Chapter 1. STATE MINE INSPECTOR

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. Historical Note Former Rule 18:33.

Crosscuts shall be made at intervals not in excess of 100 feet between entries and between rooms. Historical Note Former Rule 18:34.

Crosscuts should be closed where necessary to provide adequate face ventilation. Historical Note 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. Historical Note Former Rule 18:37.

Damaged brattices shall be repaired promptly. Historical Note Former Rule 18:38.

Crosscuts should be provided, where practicable, at or near the faces of entries and rooms before they are abandoned. Historical Note 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. Historical Note 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…

Air locks shall be ventilated sufficiently to prevent accumulations of flammable gas in concentrations greater than 1% inside the locks. Historical Note Former Rule 18:44.

Doors shall be kept closed except when men or equipment are passing through the doorways. Historical Note Former Rule 18:45.

Overcasts and undercasts should be: 1. Constructed tightly of incombustible material. 2. Of sufficient strength to withstand possible falls from the back. 3. Kept clear of obstructions. Historical Note Former Rule 18:46.

Preshift examinations shall be made of all working areas by qualified persons within three hours before any workmen, other than the examiners, enter the mine. Historical Note Former Rule 18:47.

Only qualified examiners and persons authorized to correct the dangerous conditions shall enter places or areas where danger signs are posted. Historical Note Former Rule 18:48.

Danger signs shall not be removed until the dangerous conditions have been corrected. Historical Note Former Rule 18:49.

Examinations for dangerous conditions, including tests for flammable gas with a device approved by the Inspector should be made at least once each week, and at intervals of not more than seven days, by the mine foreman or other designated mine official, except during weeks in whi…

The mine foreman or other designated mine official should read and countersign promptly the reports of daily and weekly examinations by qualified persons and should take prompt action to have dangerous conditions corrected. Historical Note Former Rule 18:51.

Diesel-powered equipment shall not be taken into or operated in places where flammable gas exceeds 1.0% at any point not less than 12 inches from the back, face, and rib. Historical Note Former Rule 18:52.

Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires shall be on intake air and shall not extend beyond the last open crosscut or other ventilation opening. Such wires shall be kept at least 150 feet from pillar workings. Historical Note Former Rule 18:53.

Only permissible equipment maintained in permissible condition shall be used beyond the last open crosscut or in places where dangerous quantities of flammable gases are present or may enter the air current. Historical Note Former Rule 18:54.

Only permissible distribution boxes shall be used in working places and other places where dangerous quantities of flammable gas may be present or may enter the air current. Historical Note Former Rule 18:55.

No electric equipment shall be taken into or operated in places where flammable gas can be detected in the amount of 1.0% or more at any point not less than 12 inches from the back, face, and rib. Historical Note Former Rule 18:56.

Only permissible electric lamps shall be used for portable illumination underground. Historical Note Former Rule 18:57.

Explosives not designated as permissible by the Bureau of Mines shall not be used in any underground gassy mine until the Bureau of Mines and State Inspector of Mines have given written approval for each such specific explosive to be used. Historical Note Former Rule 18:58.

The Bureau of Mines and the State Inspector of Mines, in granting approval referred to in R11-1-1858 above, shall provide the operator with a written list of conditions for using the specific explosives covered by the approval and adapted to the mining operation. Historical Note …

Blasts in gassy mines shall be initiated electrically, and multiple-shot blasts shall be initiated only with millisecond-delay detonators. Permissible blasting units of capacity suitable for the number of holes in a round to be blasted shall be used unless the round is fired from…

Boreholes shall be stemmed as prescribed for the explosives used. Historical Note Former Rule 18:61.

Examinations for flammable gas shall be made immediately before and after firing each shot or round. Historical Note Former Rule 18:62.

Shots or rounds shall not be fired in places where flammable gas can be detected with a permissible flame safety lamp, or where 1.0% or more of flammable gas can be detected by any other Bureau of Mines approved device or method, at a point not less than 12 inches from the back, …

Shots and rounds should be fired by qualified persons. Historical Note Former Rule 18:64. ARTICLE 19. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISION The rules in this Article are adopted in accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Chapter 3, Title 27, Arizona Revised Statutes, and A.R.S. §§ 27-30…

If failure of a water or silt retaining dam will create a hazard, it shall be of substantial construction and inspected at regular intervals. Historical Note Former Rule 19:01.

Historical Note Former Rule 19:02; Former Section R11-1-1902 renumbered as Section R11-1-130 effective August 18, 1980 (Supp. 80-4).

No employee of the State Mine Inspector’s office shall advise or notify an operator of a mine, any employee of a mine, or a representative of the employee of a mine, that a health and safety inspection, or industrial hygiene study or survey, of a mine is imminent or about to be m…

Historical Note Adopted effective Dec. 21, 1976 (Supp. 76-5). Repealed effective August 18, 1980 (Supp. 80-4). ARTICLE 20. STORAGE AND MIXING OF REAGENTS IN CONCENTRATORS The rules in this Article are adopted in accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Chapter 3, Title 27, …

CHEMICALS IN ANY FORM CAN BE SAFELY STORED, HANDLED OR USED IF THE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND HAZARDOUS PROPERTIES ARE FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, INCLUDING THE USE OF PROPER SAFEGUARDS AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ARE OBSERVED. Hazardous chemicals: The follo…

Good housekeeping is a must in reagent storage, mixing and use. Historical Note Former Rule 20:01.

Personal protective equipment shall be available for use in hazardous reagent mixing area. Historical Note Former Rule 20:02.

Safety showers and eye wash fountains shall be located in those areas where exposure to reagents could create a hazard to personnel. Historical Note Former Rule 20:03.

Adequate fire protection shall be provided for storage and mixing areas. Historical Note Former Rule 20:04.

Mills where hazardous reagents are present shall have self-contained breathing equipment available. Men on each shift shall be trained in the use of this equipment. Historical Note Former Rule 20:05.

A distinctive warning device will be installed in all areas of mills where the production of toxic or noxious fumes or gases is possible. Such a device is to alert personnel of the need to evacuate the building. Historical Note Former Rule 20:06.

No error or omission in these rules and regulations shall be construed as permitting an unsafe, unhealthy or unsanitary condition to exist. Historical Note Former Rule 20:07.