The Federal Coal Mine Safety Act of 1952 (Public Law 82-552) placed emphasis on preventing major disasters. The Act had a number of key components including:
- Required annual inspections in certain underground coal mines
- Limited enforcement authority given to the Bureau of Mines, including power to issue violation notices and imminent danger withdrawal orders
- Mandatory safety standards for underground coal mines, with more stringent standards for "gassy" mines
- Assessment of civil penalties against mine operators for noncompliance with withdrawal orders or for refusing to give inspectors access to mine property
No provision was made for monetary penalties for noncompliance with safety standards, however. Also, all surface coal mines were exempt under the Act, along with all mines with fewer than 15 employees.
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