This picture shows how shamefully women were used in the early days of mining. It wasn't until the act of 1842 that the practice of sending women, and children under 10 years of age underground, was banned. Even so, these same women and children were utilized above ground on other tasks, not quite as dangerous but equally demanding.
This picture shows how women and children were used to enhance the output of coal from mines. The woman is wearing a harness with a chain taken between her legs and attached to a sledge, on which is mounted a basket of coal. She is gaining extra purchase by pulling on the rope. The boy is helping to move the sledge by pushing and steadying it from behind.
The picture above shows another of the tasks women were used for in early mining, in this case winding the men up and down by hand. The picture also shows the lack of any safety precautions. This is obvious by looking at the man hanging on the rope, which was the only way of entering or leaving the mine.
