detailed background to risks can be found in these published materials:

British Drilling Association (BDA) - Code of Safe Drilling Practice.
Construction Industry Research & Information Association (CIRIA) - Special Publication 32, Construction over Abandoned Mine workings.
Planning Policy Guidance Notes - PPG 14 (1990): Development on Unstable Land & PPG 14 Annex 2 (2002):
Subsidence and Planning.
British Standards Institute - Code of Practice For Site Investigations - BS5930:1999

Attention is drawn to the Health & Safety Executive´s Position Statement In Relation to Carbon Monoxide (associated with drilling operations) and to the example documentation available in the permissions section of this website.

Contacts

For queries regarding applications for permission to enter or disturb coal mining interests please contact the Licensing & Permits Office.

t: 01623 637 339 or 01623 637 377
f: 01623 620 363

The Coal Authority is the public body which deals with surface hazards arising from past coal mining activities, such as shaft collapses, gas emission and spontaneous combustion of coal. Our Emergency call-out service deals with these incidents on a 24-hour basis every day of the year. Upon receiving a report of a coal mining hazard, we will arrange for the situation to be made safe and remediate those hazards for which we have responsibility.

To report a surface hazard:

t: 01623 646 333

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