The Condition and Treatment of the Children employed in the Mines and Colliers of the United Kingdom from the British Library Archive. This 1842 report on UK mines revealed horrific conditions for child laborers: they were tiny, overworked from age 4-5 in darkness, wet, and cold, performing dangerous tasks like opening air doors or hauling coal on all fours, leading to severe injuries (fractures, spinal damage) and chronic illnesses (respiratory issues from coal dust), with abuse from older workers and poor education; this prompted the 1842 Mines Act, banning females and boys under 10 from underground work, though further reforms were needed for safety.
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