Chapter 1. STATE MINE INSPECTOR

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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1701 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1703 Former Rule 17:03.

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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1…

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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1803 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1805 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1807…

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. Notes Ariz.…

The main intake and return air currents in mines should be in separate shafts, slopes, or drifts. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1810 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1811 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1812 Former Rule 18…

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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1816 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1818 Former Rule 18:18.

Auxiliary fans should be: 1. Inspected by competent persons at least twice each shift. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1819 Former Rule 18:19.

Men shall be withdrawn from areas affected by auxiliary or booster fans when such fans slow down or stop. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1820 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1821 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1822 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1824 Former Rule 18:24.

Electrically operated pumps, compressors, and portable substations should be in intake air. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1825 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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code §…

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. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1831 Former Rule 18:31.

Seals shall be of substantial construction. Exposed surfaces shall be made of fire-resistant material such as gunite-covered wood or material, asbestos sheeting, masonry, concrete or reinforced concrete, and steel or covered steel. If a commodity mined is combustible, seals shoul…

One or more seals of every sealed area shall be fitted with a pipe and a valve or cap to permit sampling of the atmosphere and measurement of the pressure behind such seals. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1833 Former Rule 18:33.

Crosscuts shall be made at intervals not in excess of 100 feet between entries and between rooms. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1834 Former Rule 18:34.

Crosscuts should be closed where necessary to provide adequate face ventilation. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1835 Former Rule 18:35.

Line brattice or other suitable devices shall be installed from the last open crosscut to a point near the face to assure positive air flow to the face of every active underground working place, unless the Inspector or his authorized representative permits an exception to this re…

Brattice cloth should be of fire-resistant material. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1837 Former Rule 18:37.

Damaged brattices shall be repaired promptly. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1838 Former Rule 18:38.

Crosscuts should be provided, where practicable, at or near the faces of entries and rooms before they are abandoned. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1839 Former Rule 18:39.

Entries or rooms shall not be started off entries beyond the last open crosscuts, except that room necks and entries not to exceed 18 feet in depth may be turned off entries beyond the last open crosscuts if such room necks or entries are kept free of accumulations of flammable g…

Stoppings in crosscuts between intake and return airways, on entries other than room entries, should be built of solid, substantial material; exposed surfaces should be made of fire-resistant material such as gunite-covered wood or material, asbestos sheeting, masonry, concrete o…

Stoppings should be reasonably airtight. Notes Ariz. Admin. Code § R11-1-1842 Former Rule 18:42.

The main ventilation shall be so arranged by means of air locks, overcasts, or undercasts that the passage of trips or persons does not cause interruptions of air currents. Where air locks are impracticable, single doors may be used if they are attended constantly while the areas…