Chapter 40. Safety and Health Regulations for Mineral Mining

(Repealed.)

The air current passing through the mine shall have a sufficient volume and velocity to dilute or remove dangerous amounts of noxious impurities and explosive gases. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Main fans shall be inspected and maintained properly. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Instruments shall be provided to test the mine atmosphere quantitatively for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other gases that occur in the mine. Tests shall be conducted as frequently as necessary by the operator to ensure that the required quality of air is maintained. St…

(Repealed.)

Access to inadequately ventilated areas shall be sealed, or barricaded and posted against entry. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

When used, ventilation tubing shall be installed so that the air current sweeps the face areas effectively. Maximum distance of the end of the tubing from the face generally shall be 30 feet for blowing and six feet for exhausting. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.29…

Ventilation doors not operated mechanically shall be designed and installed so that they are self-closing and will remain closed regardless of the direction of the air movement. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Ventilation doors shall be: 1. Substantially constructed; 2. Covered with fire-retardant material, if constructed of wood; 3. Maintained in good condition; 4. Self-closing, if manually operated; and 5. Equipped with audible or visual warning devices, if mechanically operated. Sta…

When ventilation control doors are opened as a part of the normal mining cycle, they shall be closed as soon as possible to reestablish normal ventilation to active areas. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Mine atmospheres shall be sampled to determine if hazardous concentrations of radon gas are present. Where potentially hazardous concentrations are found, or known sources of radon exist, each active area shall be sampled as often as necessary by a competent person. Statutory Aut…

Machinery and equipment shall be used only for the purpose and within the capacity for which they were intended and designed. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

No person shall be permitted to receive an exposure to radon gas in excess of four working level months in any calendar year. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons shall not be exposed to air containing concentrations of radon gas exceeding 1.0 working level in active areas. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

If levels of permissible exposures to concentrations of radon gas differ from those prescribed in this chapter are recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and approved by the President of the United States, no employee shall be permitted to receive exposures in excess …

See 4VAC25-40-3475 on gassy mines for blasting requirements. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

A certified underground blaster shall be in direct charge of all blasting activities and shall fire all shots. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294, and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Main storage magazines used to store explosives or detonators near working faces shall be constructed with only nonsparking material inside and equipped with covers or doors and shall be located out of the line of blasts, 25 feet from roadways, power lines and in a reasonably dry…

Box-type, main storage magazines shall be used to store detonators or explosives other than blasting agents near working faces and shall be located not less than 50 feet from the face. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

A. Day boxes shall be suitably labeled. B. Contents not used during the shift shall be returned to the main magazine at the end of each shift. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Detonator-storage magazines shall be of the same construction as explosive-storage magazines and shall be separated by at least 25 feet from explosive-storage magazines. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons assigned to and responsible for hoisting shall be notified whenever explosives or detonators are being transported in a shaft conveyance. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Hoisting in adjacent shaft compartments shall be stopped when explosives or detonators are being handled. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Vehicles shall be attended, whenever practical and possible, while loaded with explosives or detonators. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Machinery shall not be lubricated while in motion where a hazard exists, unless equipped with extended fittings or cups. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Cars containing explosives or detonators shall be pulled, except when hand-trammed. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Ample warning shall be given before blasts are fired. All persons shall be cleared and removed from areas endangered by the blast. Clear access to exits shall be provided for personnel firing the rounds. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

A. In areas where dangerous accumulations of water, gas or mud could be encountered, persons shall be removed to safe places before blasting. B. Blasting areas shall not be reentered after firing for a minimum time limit of 30 minutes and not until the concentration of smoke, dus…

Misfires shall be reported to the certified foreman. The blast area shall be barricaded and posted with warning signs until the misfire has been disposed of by a certified underground blaster. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia…

In secondary blasting, if more than one shot is to be fired at one time, blasting shall be done electrically or with detonating cord. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Explosives, detonators, and blasting lines shall be isolated from sources of static electricity and stray currents and from extraneous sources. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Where electric blasting is to be performed, electric circuits and equipment in the immediate area to be blasted shall be de-energized before explosives or detonators are brought into the area; the power shall not be turned on again until after the shots are fired. Statutory Autho…

Blasts in shafts or winzes shall be initiated from a safe location outside the shaft or winze. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Blasts in gassy mines shall be initiated electrically, and multiple shot blasts shall be initiated 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 the …

Boreholes shall be stemmed as prescribed for the explosives used. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons operating or working near drilling machines shall position themselves so that they will not be struck or lose their balance if the steel breaks or sticks. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons shall not attempt to operate drills from positions that hinder their access to the control levers. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Repairs or maintenance shall not be performed on machinery until the power is off and the machinery is blocked against motion, except where machinery motion is necessary to make adjustments. Energy sources, other than those related to electricity (which are covered under 4VAC25-4…

Drilling shall not be attempted from insecure footing or staging or from atop equipment not designed for this purpose. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons shall not hold the drill steel while collaring holes, rest their hands on the chuck or centralizer while drilling. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Air shall be turned off before moving portable drills from one face to another. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Receptacles or racks shall be provided for drill steel stored on jumbos. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Before drilling cycle is started, warning shall be given to persons working below jumbo decks. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Drills on columns shall be anchored firmly before drilling is started and shall be retightened frequently thereafter. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Tools or materials, except properly located and secured rerailing devices, shall not be carried on top of locomotives. Tools or materials shall not be carried in the cab if they would interfere with the operation of the locomotive. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.29…

Trains shall be brought to a complete stop, then moved very slowly when coupling or uncoupling cars manually. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Makeshift couplings shall not be used. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.