Chapter 40. Safety and Health Regulations for Mineral Mining

Ladders, stairways, walkways, and ramps shall be kept free of loose rock and extraneous materials. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Railed walkways shall be provided wherever persons are regularly required to walk alongside elevated conveyor belts. Inclined railed walkways shall be nonskid or provided with cleats. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Miners shall comply with all state safety and health regulations applicable to their task or duties. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Vertical clearance above travelways shall be a minimum of seven feet or adequate warning shall be provided to indicate an impaired clearance. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons climbing or descending ladders shall face the ladders and have both hands free for climbing. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Openings above, below, or near travelways through which persons or materials may fall shall be protected by railings, barriers, or covers. Where it is impractical to install such protective devices, adequate warning signals shall be installed. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45…

Crossovers shall be provided and used where it is necessary to cross moving conveyors. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

Slippery walkways shall be provided with cleats and handrails. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Regularly used walkways and travelways shall be sanded, salted, or cleared of snow and ice as soon as practicable. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Fixed ladders shall not incline backward at any point unless provided with backguards. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

Fixed ladders shall be offset and have substantial railed landings at least every 30 feet unless backguards are provided. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

Illumination sufficient to provide safe working conditions shall be provided at all active workings, structures, and travelways. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Steep fixed ladders (70° to 90° from the horizontal), 30 feet more in length, shall be provided with backguards, cages, or equivalent protection, starting at a point not more than seven feet from the bottom of the ladder. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-16…

Scaffolds and working platforms shall be of substantial construction and provided with handrails and maintained in good condition. Floorboards shall be laid properly and the scaffolds and working platform shall not be overloaded. Working platforms shall be provided with toe-board…

A. Electrical equipment and circuits shall be installed in accordance with nationally recognized standards, unless provided for in this part. B. All work on new electric systems or modifications to existing electric systems performed in accordance with nationally recognized stand…

Circuits shall be protected against excessive overloads or short circuits by fuses or circuit breakers of the correct type and capacity. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Electric equipment and circuits shall be provided with switches or other controls. Such switches or controls shall be of acceptable design and construction and shall be properly installed. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Individual overload protection and short circuit protection shall be provided for the trailing cables of mobile equipment. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Power wires and cables shall have adequate current carrying capacity and shall be protected from mechanical injury. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Mobile equipment shall not run over trailing cables, unless the cables are properly bridged or protected. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Distribution boxes shall be provided with disconnect switches. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Trailing cable and power cable connections to junction boxes shall not be made or broken under load. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Power wires and cables shall be adequately insulated where they pass into or out of electrical compartments. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

All active workings, structures, and travelways shall be kept clean and orderly. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Telephone and electric signal wires shall be protected from contacting energized power lines. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Electrical transmission wires shall be covered, insulated, or placed to prevent contact with low-potential conductors. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Splices in power cables, including ground conductor, where provided, shall be: 1. Mechanically strong with adequate electrical conductivity; 2. Effectively insulated and sealed to exclude moisture; and 3. Provided with mechanical protection and electrical conductivity as near as …

Shovel trailing cables shall not be moved with the shovel dipper unless cable slings or sleds are used. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Electrically-powered equipment shall be de-energized before mechanical work is done on such equipment. Power switches shall be locked out or other measures taken which shall prevent the equipment from being energized without the knowledge of the individual working on it. Suitable…

Power circuits shall be de-energized before work is done on such circuits unless hot-line tools are used. Suitable warning signs shall be posted by the individuals who are to do the work. Switches shall be locked out or other measures taken which shall prevent the power circuits …

Principal power switches shall be labeled to show which units they control, unless identification can be made readily by location. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

At least three feet of clearance shall be provided around all parts of stationary electric equipment or switch gear where access or travel is necessary. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Dry, wooden platforms, insulating mats, or other electrically nonconductive material shall be kept in place at all switchboards and power-control switches where shock hazards exist. However, metal plates on which a person normally would stand and which are kept at the same potent…

Suitable danger signs shall be posted at all major electrical installations. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Potable water with a sanitary dispensing method shall be provided at all active workings. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Areas containing major electrical installations shall be entered only by authorized persons. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Electrical connections and resistor grids that are difficult or impractical to insulate shall be guarded, unless protection is provided by location. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

All metal enclosed, electrically-operated circuits or equipment shall be grounded back to the on-site source from which the electric circuit originates, and which is effectively connected to the earth or provided with equivalent protection. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-…

Metal fencing and metal buildings enclosing transformers and switchgear shall be grounded. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Frame grounding or equivalent protection shall be provided for mobile equipment powered through trailing cables. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Continuity and resistance of grounding systems shall be tested immediately after installation, repair, and modification; and annually thereafter. A record of the resistance measured in each equipment ground conductor, grounding electrode conductor, and the earth around the ground…

(Repealed.)

Electric equipment and wiring shall be inspected by a competent person as often as necessary to ensure safe operating conditions. When a potentially dangerous condition is found, it shall be corrected before equipment or wiring is energized. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1…

Electric motors, switches, and controls exposed to damaging dust or water shall be of dust tight or watertight construction. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.