Chapter 40. Safety and Health Regulations for Mineral Mining

Buckets shall not be used to hoist persons except during shaft sinking operations, inspection, maintenance, and repairs. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

When mechanical measures, such as rock bolts, must be used to stabilize ground movement, they shall be installed in accordance with a plan approved by the director. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Buckets used to hoist persons during shaft sinking operations shall be provided with adequate guide ropes and shall have crossheads equipped with safety catches and protective bonnets when the shaft depth exceeds 50 feet. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-16…

In shaft sinking where a platform is suspended by wire ropes, such ropes shall have an approved rating for the suspended load. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Where rope guides are used in shafts, they shall be of locked coil construction. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

When a manually-operated hoist is used, a hoist person approved by the director shall remain within hearing of the telephone or signal device at all times while any person is underground. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

When automatic hoisting is used, a hoist person approved by the director shall be in attendance on the premises while any person is underground. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Hoist persons shall be physically fit and shall undergo yearly examinations to determine their continued fitness; certification to this effect shall be available at the mine. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Only hoist persons approved by the director shall operate the hoist except in cases of emergency and in the training of new hoist persons. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Hoist persons shall use extreme caution when hoisting or lowering persons. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

The safe speed for hoisting persons in a cage shall be determined for each shaft, and this speed shall not be exceeded. Persons shall not be hoisted at a speed faster than 2,500 feet per minute, except in an emergency. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code…

Maximum acceleration and deceleration shall not exceed six feet per second. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

The certified mine foreman designated by the mine operator shall examine active workings for unsafe conditions at least at the beginning of the shift and after blasting. Any unsafe condition found shall be corrected prior to employees starting or resuming work in the area. Statut…

Only authorized persons shall be in hoist rooms. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Balancing of cages shall not be done while persons are on cages. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Conveyances shall not be lowered by the brakes alone except during emergencies. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

The director shall designate the maximum number of persons permitted to ride on a trip at one time; this limit shall be posted on each landing. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Authorized persons shall be in charge of all mantrips. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons shall enter, ride, and leave conveyances in an orderly manner. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons shall not enter or leave conveyances which are in motion or after a signal to move the conveyance has been given to the hoist person. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Cage doors or gates shall be closed while persons are being hoisted; they shall not be opened until the cage has come to a stop. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons shall not ride in skips, or buckets with muck, supplies, materials, or tools other than small hand tools. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

When combinations of cages and skips are used, the skips shall be empty while persons are being transported. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

All personnel shall examine their active workings for unsafe conditions prior to starting work and frequently thereafter. Any unsafe condition found shall be corrected or reported to the designated certified mine foreman, or when a certified foreman is not required, a competent p…

Rock or supplies shall not be hoisted in the same shaft as persons during shift changes, unless the compartments and dumping bins are partitioned to prevent spillage into the cage compartment. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Persons shall not ride the bail, rim, or bonnet of any shaft conveyance, except where necessary for the inspection and maintenance of the shaft and lining. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Open hooks shall not be used to hoist buckets or other conveyances. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

When persons are hoisted in an open bucket, speeds shall not exceed 500 feet a minute and shall not exceed 200 feet a minute when within 100 feet of a landing. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Buckets shall be stopped about 15 feet from the shaft bottom to await a signal from one of the crew on the bottom for further lowering. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Buckets shall be stopped after being raised three feet when persons are hoisted from the bottom; a second hoisting signal shall be given after the bucket has been stabilized. Hoisting shall be at a minimum speed and the bell cord shall be attended constantly until the crosshead h…

Where mine cars are hoisted by cage or skip, means for blocking cars shall be provided at all landings and also on the cage. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

When tools, timbers, or other materials are being lowered or raised in a shaft by means of a bucket, skip, or cage, they shall be secured or so placed that they will not strike the sides of the shaft. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Conveyances not in use shall be released and raised or lowered at least 10 feet from the floor of the landing. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

There shall be at least two effective approved methods of signaling between each of the shaft stations and the hoist room, one of which shall be a telephone or speaking tube. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

No person shall work between equipment and walls, benches, or banks if the equipment may hinder their escape from falling or sliding material. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Hoist persons shall not accept hoisting instructions by telephone unless the regular signaling systems are out of order. During such an emergency, one person shall be designated to direct movement of the conveyance. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of…

A method shall be provided to signal the hoist operator from cages or other conveyances at any point in the shaft. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

A standard code of hoisting signals shall be adopted and used each mine. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

A legible signal code shall be posted prominently in the hoist house within easy view of the hoist persons and at each place where signals are given or received. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Hoisting signal devices shall be positioned within easy reach of persons on the shaft bottom or constantly attended by a person stationed on the lower deck of the sinking platform. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Any person responsible for receiving or giving signals for cages, skips, and mantrips when persons or materials are being transported shall be familiar with the posted signaling code. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Shaft landings 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. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Positive stop blocks or a derail switch shall be installed on all tracks leading to a shaft collar or landing. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Guides shall be provided in each hoisting compartment in shafts inclined more than 45° from the horizontal. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Dumping facilities and loading pockets shall be constructed so as to minimize spillage into the shaft. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.

Stockpile and muckpile faces shall be trimmed to prevent hazards to personnel. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294 and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

Adequate clearance shall be maintained at shaft stations to allow persons to pass safely and to allow materials to be handled safely. Statutory Authority§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-161.294 of the Code of Virginia.