The Impact of Employers’ Liability on English Coalmining Fatalities, 1863-1966

Abstract

This paper examines the economic basis of nineteenth century common law of employers’ liability, and the impact of statutory reforms such as the Employers’ Liability Act 1880, Workmen’s Compensation Act 1897 and no-fault liability under the Industrial Injuries Scheme that accompanied the nationalisation of the UK coal mining industry on English regional and British coalmining fatality rates over the period 1863 to 1966. The empirical and econometric analysis indicates that the 1880 had little impact but there is some indication that nationalisation of the coalmining industry may have reduced fatality rates.