After concerns were expressed that anyone could set themselves up as
a colliery manager, and that a standard should be set, the Coal MInes
Act of August 1872 contained the requirement that colliery managers
should hold a statutory certificate. The requirement was initially
postponed, but was passed soon after. Problems had arisen with the
appointment of examiners and the award of service certificates to
persons who had been carrying out the job for many years. Thus, since
1872, every colliery manager must hold a "First-Class Certificate of
Competency" to show that he has met the required standard. I think
that today most would call themselves "certificated" rather than
"certified".
Barry Job, certificate No. 10690.
Barry Job.
Eur. Ing. Dr. Barry Job,
Department of Geology,
School of Sciences,
Staffordshire University,
College Road,
Stoke-on-Trent,
ST4 2DE.
