The Mines Act of 1842 forbid employing children under age 10, and for all women, to work in mines. It should be noted that England mines today and in 1842 have extensive coal mines.
The Mines Act of 1842 was significant as it marked a pivotal step in improving working conditions for miners in the UK. It prohibited the employment of women and boys under ten in underground mines, addressing concerns about their safety and exploitation. This legislation was part of a broader movement for labor reform during the Industrial Revolution, highlighting growing awareness of workers' rights and the need for regulation in hazardous industries. Ultimately, it laid the groundwork for future labor protections and reforms.
1842
1842 is 172 years before 2014.
The port of Glasgow, Scotland.
Children working in Victorian Britain’s coal mines faced harsh and dangerous conditions. They often started working as young as five or six years old, enduring long hours, typically 12 to 14 hours a day, in dark, cramped spaces. The rules governing their employment were minimal and poorly enforced; many children worked without safety gear or adequate ventilation, exposing them to health risks and physical harm. By the late 19th century, growing public concern led to some reforms, including the Mines Act of 1842, which prohibited the employment of women and boys under ten in mines.
1842
Working In Mines
1842
The Mines Act was passed in 1842 in the United Kingdom. This legislation aimed to improve working conditions and reduce child labor in mines by establishing regulations for safety and hours of work.
1842
forbade the employment of women and boys under 10 years of age in the mines
forbade the employment of women and boys under 10 years of age in the mines
The 1842 Coal Mines Act forbade the underground employment of women and girls in coal mines in Britain. This was in response to growing concerns about the harsh working conditions and exploitation experienced by women and children in the mines.
The Mines Act of 1842 passed a law in Great Britain which made it illegal for women to work underground in mines. The most interesting reasoning behind this was that the hot conditions under the mines would cause women to work shirtless, as men often did. This was, at the time, seen as extremely socially unacceptable.
Women and boys under the age of 10
The Ashley Mines Commission was an parliamentary commission that interviewed mine employers and workers from 1841-1842, focusing on physical conditions and sexual behavior of the workers. The inquiries resulted in the Mines Act of 1842, which sought to reduce immoral behavior and sexual bullying by prohibiting underground work for all women (and for boys younger than ten).
The Act prohibited all underground work for women and girls, and for boys under 10