Chapter 1. STATE MINE INSPECTOR

Trolley operated slag trains should be kept in the smelter building during electrical storms and trolley pole removed from trolley wire. Historical Note Former Rule 16:20.

Access to the converter aisle must be limited to people authorized by the company. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

Equipment shall not enter the converter aisle or slag tap area unless authorization has been secured from the supervisor in charge of the area. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

Hoist cable on all cranes shall conform to the American National Standards, ANSI-D-30.9-1971. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

There shall be maintained in all plants, at designated places, N.I.O.S.H.-approved breathing apparatus, detection equipment and resuscitating equipment, all readily available to trained personnel for use where the atmosphere may contain dangerous concentrations of gases or vapors…

Where required, proper shielding and protective clothing shall be used, particularly when working in extreme heat conditions, flue dust, or open fires. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

Alternate signaling procedures shall be established to cover mechanical failures where needed. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

All cabs on hot metal crane shall be pressurized or have suitable ventilating air meeting the requirements of R11-1-404. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

All converter cranes shall be equipped with safety glass or equivalent. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

When extreme heat conditions exist, sufficient cooling time shall be allowed before persons are allowed to enter converters, roasters, and reactors. Protective clothing shall be used when applicable. A supervisor shall be present when workers are in the vessel and determine when …

When heavy dust, smoke or greasy conditions exist in any area, only those workers who are properly equipped with personal protective devices will be allowed into the area. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

Spout doors must be maintained in an operable condition. Historical Note Adopted effective April 7, 1976 (Supp. 76-2).

A. Where there is a potential for exposure of workers to specific environmental hazards which may adversely effect safety or health, those hazards shall be periodically monitored by the mine operator. The operator shall promptly initiate appropriate action to correct unfavorable …

Guard nets or other suitable protection shall be provided where aerial tramways pass over roadways, walkways or buildings. Historical Note Former Rule 17:01.

Persons other than maintenance men shall not ride aerial tramways unless the following features are provided: 1. Two independent brake feet capable of holding the maximum load. 2. Power drives with emergency power available in case of primary power failure. 3. Men shall not ride …

Where possible, aerial tramways shall not be started until the operator has ascertained that everyone is in the clear. Historical Note Former Rule 17:03. ARTICLE 18. GASSY MINES The rules in this Article are adopted in accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Chapter 3, Tit…

Gassy mines shall be operated in accordance with all mandatory standards in this part. Such mines shall also be operated in accordance with the mandatory standards in this Section. The standards in this Section apply only to underground operations. Historical Note Former Rule 18:…

A mine shall be deemed gassy and thereafter operated as a gassy mine if: 1. The State Mine Inspector classifies the mine as gassy; or 2. Flammable gas emanating from the orebody or the strata surrounding the orebody has been ignited in the mine; or 3. A concentration of 0.25% or …

Flammable gases detected while unwatering mines and similar operations shall not be used to class a mine gassy. Historical Note Former Rule 18:03.

Men shall not smoke or carry smoking materials, matches or lighters underground. The operator shall institute a reasonable program to ensure that persons entering the mine do not carry smoking materials, matches, or lighters. A “reasonable program” means, at the least, a personal…

Except when necessary for welding or cutting, open flames shall not be used in other than fresh air or in places where flammable gases are present or may enter the air current. Historical Note Former Rule 18:05.

Welding or cutting with arc or flame underground in other than fresh air or in places where flammable gases are present or may enter the air current shall be under the direct supervision of a qualified person who shall test for flammable gases before and frequently during such op…

Welding or cutting shall not be performed in atmospheres containing more than 1.0% of flammable gases. The concentration of flammable gases is to be determined by a device (approved by the Inspector) other than a permissible flame safety lamp. Historical Note Former Rule 18:07.

Main fans shall be: 1. Installed on the surface. 2. Powered electrically from a circuit independent of the mine power circuit. Internal combustion engines shall be used only for standby power or where electrical power is not available. 3. Installed in fireproof housing provided w…

Main fans should be: 1. Operated continuously except when the mine is shut down for an extended period. 2. Provided with pressure-recording gauges. 3. Inspected daily each day during which the fan is operated and records kept of such operations and of fan maintenance. Historical …

The main intake and return air currents in mines should be in separate shafts, slopes, or drifts. Historical Note Former Rule 18:10.

When single shafts are used for intake and return the curtain wall or partition shall be constructed of reinforced concrete or equivalent and provided with pressure relief devices. Historical Note Former Rule 18:11.

When a main fan fails or stops and ventilation is not restored in a reasonable time, and in no event more than 15 minutes, action shall be taken to cut off the power to the areas affected and to withdraw all men from such areas. Historical Note Former Rule 18:12.

When there has been a failure of ventilation and ventilation has been restored in a reasonable time, all active workings and travelways where flammable gas may have accumulated should be examined by qualified persons and determined to be free of flammable gas before power is rest…

When ventilation is not restored in a reasonable time, and in no event more than 15 minutes, all men shall be removed from the areas affected and after ventilation has been restored, the areas affected shall be examined by qualified persons for gas and other hazards and made safe…

When the main fan or fans have been shut down with all men out of the mine, no person, other than those qualified to examine the mine, or other authorized persons, shall go underground until the fans have been started and the mine examined for gas and other hazards and declared s…

Booster fans shall be: 1. Operated by permissible drive units maintained in permissible condition. 2. Operated only in air containing not more than 1% flammable gas. Historical Note Former Rule 18:16.

Booster fans shall be: 1. Inspected by a qualified person at least once each shift during which the fan has been operated or provided with automatic devices to give alarm when the fan has slowed down or stopped. 2. Equipped with devices that automatically cut off the power in are…

Auxiliary fans shall be: 1. Operated by permissible drive units maintained in permissible condition. 2. Operated only in air conditioning not more than 1.0% flammable gas. Historical Note Former Rule 18:18.

Auxiliary fans should be: 1. Inspected by competent persons at least twice each shift. Historical Note Former Rule 18:19.

Men shall be withdrawn from areas affected by auxiliary or booster fans when such fans slow down or stop. Historical Note Former Rule 18:20.

The volume and velocity of the current of air coursed through all active areas shall be sufficient to dilute and carry away flammable gases, smoke and fumes. Historical Note Former Rule 18:21.

The quantity of air coursed through the last open crosscuts in pairs or sets of entries or through other ventilation openings nearest the face shall be at least 6,000 cubic feet a minute. Historical Note Former Rule 18:22.

At least once each week, a qualified person shall measure the volume of air entering the main intakes and leaving the main returns, the volume of the intake and return of each split, and the volume through the last open crosscuts or other ventilation openings nearest the active f…

Permanently installed battery-charging and transformer stations should be ventilated by separate splits of air conducted directly to return air courses. Historical Note Former Rule 18:24.

Electrically operated pumps, compressors, and portable substations should be in intake air. Historical Note Former Rule 18:25.

Changes in ventilation that materially affect the main air current of any split thereof and may affect the safety of persons in the mine shall be made only when no work is being done in the mine other than that necessary to effect the ventilation change. Only those persons engage…

If flammable gas in excess of 1.0% by volume is detected in the air not less than 12 inches from the back, face, and rib of an underground working place, or in air returning from a working place or places, adjustments shall be made in the ventilation immediately so that the conce…

If 1.5% or higher concentration of flammable gas is detected in air returning from an underground working place or places, the men shall be withdrawn and the power cut off to the portion of the mine endangered by such flammable gas until the concentration of such gas is reduced t…

Air that has passed by an opening of any unsealed abandoned area and contains 0.25% or more of flammable gas shall not be used to ventilate working areas. Examinations of such air shall be conducted during the preshift examination required by R11-1-1847. Historical Note Former Ru…

Air that has passed through an abandoned panel or area which is inaccessible for inspection shall not be used to ventilate any active face workings in such mine. No air which has been used to ventilate an area from which the pillars have been removed shall be used to ventilate an…

Abandoned areas shall be sealed or ventilated; areas that are not sealed shall be barricaded and posted against unauthorized entry. Historical Note Former Rule 18:31.