Alabama Administrative Code

(1) Ninety Day Inspections - One complete inspection of active workings shall be made by the Department at every mine every 90 days, and more often if necessary. If conditions in inactive workings are believed to affect adversely the safety of the mine or its employees such inact…

The owner, operator, or superintendent of each mine shall have a check in and check out system in order that all employees, or other persons not regularly employed in the mine, may check in and out upon entering or leaving the mine, and all persons shall be required to check in a…

Men shall not be prohibited working alone, provided that other workmen are present within the production section or area. Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation Examiner. Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.43 Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-2-13(2).

In every open pit or quarry where underground tunneling or mining operations are conducted, such underground tunneling or mining operations, except when Alabama coal mining laws are applicable, shall comply with the Rules and Regulations for mines other than coal mines of the Sta…

(1) Guards (a) Excavations shall be provided with substantial railings, at points where passageways, tracks, roadways or buildings adjoin such excavations. (2) Loose Material (a) All quarry walls shall be kept free of unsafe loose materials. Unsafe overhanging material shall not …

(1) Access (a) Safe means of access shall be provided to all working places in any pit or quarry. (2) Wooden ladders constructed as follows shall be accepted in lieu of iron or steel or combination iron and steel and wood ladders.(a) Ladders 1. Stringers of ladders shall be built…

(1) The overburden shall be stripped to firm material to provide a bench the width of which shall equal the depth of the overburden. (2) In case of side hill quarries, the overburden shall be removed a sufficient distance from the face of the quarry to make it safe. Author: Depar…

The walls of every pit or quarry and the opening around same at the bottom of which persons usually pass or are regularly engaged in work and are in danger from slides or falls of material, shall be periodically inspected and the necessary precautions taken to protect the workmen…

(1) Slope (a) Sand and gravel excavations or excavations in other unconsolidated material shall be kept sloped at all times. The slope shall not exceed an angle of sixty (60) degrees from the horizontal. If at any time the gravel or sand, or any section of the bank, approaches an…

(1) The owner, operator, or superintendent of each pit or quarry shall provide and maintain sufficient safety belts and life lines for all persons requiring them. In pits or quarries that have been excavated to a depth of twenty (20) feet or more, all persons employed on ledge op…

(1) All hoisting equipment used on slopes and inclines shall be of ample capacity and of a design commercially recognized as safe. (2) Hoists (a) The drums or cable reels of hoist shall be provided with flanges that extend not less than two (2) inches radially beyond the outer la…

(1) Slings (a) Wire rope slings, grab hooks or chains shall be used to attach the blocks of stone to the hoisting apparatus. (2) Maintenance (a) All ropes chains, cables, slings, sheaves, gears and other parts of derricks and hoisting apparatus in use shall be examined daily. Any…

(1) Inspection (a) Power equipment shall be inspected by the operator at the beginning of each shift and such examination shall include an inspection of the mechanical and/or electrical equipment. (2) Maintenance (a) Where power equipment is used at night, all lights shall be ins…

(1) Grounding (a) The frames and bed plates of generators, transformers, compensators, rheostats, motors, and switches shall be effectively grounded. All metallic coverings and conduit shall also be grounded. All grounds for one unit shall be tied into one central ground. The own…

All gears chains, sprockets, friction devices and couplings with protruding bolts or nuts; shaftings and projecting shaft ends that are within seven feet of floor or platform level; belt or rope drives that are within seven feet of floor or platform; circular and band saws and pl…

(1) The operator shall be responsible for the safe condition of tools furnished employees by the operator and shall not permit the use of tools which are unsafe or permit the mis-use of any tools. (2) The employee shall be responsible for the safe condition of tools he furnishes …

(1) Stages, platforms or scaffolds required for work in and around pits or quarries shall be substantially built of sound material. Where wood is used, nothing less than 2-inch material shall be used for flooring. (2) Railings and Toe Boards (a) Permanent elevated platforms and s…

(1) All magazines in which explosives are kept or stored shall be located at a distance from buildings, railroads and highways in conformity with the Quantity and Distance Table in these rules. (2) All magazines containing more than two hundred (200) pounds of explosives shall ei…

(1) Construction (a) Explosives transported in motor trucks or other conveyances shall be transported in their original containers and the motor trucks, vehicles and other conveyances shall be so constructed that the explosives will be protected against shock and friction. (2) Ma…

(1) Only designated persons shall cut, cap, and issue capped fuses and explosives. (2) Fuse (a) When cutting fuse it shall be cut square across with a sharp clean instrument and the cap crimper used shall be of a type recommended by explosives manufacturers. A bench type crimper …

(1) All blasting including blasting of boulders shall be done at the end of the shift, except that blasting may be done during the shift if blasting houses are provided and used for the protection of shot firers and other persons in the quarry; these houses shall be built of timb…

(1) Connecting (a) Electric blasting with blasting machines, or special circuits is permissable. With blasting machines, connections shall be made in series or in a combination connection recommended by the manufacturer. With power currents connections shall be made in series, pa…

(1) Location (a) Explosives must be unloaded at a safe distance from the blasting place. (2) Storing (a) If several boxes of explosives are deposited near the blasting circuit, the boxes shall be stacked in an orderly manner and protected from the sun by means of canvas or simila…

(1) Wet Drilling (a) All drilling should be done wet including the collaring of drill holes. (2) Hoses (a) Air lines and hoses shall not be disconnected from drills while under pressure. (b) When drilling boulders, they shall be carefully examined to determine whether or not they…

(1) Safety Valves (a) All compressed air receivers, cylinders or other vessels used in or around open pits or quarries shall be protected by safety or relief valves to insure safe operation. (b) Safety or relief valves shall be tested once each operating day. (2) Drain Valve (a) …

(1) Where the safety and health of men are endangered, adequate facilities for the drainage of all active workings in open pits and quarries shall be provided. Pumps used for drainage shall be located in places where access may be had to them without coming into dangerous or forb…

(1) Goggles; Hats and Shoes (a) All persons working near, or engaged in chipping, breaking, drilling, picking, cutting or polishing hard materials should wear protective safety goggles, preferably the safety glass type with ventilated side shields, while engaged in this kind of w…

Arrangements shall be made and faithfully maintained such that every injury suffered will receive adequate treatment promptly. Author: Department of Industrial Relations Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-4-.25 Prior to October 1, 1982, this regulation was designated as General Rule…

Toilets - Standard approved sanitary toilets or latrines should be provided and kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Unless employees in the quarry or pit are permitted to come to the surface to use toilets, temporary latrines should be maintained therein. Such temporary latri…

(1) Physical Condition (a) All prospective employees at any pit or quarry, shall receive a careful and thorough examination by a licensed physician selected by the operator before employment. Such examination shall determine the prospective employee's hearing, vision, the conditi…

These pit and quarry rules represent the minimum requirement or safety pit and quarry operation. To further safeguard the health, life and limb of persons employed in and around pits and quarries, pit and quarry operators shall formulate, distribute and enforce detailed safety ru…

(1) It shall be the responsibility of the operator to perform the following: (a) Provide safe plant and equipment. (b) Safeguard all machinery. (c) Place no new machinery or equipment in operation unless full attention has been paid to its safety. (d) Plan and arrange all process…

Some competent and experienced person or persons shall make an inspection at least once each month of all active parts of any pit or quarry and appliances in the pit or quarry which are in use, and shall report any unsafe conditions to the employer who shall take prompt steps to …

(1) Reports (a) In case of explosives accident or premature blast or any other occurrence or change of conditions tending materially to increase the hazards of pit or quarry operations, whether or not personal injury results, a report thereof shall be promptly sent to the Departm…

(1) Frequency of Inspections - The Department shall conduct safety inspections as follows: (a) At least once every three (3) months at quarries where blasting occurs. (b) At least once every six (6) months at sites where non-fuel minerals (i.e., sand, gravel, clay, bauxite, etc.)…

(1) Any land owner who has received notice of acquisition under Code of Ala. 1975, § 9-16-127 may within fifteen days following such notice make written application for a review as to the actual need or advisability for such acquisition. (a) Upon receipt of such application a not…

(1) Operator. A landowner who has not leased his land, who sells excavated material by the load, or loads, to contractors or other individuals will be deemed as "controlling" an operation, and considered an operator within the meaning of the Surface Mining Act. (2) Contiguous. A …

A permit shall be required for each mining operation that is not contiguous as defined in Rule 480-3-6-.01(2); and the fact that a central office tipple or washer services more than one non-contiguous pit does not constitute one operation. A permit shall be required for each oper…

A property description within the meaning of the Surface Mining Act and this section shall be acceptable only if the land is described to 1/16th of a section, or 40 acres, and includes a description of access to the area from the nearest public highway. Author: Tom J. Ventress No…

Any additional land granted under a permit amendment must be contiguous as defined by Rule 480-3-6-.01(2). Author: Tom J. Ventress Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-6-.04 New Rule Filed 1/14/88. Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-2-2(5) and § 25-2-8

Pasture grasses used for reclamation purposes must be of a local, permanent-type grass; and grass coverage must be effectuated to not less than 75% of affected land. Author: Tom J. Ventress Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-6-.05 New Rule Filed 1/14/88. Statutory Authority: Code of…

All requests for the reclamation of substitute land must be made on Application Forms DIR-ASM-9 and 10 and submitted to the Director for final approval. (a) Only the Director may approve the reclamation of substitute land in lieu of affected land. Author: Tom J. Ventress Notes Al…

(1) All payments for filing fees must be made by cash, cashier's checks, certified checks or money orders. (2) Bonds may be surety, negotiable or cash. Cash bonds must be cash money, certified check, cashier's check or money order. Author: Tom J. Ventress Notes Ala. Admin. Code r…

All approval forms, bond releases and other papers submitted by the mining and reclamation inspector must be personally endorsed by the inspector so submitting and approved by the mining division director. Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-6-.08 New Rule Filed 1/14/88. Amended by A…

For purposes of ascertaining affected acreage within a permit period, a permit marker or sign shall be placed so as to mark the beginning point of the area under permit and shall remain so marked until the bond is released. Such marker shall consist of a sign measuring at least 6…

(1) If you wish to stand the examination for Mine Foreman Certificate or Fire Boss Certificate before the Board of Examiners, you must have your affidavit and fee in this office (11 West Oxmoor Road Suite 201 Birmingham, Alabama 35209) thirty (30) days prior to the examination da…

(1) Initiation of Charge. Decertification proceedings before the Board of Examiners are initiated by the filing of a charge, which must be in writing and signed. The charge is filed with the Chief of the Division of Safety and Inspection of the Alabama Department of Industrial Re…

A mine foreman or fire boss should submit a written request to the Board for a voluntary surrender of a certificate for mental and/or physical reasons and must meet before the Board for subsequent Approval. Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-7-.03 New Rule: Filed November 1, 2011; e…

Repealed Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-4-1-.01

Repealed Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-4-1-.02