Current through Vol. 41, No. 13, March 15, 2024
(a)
Exits. There shall be a minimum of two exits to the surface from
every mine. Each escapeway shall be properly marked and kept free of
debris.
(b)
Belts.
Belts may be used for man-trips provided that there is a minimum of eighteen
(18) inches above the edge of the belt to the roof or roof supports and
twenty-four (24) inches to the nearest obstruction along the side of the belt.
Each belt must be equipped with a safety pull cord that will stop the belt. The
loading and unloading points must be properly marked and illuminated and enough
room to allow the employees adequate overhead and side clearance. Employees
riding any belt shall maintain a minimum separation of five (5) feet. The
loading and unloading shall be supervised by a qualified person designated by
the superintendent. Belt man-trips shall not exceed three hundred fifty (350
feet per minute if the overhead clearance is greater than twenty four (24)
inches.
(c)
Shafts.
Shafts used for ingress and egress of mine personnel must be maintained in a
safe and available condition.
(1) Shafts less
than seventy five (75) feet in vertical depth shall be equipped with safe and
convenient stairs of which the angle of inclination shall not exceed forty-five
(45) degrees. Landings shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in vertical rise and
shall be constructed so that employees may pass comfortably from ladder to
ladder and fully protected on all four sides to prevent employees from falling
from ladders or landings.
(2)
Shafts with a vertical depth greater than seventy-five (75) feet must be
equipped with a mechanical hoist and cage for the purpose of lowering and
raising employees. All hoists shall be equipped with brakes sufficient to stop
and hold the fully loaded cage. The hoists must have sufficient power to raise
an unbalanced loaded cage.
(d)
Hoists.
(1) All hoists shall be equipped with an
accurate and reliable indicator showing the position of the cage at all times.
The indicator must be in clear view of the hoisting engineer.
(A) The hoisting drum shall have flanges
extending at least four (4) inches above the rope when all the rope is on the
drum.
(B) Man-trip cages shall have
bonnets extending over the space on which the employees stand and shall have
steel or sheet iron on the sides extending not less than four (4) feet above
the floor of the cage.
(C) Each
cage shall have overhead bars or chains so arranged that any person may have an
easy and secure hand hold.
(D)
Cages shall be provided with approved safety devices capable of bringing the
cage to a stop within a reasonable distance.
(E) Safety devices on cages, such as ropes,
fasteners, platforms, elevators, head sheaves and flanges, shall be inspected
daily and recorded by a qualified person appointed by the
superintendent.
(F) The shaft top
and bottom shall be properly illuminated.
(G) There shall be two (2) approved methods
of signaling from the shaft top and bottom and a continuous method of
communication in the shaft.
(2) The superintendent shall designate the
number of persons that shall be lowered or hoisted on a cage at any one time
and the number so designated shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the top
and bottom of the shaft.
(A) The hoisting rope
shall be firmly clamped to the drum and shall have at least three (3) turns
left on the drum when the cage is resting on the shaft bottom.
(B) Hoisting ropes and attachments of ropes
to cages shall have a safety factor of five (5) to one (1) as calculated by the
American Standards Association formula.
(C) Ropes shall be replaced as soon as there
is evidence of undue weakness.
(D)
Hoists shall be operated only by qualified and certified personnel.
(E) It shall be unlawful for any person to
carry on a conversation with a hoisting engineer with a hoist is in
operation.
(F) A second hoisting
engineer shall be available near the controls when a man-trip is being operated
unless the hoist is equipped with overspeed, overwind, and automatic stop
controls.
(3) Any person
operating a hoist must be certified by the Oklahoma Mining Commission as being
qualified. The hoistman shall:
(A) Keep a
careful watch over his engine and all machinery.
(B) Be familiar with the signal
code.
(C) Shall not operate the
man-trip at a speed greater than the superintendent authorizes but not greater
than six hundred (600) feet per minute.
(4) The hoist shall be operated one (1) full
cycle, if not operated within eight (8) hours, before any person shall be
lowered or hoisted from the mine.
(5) The hoistman shall be on duty
continuously when any person is in the mine.
(6) Man-trip shall not be operated while
coupled with cars containing coal, supplies, or any materials. Man-trip cars
shall be sufficient in number to avoid overcrowding and shall have adequate
safety devices as approved by the mine inspector.