Mines Act 1842 becomes law

Background. At the beginning of the 19th century, methods of coal extraction were primitive, and the workforce of men, women, and children laboured in dangerous conditions. In 1841, about 216,000 people were employed in the mines. Women and children worked underground for 11 or 12 hours a day for lower wages than men. Victorian society was shocked to discover that children as young as five or six worked as "trappers" and "hurriers".

Investigation. In 1840, Lord Ashley headed the Royal Commission, which investigated the conditions of workers, especially children, in the coal mines. The report, compiled by Richard Henry Horne and accompanied by illustrations, was published in May 1842. Separately, a stream overflowed into a mine ventilation drift after violent thunderstorms, causing the death of 26 children — 11 girls aged 8 to 16 and 15 boys aged 9 to 12.

Legislative Process. The bill passed the House of Lords at its third reading on 1 August 1842. The resulting act, known as the Mines and Collieries Act 1842, was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It specifically forbade women and girls of any age to work underground and introduced a minimum age of ten for boys employed in underground work.