Article 1.　This Law shall aim to prevent a danger to a mine worker and to achieve the rational develepment mineral resources.

Article 2.　The "mining industry" mentioned in this Law shall include the alluvial mining industry.

2　An "owner of mining right" mentioned in this Law shall include an owner of alluvial mining right, leaseholder under the provision of Article 17-(2) of the old Act to Promote the Production of Important Minerals (Law No.35 of 1938) which has been still kept valid according to the provision of Paragraph 3 of the Supplementary Provisions of the said Act and a leaseholder under the provision of Article 17 of the Law of Temporary Measures for Coal Mining Right, etc.(Law No.158 of 1948).

3　A "mine" mentioned in this Law shall mean the place of business where the mining is operated. However, the attached facilities having no close connection with the digging of minerals, the attached facilities of which the main business is not that relating to digging and prospecting the minerals and the attached facilities located far from the place where minerals are dug shall be exempted.

4　A "mine worker" mentioned in this Law shall mean a person who is engaged in the mining industry in a mine.

5　The range of the attached facilities mentioned in proviso to Paragraph 3, shall be provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 3.　The maintenance of "safety" mentioned in this Law shall mean each matter of the following items in the mining industry:

2　"Prevention of a danger to a human being in a mine" mentioned in item 1 of the preceding paragraph shall include ventilation concerning hygienics and rescue at the time of a disaster.

Article 4.　An owner of mining right shall take necessary measures for the sake of each item in the following:

Article 5.　A mine worker shall observe the matters necessary for the securing of safety in a mine.

Article 6.　An owner of mining right shall give a mine worker education concerning safety necessary for operation of his work.

2　The grade of education to be given to a mine worker for the sake of safety in respect to the specially dangerous operations provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance and the restriction on setting a person to work who has not completed this shall be provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 7.　An owner of mining right shall not, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, use or install underground in a mine the machinery, instruments, explosives or other materials which are considered to be much dangerous, unless after they successfully passed the examination.

2　The Minister of Commerce and Industry may, when he considers it necessary according to the actual states in a mine prohibit the use or installation of machinery, instruments or explosives or other materials which are especially much dangerous in the underground.

Article 8.　When an owner of mining right intends to establish or change the buildings, equipment and other facilities to be used for the operation of mining, he shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, ask for the permission of the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division (in respect to the coal mining, the chief of the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division;the same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter) beforehand with regard to the program. However, this shall not apply in case it is provided for otherwise by the Ministerial Ordinance.

2　In a case mentioned in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, an owner of mining right shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, submit the program to the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division not later than fourteen days before commencement of the work.

3　In respect to the work of which the program was submitted under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division may, when he considers it necessary for the sake of safety, prohibit an owner of mining right from commencing the said work or give an order to change the program.

4　An owner of mining right shall, when the work under the provision of Paragraph 1 was finished or the buildings, equipment and other facilities mentioned in the same paragraph were abolished, notify it to the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division within the period of fourteen days.

Article 9.　An owner of mining right shall not, as provided for by the ministerial ordinance, use machinery, instruments, buildings, equipment and other facilities unless they went through successfully the examination conducted by the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division, when the establishment or amendment thereof was completed and further whenever a definite period elapsed after the completion.

Article 10.　An owner of mining right shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, establish the Safety Rules to secure the maintenance of safety in a mine.

2　When an owner of mining right intends to establish the Safety Rules or make amendment therein, he shall consult with the Mine Safety Committee under the provisions of Article 19.

3　The chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division may, when he considers it necessary for the sake of safety, give an order to amend the Safety Rules.

4　Establishment or amendment of the Safety Rules shall not be effective unless the permission of the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division is given to it.

Article 11.　The Safety Rules shall not contravene the provisions of this Law, the Ministerial Ordinance based upon this Law and other laws and orders and also an order given by the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division for the sake of safety under the provisions of Article 25, Paragraph 1.

Article 12.　An owner of mining right and a mine worker shall observe the Safety Rules.

Article 13.　An owner of mining right shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, select a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor and a boss in a mine.

2　The chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division may, if he considers it necessary for the sake of safety, order an owner of mining right to dismiss a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor or a boss.

3　The chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall, when he intends to issue an order under the provision of the preceding paragraph, first conduct a public hearing, giving a notice in advance of the date and place of such hearing to the owner of mining right and the safety surpervisor, the assistant safety supervisor or the boss.

4　The person who received the notice mentioned in the preceding paragraph may state his opinion and produce evidence to the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division at such hearing.

5　When an owner of mining right selected or dismissed a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor or a boss, he shall notify it to the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 14.　A safety supervisor, shall take charge of the matters concerning the maintenance of safety.

2　An assistant safety supervisor shall assist a safety supervisor.

3　A boss shall be directed by a safety supervisor and an assistant safety supervisor (directed by an owner of mining right in a mine where a safety supervisor and an assistant safety supervisor is not selected) and attend to part of the matters concerning the maintenance of safety.

4　Besides the matters provided for in the preceding three paragraphs, those necessary for the duties of a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor and a boss shall be provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 15.　An owner of mining right shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, select a safety guard in a mine.

2　A safety guard shall advise a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor and a boss concerning the maintenance of safety.

3　The provisions of Article 13, Paragraph 2 to 5 inclusive together with the provisions of Paragraph 4 of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to a safety guard.

Article 16.　For the purpose of preparing for a case where a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor or a safety guard cannot perform the function on account of illness, journey or other causes, an owner of mining right shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, select beforehand a proxy and notify it to the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division.

2　In case a proxy mentioned in the preceding paragraph executes the function, he shall be considered as a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor or a safety guard in respect to application of the provisions of this Law and of an order to be issued under this Law.

Article 17.　A mine worker shall observe an instruction given by a safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor and a boss in order to secure the enforcement of the provisions of this Law or the Ministerial Ordinance based upon this Law.

Article 18.　A safety supervisor, an assistant safety supervisor, a boss and a safety guard (called generally hereinafter the safety technical officials) shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, pass the State Examination and, at the same time, have a definite qualification.

Article 19.　An owner of mining right shall, for the purpose of making cooperate with a safety supervisor (an owner of mining right in a mine where a safety supervisor is not selected;the same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) in the execution of his function concerning safety and give an advice to him, establish the Safety Commission in a mine as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

2　The Safety Commission shall consist of a safety supervisor and the members;and the former shall be the chairman.

Article 20.　The members of the Commission shall be selected by an owner of mining right from among mine workers in the mine.

2　Half the number of the members mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be selected with the recommendation of the majority of mine workers in the mine. However, this shall not apply in case there is no recommendation at all.

Article 21.　The Safety Commission shall be convened by the chairman and the proceedings shall be decided by the majority of the members presenting at the meeting. In case the number of pros and cons is equal, the chairman shall decide.

Article 22.　The chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall supervise the effectuation of the matters concerning the maintenance of safety in the plan of enterprise under the provisions of Article 44 of the Mining Industry Law (Law No.45 of 1905)(including a case where it is applied mutatis mutandis under the provisions of Article 23 of the Alluvial Mining Industry Law (Law No.13 of 1909), Article 17-(22) Paragraph 2 of the old Act to Promote the Production of Important Minerals, which has been still kept valid according to the provisions of Paragraph 3 of the Supplementary Provisions of the said Act and Article 33, Paragraph 1 of the Temporary Measures for Coal Mining Right, etc. Law).

2　The chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division may consult over the matters concerning the maintenance of safety in the plan of enterprise with the chief of the Commerce and Industry Bureau (in respect to the coal mining industry, chief of the Coal Bureau;the same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter) and, by showing the reason, give an order to make amendment therein.

Article 23.　In case an owner of mining right intends to dig and prospect minerals in the underground of the bottom of the sea, river or lake, or the underground where damage by mining is very likely to occur through the digging of land, he shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, map out the special digging program and ask for the permission of the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division. The same shall apply in case any change is intended to be made therein.

2　The chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division may give an order to make some change in the special digging program by showing the reason.

3　An owner of mining right shall not dig and prospect minerals in the underground provided for by Paragraph 1 unless under the special digging program.

Article 24.　The Minister of Commerce and industry may, when it is necessary in case there occurs a danger, a damage by mining or an injury to mineral resources or to the facilities, or there is much fear as such through the operation of mining, order an owner of mining right to suspend the mining operation.

Article 25.　When the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division considers the use of machinery, instruments, buildings, equipment and other facilities, the handling of explosives, other materials, motive power or fire and the other method of operating the mining contravene the provisions of the Ministerial Ordinance based upon this Law, he may order the necessary matters for the sake of safety such as suspension of the use, reconstruction, repair or removal of the equipment, or designation of the way of executing the mining, etc. to an owner of mining right.

2　In giving an order under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection. Division shall consult with the chief of the Bureau of Commerce and Industry. However, this shall not apply in case there is an impending danger.

Article 26.　The chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division may, for the term of five years even after extinction of the mining right, order the former owner of mining right to make the necessary equipment for the prevention from a danger or a damage by mining which will occur due to the effectuation of mining by him.

2　A person who was given an order under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be considered as an owner of mining right within the limit necessary for the effectuation of the matters demanded by the said order.

Article 27.　When the Minister of Commerce and Industry or the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division intends to issue an order under the provisions of Article 22, Paragraph 2, Article 23, Paragraph 2, Article 24, Article 25, Paragraph 1, or Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, he shall first conduct a public hearing, giving a notice in advance of the date and place of such hearing to the said owner or the former owner of mining right. However, this shall not apply in case an order under the provisions of Article 25, Paragraph 1 is to be issued, when there is an impending danger concerning maintenance of safety.

2　The person who received the notice mentioned in the preceding paragraph may state his opinion and produce evidence to the Minister of Commerce and Industry or the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division at such hearing.

Article 28.　The Minister of Commerce and Industry or the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division may, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, make an owner of mining right submit a necessary report concerning the maintenance of safety.

Article 29.　An owner of mining right shall, as provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance, make a safety map, keep it at the mining office and further submit its copy to the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division.

Article 30.　Except for those provided for by the provisions of Articles 6 to 10 inclusive, Articles 12 and 13, Articles 15 to 17 inclusive, Article 19, Article 23 and the preceding two Articles, the measures to be taken by an owner of mining right in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 and the matters to be observed by safety technical officials and other mine workers in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 shall be provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 31.　The provisions of Article 4, Articles 8 and 9, Article 22, Articles 24 and 25 and Article 28 shall, only in respect to prevention from damages by mining accompanying disposal of waste water, slags and smelting smoke apply to the attached facilities under the provisions of Article 2, Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 5.

Article 32.　For the purpose of enforcing this Law, the Mine Safety Bureau, as an intra-ministerial office and the Mine Safety and Inspection Division and the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division, as subdivision of the local branch office shall be established respectively in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

2　The Mine Safety Bureau shall attend to the business concerning the maintenance of safety in the mining industry.

3　The Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall attend to part of the business placed under charge of the Mine Safety Bureau, i. e., the matters concerning the maintenance of safety in the mining industry other than the coal mining industry and the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall attend to part the business placed under charge of the Mine Safety Bureau, i. e., the matters concerning the maintenance of safety in the coal mining industry.

4　The Mine Safety and Inspection Division or the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall be under the direct supervision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry and be placed respectively at the Commerce and Industry Bureau and the Coal Bureau.

5　The jurisdictional area of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division or the Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall correspond to that of the Commerce and Industry Bureau or the Coal Bureau at which it is placed and its denomination shall be decided by the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

6　The internal organization of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division and the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall be provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 33.　The kind and the fixed number of the personnel to be posted in the Mine Safety Bureau shall be as shown in Attached Table 1.

2　The kind and the fixed number of the personnel to be posted in the Mine Safet and Inspection Division and the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall be, in all, as shown in Attached Table 2.

Article 34.　The head of the Mine Safety Bureau shall be the chief of the Mine Safety Bureau and the head of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division or the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall be respectively the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division or the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division (hereinafter called "the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division" ).

Article 35.　A mine inspector may, when it is necessary for the supervision of safety, enter into a mine and the attached facilities of the mining industry and examine conditions of business or equipment, or books, documents and other materials concerning the maintenance of safety, or put a question to the person concerned.

2　In case a mine inspector enters and examines or questions according to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, he must bring with him a certificate indicating his position and present it to the person concerned when demanded by him.

Article 36.　When the use of machinery, instruments, buildings, equipment and other facilities, the handling of explosives, other materials, motive power or fire and the other method of operating the mining contravene the provisions of the Ministerial Ordinance based upon this Law and, at the same time, there is an impending danger concerning safety, a mine inspector may perform the competence of the chief of the Mine Safety and Inspection Division provided for in Article 25, Paragraph 1.

2　An order given by a mine inspector according to the provision of the preceding paragraph shall be considered as that given by the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division according to the provisions of Article 25, Paragraph 1.

Article 37.　A mine inspector shall, in respect to offences against this Law, perform the function of a judicial police officer provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure (Law No.131 of 1948).

Article 38.　In case there is a fact in contravention of this Law or the Ministrial Ordinance to be issued under this Law in a mine and, further, there occurs or is much probability of causing a danger, a mine worker may state the fact to the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division or a mine inspector.

2　An owner of mining right shall not dismiss or treat a mine worker disadvantageously on account of his statement mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Article 39.　For the purpose of conducting the State Examination of mine safety technical personnel and of investigating into and deliberating upon the matters concerning the qualification for mine safety technical personnel, the Board of the Mine Safety Examination (hereinafter called the Board) shall be established in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Article 40.　The members of the Board shall be 10 in number and the membership shall be entrusted by the Minister of Commerce and Industry to some persons having the qualification enumerated in each of the following items:

2　The Minister of Commerce and Industry may, when he considers it necessary, entrusted the temporary membership to some persons having the qualification mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Article 41.　The term of service for the members of the Board shall be three years. However, re-appointment may be admitted.

2　The term of service for a substitute member shall be the remaining period of his predecessor.

Article 42.　The president shall be posted in the Board. The president shall be appointed by the Minister of Commerce and Industry from among the members.

2　The president shall preside over the business of the Board.

3　When the president fails to perform the function on account of some cause, the member nominated by the Minister of Commerce and Industry shall execute the function in his place.

Article 43.　The miscellaneous affairs of the Board shall be disposed of by the Mine Safety Bureau.

Article 44.　To the member and a temporary member of the Board allowance and travelling expences may be paid and except in the case of allowance to a person otherwise employed by the Government.

Article 45.　The Central Mine Safety Committee (hereinafter called the Central Committee), in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Local Mine Safety Committee, in the Mine Safety and Inspection Division and the Coal Mine Safety Committee, in the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division shall be established respectively.

Article 46.　When the Minister of Commerce and Industry intends to establish, amend or abolish the Ministerial Ordinance under the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph 2, Article 7, Paragraph 1, Article 8, Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, Article 9, Article 10, Paragraph 1, Article 13, Paragraph 1, Article 14, Paragraph 4 (including a case where it is applied mutatis mutandis in Article 13, Paragraph 3), Article 15, Paragraph 1, Article 16, Paragraph 1, Article 18, Article 19, Paragraph 1, Article 23, Paragraph 1 or Article 30, or to give an order in accordance with the provisions of Article 24, he shall consult it with the Central Committee.

2　When the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division decides the standard of permission under the provision of Article 10, Paragraph 4 or Article 23, Paragraph 1, he shall consult it with the Local Mine Safety Committee or the Local Coal Mine Safety Committee (hereinafter called "the Local Committee" ).

3　The Central Committee and the Local Committee may investigate into and deliberate upon the important matters concerning the maintenance of safety in response to the question put to them by the Minister of Commerce ane Industry or the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division and further make a proposition to the Minister of Commerce and Industry or the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division.

Article 47.　The Central Committee and the Local Committee shall consist of one president and not more than thirty members respectively.

Article 48.　The presidency of the Central Committee and that of the Local Committee shall be occupied respectively by the Minister of Commerce and Industry and by the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division.

2　The membership to the Central Committee and the Local Committee shall be entrusted in equal number to such persons as those who have learning and experience, those who represent owners of mining right and those who represent mine workers respectively by the Minister of Commerce and Industry in the case of the Central Committee and the chief of the Safety and Inspection Division in the case of the Local Committee.

Article 49.　The miscellaneous affairs of the Central Committee and those of the Local Committee shall be disposed of respectively by the Mine Safety Bureau and the Mine Safety and Inspection Division or the Coal Mine Safety and Inspection Division.

Article 50.　The personnel of the Government organs concerned may, with the approval of the president, attend the meeting of the Central Committee and the Local Committee and state their opinions.

Article 51.　The provisions of Article 42, Paragraph 2 and Article 44 shall apply to the Central Committee and the Local Committee mutatis mutandis.

Article 52.　For the purpose of giving instructions to mine inspectors in the necessary learnings and the actual business, the Mine Inspectors Training Institute shall be established in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

2　The denomination, location and other necessary matters shall be provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 53.　For the purpose of giving instructions in necessary techniques and actual practices to mine safety technical personnel or to those who intend to be, the Safety Techniques Training Facilities shall be established in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

2　The denomination, location and other necessary matters shall be provided for by the Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 54.　The Minister of Labor may give an advice to the Minister of Commerce and Industry in respect to the prevention of danger in a mine.

2　The chief of the Labor Standard Bureau, Labor Ministry may give an advice to the chief of the Mine Safety Bureau in respect to prevention of danger in a mine.

Article 55.　Any person who comes under any of the following items shall be liable to be condemned to penal servitude not more than one year or a fine not exceeding 100,000 yen:

Article 56.　Any person who comes under any of the following items shall be liable to be condemned to penal servitude for not more than six months or a fine not exceeding 30,000 yen:

Article 57.　Any person who comes under any of the following items shall be liable to be condemned to a fine not exceeding 20,000 yen:

Article 58.　In case any representative of a juridical person, or any deputy of employee of, or any other person working for a juridical person or an individual has committed the offences prescribed in the preceding three Articles with respect to the business of the said juridical person or the individual, the fine as prescribed in each of the preceding three Articles shall be imposed upon the juridical person or the individual in addition to the actual offenders being liable to be condemned.