Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) No diesel engine shall be permitted in an
underground mine unless a permit to use diesel engines underground has first
been secured from the Division of Industrial Safety.
(b) Application for such permit shall be made
in writing to the Division of Industrial Safety, and shall include the
following information:
(1) Service for which
diesel engines are intended.
(2)
Location in mine where engines are to be operated.
(3) Aggregate brake horsepower of all diesel
engines to be operated in the mine.
(4) Plans for ventilation of the
mine.
(5) Any other information
considered pertinent by the Division.
(c) When in the opinion of the Division
diesel engines can be operated safely in the mine, a permit may be issued to
the applicants specifying the conditions under which the diesel engines must be
operated.
(d) When a permit is
issued the conditions specified are those believed necessary for the protection
of workers. If experience in the operation of the diesel engine indicates that
any of the conditions are inadequate or unnecessary, the Division may revise
the conditions in the light of such experience.
(e) The permit to use diesel engines
underground may be revoked for failure to comply with conditions of the
permit.
(f) The following is a list
of conditions under which diesel powered equipment will be permitted to operate
in underground mines:
(1) Before any diesel
engine is permitted underground, the employer shall make sure that it is in
good operating condition.
(2) Every
diesel engine, which is operated underground, shall be checked daily by a
mechanic who is skilled in the operation and maintenance of diesel engines. The
diesels shall be maintained in good operating condition.
(3) The exhaust of each diesel shall be
passed through a water bath or approved catalytic conditioner prior to its
discharge into the atmosphere. Conditioners shall be kept in proper operating
condition at all times when equipment is in use underground.
(4) Diesel exhaust gas shall not be directed
towards diesel operators and shall be deflected so that persons alongside will
not encounter exhaust gas at breathing level.
(5) The diesel fuel shall not contain in
excess of .5% of sulphur.
(6) Each
diesel unit shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher suitable for control of
oil fires.
(7) Before any diesel
engine is permitted underground, the mine shall be provided with a mechanically
produced and positively controlled system of ventilation.
(8) The main fan shall be installed on the
surface and shall be of a type that readily permits the air current to be
reversed in direction.
(9) A
continuous flow of fresh air shall be maintained in the mine as long as any
diesel equipment is operating therein.
(10) The flow of fresh air in any air course
shall never be less than 100 cubic feet of air per minute per brake horsepower
of the aggregate diesel equipment operating in such air course, plus 200 cubic
feet of air per minute for each employee therein.
(11) Positive instructions shall be issued to
all workmen that all diesel equipment underground shall be shut down
immediately should the air flow stop, and shall remain shut down until the air
flow is resumed.
(12) A daily
record shall be kept of the condition of the diesels and the amount of
ventilation provided. The record shall show:
(A) Condition of each diesel engine
(B) Total horsepower of diesel equipment that
operates in the mine
(C) Quantity
of air flowing in the air course
(D) Locations at which the air measurements
were taken in relation to position of the diesel engines
(E) Name and title of the person who made the
measurements
(13) The
record shall be signed by the person who made the measurements. A signed copy
shall be kept in the office at the mine, and this copy shall be available for
inspection by engineers of the Division of Industrial Safety.
(14) Daily air quality tests shall be
conducted for nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Results of such tests shall
be kept with the daily diesel engine records. Diesels shall be shut down or
ventilation increased if contaminant levels exceed safe threshold limit
values.
1.
Editorial correction restoring missing text in subsection (f)(10) (Register 91,
No. 45).
