Chapter 1. STATE MINE INSPECTOR

Hoists shall have rated capacities consistent with the loads handled and the recommended safety factor of the ropes used. Historical Note Former Rule 11:32.

Automatic hoists shall be provided with devices that automatically apply the brakes in the event of power failure. Historical Note Former Rule 11:33.

Flanges on drums should extend radially a minimum of three rope diameters beyond the last wrap. Historical Note Former Rule 11:34.

The maximum fleet angle shall not exceed one and one-half degrees for smooth drums and two degrees for grooved drums. Historical Note Former Rule 11:35.

Any hoist used to hoist men shall be equipped with a brake or brakes fully capable of holding a fully loaded cage, skip or bucket at any point in the shaft. Historical Note Former Rule 11:36.

The operating mechanism of the clutch of every man hoist’s drum shall be provided with a lock mechanism, or be interlocked electrically or mechanically with the brake to prevent accidental withdrawal of the clutch. Historical Note Former Rule 11:37.

Man hoists shall be provided with devices to prevent overtravel and overspeed and shall be anchored securely. Historical Note Former Rule 11:38.

An accurate and reliable indicator of the position of the cage, skip bucket or cars in the shaft shall be provided. Historical Note Former Rule 11:39.

Hoist controls shall be placed or housed so that the noise from machinery or other sources will not prevent hoistmen from hearing signals. Historical Note Former Rule 11:40.

The hoisting engineers and hoistmen trainees, at the beginning of employment, and annually thereafter, shall be given a physical examination by a competent physician to determine their physical ability to safely operate such hoists. A certificate or letter, attesting to the curre…

Only authorized persons shall be in hoist rooms. The hoisting engineer shall hold no conversation with anyone while the hoist is in motion or while attending to signals. Historical Note Former Rule 11:42; Amended effective August 18, 1980 (Supp. 80-4).

The hoisting engineer shall familiarize himself with all signals and use due caution at all times especially when men are being hoisted or lowered. Historical Note Former Rule 11:43.

The hoisting engineer shall report all defects in the shaft, hoist or bell cord to his supervisor as soon as possible. Historical Note Former Rule 11:44.

The hoisting engineer shall not move the cage, skip or bucket until a signal is received and he completely understands the signal. Historical Note Former Rule 11:45.

If for any reason the hoist has been down for eight hours or more, the engineer shall run his cage through the shaft before hoisting or lowering men. Historical Note Former Rule 11:46.

The hoisting engineer must be able to read, write and speak the English language. Historical Note Former Rule 11:47.

Only experienced hoistmen shall operate the hoist except in cases of emergency and in the training of new hoistmen. Historical Note Former Rule 11:48.

The hoisting engineer shall familiarize himself with all signals and use due caution at all times, especially when men are being hoisted or lowered. Historical Note Former Rule 11:49.

Hoistmen shall be informed when men are working in a compartment affected by the hoisting operation and a “Men Working in Shaft” sign shall be posted at the hoist, at the shaft collar and at all devices controlling hoisting operations that may endanger such men. Historical Note F…

Historical Note Former Rule 11:51; Former Section R11-1-1151 renumbered and amended as Section R11-1-148 effective August 18, 1980 (Supp. 80-4).

Hoist ropes must be inspected regularly and a record of these inspections kept. Historical Note Former Rule 11:52.

All wire cable or rope which is used for hoisting or lowering employees or other persons shall be discarded for such use when: 1. There are six broken wires in pitch length of cable or rope. 2. The wires on the crown are worn 65% or more of their original diameter. 3. More than t…

It is strictly forbidden to splice any wire cable or rope which is used in hoisting or lowering employees. Historical Note Former Rule 11:54.

The following static-load safety factors shall be used for selecting ropes to be used for hoisting men and for determining when such ropes shall be removed from man hoists: Length of rope in shaft feet Minimum factor of safety (new rope) Minimum factor of safety (remove) 500 or l…

The rope shall be attached to the load by the thimble-and-clip method, the socketing method, or other approved method. If the socketing method is employed, zinc or its equivalent shall be used. The use of Babbit metal or lead for socketing wire ropes is prohibited. If the thimble…

Hoist and rigging materials, cables, slings and hooks shall be inspected for defects as often as is necessary to ensure adequate safety for the operation and personnel involved. Historical Note Former Rule 11:57.

Emergency chains shall be used from the cable to the cage in case of a breakage in the king bolt or clevis pin; and also between the upper and lower decks in case of a breakage of the connecting pins for these decks. Historical Note Former Rule 11:58.

The cager shall, when men are being hoisted and lowered, see that the gates are closed before giving the signal to move the cage and shall be responsible for their closing. Historical Note Former Rule 11:59.

The cagers shall keep a careful watch over the cage during their shift’s work and immediately report all defects for repair. Historical Note Former Rule 11:60.

Employees shall not crowd or rush while getting on cages. Historical Note Former Rule 11:61.

No person shall attempt to enter or leave the cage after a signal to move the cage has been given. Historical Note Former Rule 11:62.

To release the cage, the signal shall be given while standing upon the station and not upon the cage. Historical Note Former Rule 11:63.

Man cages and skips used for hoisting or lowering employees or other persons in any vertical shaft or any inclined shaft with an angle or inclination of 45% from the horizontal shall be covered with a metal bonnet. Historical Note Former Rule 11:64.

Where mine cars are hoisted by cage or skip, means for blocking cars shall be provided at all landings and also on the cage. Historical Note Former Rule 11:65.

If an employee drops any materials or tool down the shaft, he shall immediately report the same to the hoisting engineer, who will have the shaft inspected before continuing regular work. Historical Note Former Rule 11:66.

When hoisting or lowering tools, timber or other material in the shaft, the ends, if projecting above the top of the cage of the bucket, shall be securely lashed to the cable or to the upper part of the cage; and tools, timbers or other materials loaded erectly upon a cage shall …

A. The safety dogs on any conveyance used to lower or hoist men must be tested at least once every 24 hours during regular operation. If the mine is shut down for more than eight hours, the safety dogs must be tested before lowering men. A record of such inspection shall be kept …

No person shall smoke on any conveyance used to lower or hoist men, ore or equipment. Historical Note Former Rule 11:69.

No open hooks shall be used to hoist equipment or materials in any shaft. Historical Note Former Rule 11:70.

Buckets shall not be used to hoist men except during the shaft sinking operations, inspection, maintenance and repair. Historical Note Former Rule 11:71.

Buckets used to hoist men during vertical shaft sinking operations shall have: 1. Crossheads equipped with safety devices and protective bonnets when the shaft depth exceeds 50 feet. 2. Devices to prevent accidental dumping. 3. Sufficient depth to transport men safely in a standi…

Conveyances shall not be lowered by the brakes alone except in emergencies. Historical Note Former Rule 11:73; Amended effective August 18, 1980 (Supp. 80-4).

Rocks or supplies shall not be hoisted in the same shaft as men during shift changes unless the compartments and dumping bins are partitioned to prevent spillage into the cage compartment. Historical Note Former Rule 11:74.

A. Buckets shall be stopped about 15 feet from the bottom to await a signal from one of the crew on the bottom for further lowering. After the bucket is loaded, it shall be raised about three feet from the bottom of the shaft and stabilized before the second signal is given. B. A…

There shall be at least two effective approved methods of signaling between each of the shaft stations and hoist room, one of which shall be a telephone or speaking tube. Historical Note Former Rule 11:76.

Shaft landing shall be equipped with substantial safety gates, so constructed that materials will not go through or under them. Gates shall be closed except when loading or unloading shaft conveyances. Historical Note Former Rule 11:77.