Chapter 40. Safety and Health Regulations for Mineral Mining

Any person who is responsible for mining or blasting activities shall be certified by the department and governed by the Certification Requirements for Mineral Mining, 4VAC25-35. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Rims of open pits shall be stripped back of loose, unconsolidated material and trees for at least 10 feet, and unconsolidated material beyond 10 feet shall be sloped to the angle of repose. Areas that were developed prior to the effective date of this chapter may be barricaded an…

Use of self-rescue devices shall meet the following standards: 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, self-rescue devices meeting the requirements of 4VAC25-40-3990 shall be worn or carried by all persons underground; 2. Where the wearing or carrying of self-rescue devi…

Chairs should be use to land shaft conveyances when heavy supplies or equipment are being handled. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Individual electric lamps shall be carried for illumination by all persons underground. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

In the event of a mine fire or an explosion, operations shall not be resumed until such mine or portion of such mine has been inspected and pronounced safe by a state mine inspector. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

A. On an annual basis, all persons who are required to go underground shall receive applicable mine emergency training. Training shall include instruction on emergency procedures at the mine and mine emergency recognition. B. On an annual basis, all persons who are required to go…

Mines employing 75 or more persons underground shall either: 1. Maintain a mine rescue station equipped with at least 10 self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus, each with a minimum of two hours capacity, along with adequate supplies and spare parts; or 2. Affiliate with centra…

Mine rescue apparatus shall be acceptable to the MSHA or other approved agency and shall be properly maintained for immediate use. The equipment shall be tested at least once a month and records kept of the tests for at least one year.Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.29…

At any mine employing 75 or more persons underground, at least two rescue crews of five persons each shall be trained at least annually in the use, care, and limitations of self-contained oxygen breathing and firefighting apparatus and in mine rescue procedures. The training shal…

Mines employing fewer than 75 persons underground shall maintain mine rescue capabilities as described in 4VAC25-40-4061 through 4VAC25-40-4063, or the operator may request in writing and obtain approval from the director for an alternative mine rescue capability. Such alternativ…

Mine evacuation drills shall be held for each shift once every six months. These evacuation drills shall involve all employees each shift and shall include: 1. Activation of the fire alarm system; and 2. Evacuation of all persons from their work areas to the surface or to designa…

All persons who work underground shall be instructed at least once each calendar year on current escape and evacuation plans, fire alarm signals, and applicable procedures to be followed in case of fire or other emergency. New employees shall receive such instructions before goin…

Hoists shall have rated capacities consistent with the loads handled and the recommended safety factors of the ropes used. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Hoists shall be anchored securely. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Belts, ropes, or chains shall not be used to connect driving mechanisms to personnel hoists. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Benches shall be wide enough to allow safe operation and passage of equipment. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Any hoist used to hoist persons shall be equipped with a brake or brakes which shall be capable of holding its fully loaded cage, skip, or bucket at any point in the shaft. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

The operating mechanism of the clutch of every personnel hoist drum shall be provided with a locking mechanism, or interlocked electrically or mechanically with the brake, to prevent accidental withdrawal of the clutch. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.…

Automatic hoists shall be provided with devices that automatically apply the brakes in the event of power failure. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

In a friction hoist installation, tapered guides or other acceptable devices shall be installed above and below the limits of regular travel of the conveyance and arranged to prevent overtravel in the event of failure of other devices. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-16…

All personnel hoists shall be provided with devices to prevent overtravel. When utilized in shafts exceeding 100 feet in depth, such hoists shall also be provided with over-speed devices. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Friction hoists shall be provided with synchronizing mechanisms that recalibrate the overtravel devices and position indicators to correct for rope creep or stretch. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

When an overtravel bypass switch is installed, the switch shall function so as to allow the conveyance to be moved through the overtravel position when the switch is held in the closed position by the hoist person. The overtravel bypass switch shall return automatically to the op…

Each electric hoist shall be equipped with a manually operable switch that will initiate emergency braking action to bring the conveyance and the counterbalance safely to rest. This switch shall be located within reach of the hoist person in case the manual controls of the hoist …

An accurate and reliable indicator of the position of the cage skip, bucket, or cars in the shaft shall be provided. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Hoist controls shall be placed or housed so that the noise from machinery or other sources will not prevent hoist persons from hearing signals. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Safe means for scaling walls, benches, banks and roofs shall be provided; hazardous areas shall be scaled before other work is performed in the area. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Flanges on drums shall extend radially a minimum of two rope diameters and not less than four inches beyond the last wrap. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Where grooved drums are used, the grooves shall be of the proper size and pitch for the ropes used. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Where any diesel or similar fuel injection engine is used to power a hoist, the engine shall be equipped with a damper or other cutoff in its air intake system. The control handle shall be clearly labeled to indicate that its intended function is for emergency stopping only. Stat…

Nationally recognized standards shall be used as a guide in the selection, installation, and maintenance of wire ropes used for hoisting, except in those instances where the recommendations of this chapter are more stringent.Statutory Authority§§ 45.2-103, 45.2-1401, and 45.2-150…

At installation, the nominal strength (manufacturer's published catalog strength) of wire ropes used for hoisting shall meet the minimum rope strength values obtained by the following formulas in which "L" equals the maximum suspended rope length in feet: 1. Winding drum ropes (a…

If guide ropes are used in shafts for personnel hoisting applications other than shaft development, the nominal strength (manufacturer's published catalog strength) of the guide rope at installation shall meet the minimum value calculated as follows: Minimum Value = Static Load X…

A. Wire rope attachments shall be replaced when cracked, deformed, or excessively worn. B. At least once every 14 calendar days, each wire rope in service shall be visually examined along its entire active length for visible structural damage, corrosion, and improper lubrication …

The end of the rope at the drum shall make at least one full turn on the drum shaft, or a spoke of the drum in the case of a free drum, and shall be fastened securely by means of rope clips or clamps. There shall be three full turns of cable or rope on the hoisting drum when the …

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 Babbitt metal or lead for socketing wire ropes is prohibited. If the thimbl…

New ropes shall be broken in according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

No person shall work under or near hazardous walls, benches, bank or roofs. Hazardous conditions shall be corrected promptly, or the area shall be barricaded and posted with warning signs. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Safety device attachments to hoist ropes shall be selected, installed and maintained according to manufacturer's specifications to minimize internal corrosion and weakening of the hoist rope. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Where possible, conveyances attached to single ropes used to hoist persons shall be provided with secondary safety connections. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Headframes and sheaves shall be designed and constructed to withstand pulls by the hoists greater than the breaking strengths of the hoist ropes. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Headframes shall be high enough to provide at least 15 feet of clearance between the bottom of the sheave or drum and the uppermost part of the highest rope connection of the conveyance when the conveyance is at its uppermost person-landing area. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3,…

Fleet angles shall not exceed 1 ½°. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Platforms with toe-boards and handrails shall be provided around elevated head sheaves. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.