Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024
(1)
Mine Rescue Equipment Required - There shall be
provided and kept in a readily accessible place at every mine employing more
than fifty (50) men underground on one shift, a minimum of the following
equipment or its equivalent:
1. 10 complete
sets of self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus of a permissable
type.
2. 1 extra small oxygen
bottle for each oxygen breathing apparatus.
3. 2 extra reducing valves, extra
mouthpieces, breathing bags, bypass tubes, gaskets, and other parts for
repairing apparatus.
4. 2 flame
safety lamps of a permissable type, with repair parts.
5. 12 permissable flashlights, 12 permissable
electric cap lamps. Charging rack and facilities for electric cap or hand
lamps.
6. 1 oxygen pump, hand or
power-driven, with extra gaskets and repair parts.
7. 1 1,000-foot life line and reel, or
approved electric life line.
8. 1
carbon monoxide (hoolamite) detector.
9. 1 orstat apparatus for analyzing gases and
6 gas-sampling tubes or bottles.
11. 1 tool box with good assortment of
wrenches and other tools.
12. Means
for transporting equipment. Provided that the Department may require the
maintenance of such apparatus at a mine employing less than fifty (50) men
underground on one shift, when the ventilation or the fire hazard at such mine,
in the opinion of the Department justifies this protection. Nothing in this
section shall be construed to prevent the construction of a cooperative station
in any district where mine operators may build and maintain a station to supply
apparatus for several mines; not less than ten (10) sets of permissable
self-contained two-hour oxygen breathing apparatus shall be kept at such
station. A cooperative station shall be located at no greater distance from
each mine which it serves than can be covered by the most convenient means of
transportation in two hours' time, during all seasons of the year.
(a) Oxygen breathing apparatus shall be
stored fully charged with oxygen and cardoxide and shall be maintained in
condition for immediate use.
(2)
Requirements for Cooperative
and Privately Owned Mines - The requirements of Paragraph (1)
shall be suspended where mines are less than the designated distance from the
United States Bureau of Mines Rescue Station at Birmingham and the operator
notifies the Department and the Bureau of his intention to depend upon that
station.
(a) Where a cooperative station is
maintained, a competent man shall be designated as foreman to have charge of
such station. Such foreman need not be exclusively so employed, but his
employment shall be such that he or a substitute can arrive promptly at the
place of the accident in case of need. He shall occupy living quarters at the
station, or convenient thereto, and shall make reports to the Department as
provided in Paragraph (e) and (f) of this rule.
(b) Telephone communication shall be
maintained between a cooperative station and each mine where it serves. If the
foreman in charge of a station does not reside thereat, his residence shall
also be in telephone communication with each mine served by the
station.
(c) In addition to the
supplies used for training of men, an oxygen pump, an emergency supply of
oxygen and regenerator charges sufficient to keep all apparatus running for at
least ten (10) hours shall be kept on hand, at each cooperative or privately
owned station, and sufficient spare parts shall be kept to assemble at least
one additional apparatus in good working order.
(d) The apparatus at privately owned and
cooperative stations shall be thoroughly inspected monthly by a competent man
designated for this duty. At cooperative stations the inspections and tests
shall be made by the foreman of the station. Monthly inspections of each
apparatus shall include tests for tightness of all joints, breathing bags and
breathing circuit, and flow of oxygen from the reducing valve.
(e) The result of such tests and inspections
shall be tabulated on forms prescribed by the Department and shall be forwarded
to the Department at least once a month.
(f) Each member of a cooperative station
shall be furnished with a copy of the monthly tests and training at the station
to which he belongs.
(3)
Mine Rescue Crews and Training - At each mine
employing fifty (50) or more men underground on one shift, at least twelve (12)
men physically fit and thoroughly qualified to use permissable self-contained
two-hour Oxygen Breathing Apparatus shall be trained by an instructor approved
by the Department, except, that where three or more mines operated by one
company are within a radius specified by these rules, not more than thirty-six
(36) men need be trained. Men receiving Mine Rescue Training for the first
time, shall be trained in an approved course for a minimum of twenty (20) hours
and shall be retrained at least once every six (6) months.
Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation
Examiner.
