Acts and Regulations

96-105 - Underground Mine

Full text
Document at 31 December 2002
NEW BRUNSWICK
REGULATION 96-105
under the
Occupational Health and Safety Act
(O.C. 96-968)
Filed November 1, 1996
Under section 51 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council makes the following Regulation:
Citation
1This Regulation may be cited as the Underground Mine Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act.
I
INTERPRETATION
Definitions
2In this Regulation
“Act” means the Occupational Health and Safety Act;   (Loi)
“adequate” ’ means sufficient to protect a person from the risk of injury or damage to health;   (convenable)
“air contaminant” means any gas, fume, smoke, vapour, dust or other airborne concentration of a substance that may be hazardous to the health or safety of a person;   (polluant)
“blast” means the explosion of a charge or a number of charges either simultaneously or consecutively;   (sautage)
“bootleg” means a remnant of a blast-hole that has been charged and fired and that has been determined not to contain any explosive after a charge has been fired;   (culot de mine)
“breaking strength” , with respect to rope, means the amount of tension that can be exerted on a sample of rope before it breaks;   (résistance à la rupture)
“bulkhead” means a structure for the impoundment of water, compressed air or any material, constructed in an underground opening in such a way so as to completely close off the opening;   (cloison)
“cartridge” means a rigid or semi-rigid package of explosive enclosed in a wrapping of material;   (cartouche)
“charge” , with respect to an explosive, means an explosive loaded in a hole or to load an explosive in a hole;   (charge)
“climbing conveyance” means a conveyance, work platform or cab that travels on an inclined to vertical suspended track containing a rack and that has one or more drive motors that drive pinions engaging the rack;   (transporteur ascendant)
“committee” means the joint health and safety committee;   (comité)
“competent” means(compétent)
(a) qualified, because of such factors as knowledge, training and experience, to do assigned work in a manner that will ensure the health and safety of persons,
(b) knowledgeable about the provisions of the Act and the regulations that apply to the assigned work, and
(c) knowledgeable about potential or actual danger to health or safety connected with the assigned work;
“CSA” means the Canadian Standards Association;  (ACNOR)
“dam” means a structure built for the purpose of impounding water in an underground opening and constructed so as to permit an unobstructed overflow of the water;   (barrage)
“danger area” means twice the distance at which there exists the possibility of a hazard to a person or property from the effects of a blast;   (aire de danger)
“destructive test” , with respect to rope, means a test on a sample of rope where the rope is broken during the test by a tensile testing machine;   (essai destructif)
“detonator” means a device used to initiate a blast and includes a blasting cap, an electric wire when connected to a blasting cap, a detonating cord and a flash-thru tube, gas tube or shock tube;   (détonateur)
“development face” means any underground excavation heading in which there is only one free face;   (paroi de travail)
“drum hoist” means a hoisting device where the rope is wound on one or more drums;   (treuil à tambour)
“engineer” means a person who(ingénieur)
(a) is registered as a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of the Province of New Brunswick,
(b) has received a licence from the Executive Council of the Association of Professional Engineers of the Province of New Brunswick, or
(c) is practising as a professional engineer in New Brunswick under subsection 10(7) of the Engineering Profession Act;
“explosive” means a substance that is made, manufactured or used to produce an explosion or detonation and includes black powder, propellant powders, blasting agents, dynamite, slurry, watergel and detonators;   (explosif)
“factor of safety” , with respect to rope, means the number of times the breaking strength of a rope at a defined point exceeds the total mass it supports;   (facteur de sécurité)
“friction hoist” means a hoisting device where the driving force between the drum and rope or ropes supporting the shaft conveyance is obtained through friction;   (treuil à friction)
“guardrail” means a guardrail as defined in the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act;   (garde-corps)
“haulageway” means a road, ramp, level, adit or other surface used primarily to move vehicles from one place to another;   (voie de roulage)
“hoist” means a drum hoist or a friction hoist used for transporting persons or materials in an underground mine;   (treuil)
“individual fall-arresting system” means an individual fall-arresting system as defined in the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act;   (dispositif individuel de protection contre les chutes)
“mine hoisting plant” means a system used for lowering or raising materials or people between the surface and underground and includes a hoist with associated equipment, the headframe, sheaves, shaft ropes, shaft conveyances, counterweights, shaft-sinking equipment, shaft furnishings, signalling and communication equipment and any other equipment used with the system;   (installation de treuil minier)
“mining machine” means a machine that extracts and loads any metallic or non-metallic mineral or mineral-bearing substance or waste;   (machine minière)
“misfire” means a remnant of a blast-hole that still contains explosive after a charge has been fired;   (raté)
“mobile equipment” means self-propelled equipment that is steered and includes wheeled or tracked equipment but does not include equipment that travels on rails or a mining machine;   (équipement mobile)
“non-destructive test” means the examination of a part of an object by a method where the part is not subjected to any physical damage or distortion;   (essai non destructif)
“portable storage box” means a portable storage box for explosives;   (caisse d’entreposage portable)
“prime mover” means a source of motive power that drives an electric generator;   (source motrice initiale)
“primed cartridge” means a cartridge into which a hole is punched and a detonator is inserted;   (cartouche amorcée)
“rockburst” means a seismic event resulting in an expulsion from a rock face;   (écaillement de roches)
“seismic event” means an earthquake or vibration caused by the sudden adjustment of rock stresses;   (secousse sismique)
“shaft conveyance” means an apparatus raised or lowered by a hoist in a shaft and includes a bucket, a single or multi-deck cage, a skip or a combination of skips and cage;   (transporteur de puits)
“shaft rope” includes a hoisting, balance, guide or rubbing rope;   (câble de puits)
“threshold limit value” means a threshold limit value adopted by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and set out in the publication entitled 1992-1993 Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices;   (valeur limite d’exposition)
“travelway” means a path, adit, ramp, level, walkway, catwalk, escapeway, ladderway, stairway or other surface used primarily by persons to move from one area to another;   (voie de circulation)
“underground blasting operation” means an operation using explosives underground and extends from the time explosives are removed from underground storage or delivered to and kept at the loading area, whichever occurs first, to the time the explosives are used and any surplus explosives are returned to storage;   (opération de sautage souterrain)
“underground mine” means a mine where the workings extend below ground level and are not generally visible from the surface except for shafthead buildings or portal houses.(mine souterraine)
Application
3This Regulation applies to a place of employment that is an underground mine and to the buildings and plant on the surface used in connection with the extraction of any metallic or non-metallic mineral or mineral-bearing substance from the mine but does not include the buildings and plant on the surface used for the processing of the mineral or substance.
Inconsistencies
4(1)In the event of an inconsistency between any provision in the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act and any provision in this Regulation, the provision in this Regulation shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
4(2)In the event of an inconsistency between any standard incorporated by reference in this Regulation and any other provision in this Regulation, that other provision in this Regulation shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
II
PRELIMINARY REQUIREMENTS
Notice of opening or reopening
5An employer shall give written notice to the Chief Compliance Officer when work is planned in respect of the opening or reopening of an underground mine at least thirty days before the commencement of the work and the notice shall include
(a) the name and address of the person in charge of the operation,
(b) a description of the location of the operation, and
(c) a description of the proposed mine and mining methods.
Notice of projects
6(1)An employer shall give written notice to the Chief Compliance Officer and the committee, if any, at least seven days before proceeding with
(a) the initial development or construction of an underground mine,
(b) shaft sinking or deepening,
(c) the installation of or a major alteration to a mine hoisting plant,
(d) the installation of a system and procedure for the transfer of fuel by gravity from the surface to an underground fuelling station,
(e) the construction of a dam or bulkhead, except a dam or bulkhead of standard design that is routinely built in the course of normal operations, or
(f) the introduction of new or significant changes in methods, techniques and equipment or the introduction of experimental operations.
6(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(e), an employer may, in an emergency, construct a temporary dam or bulkhead without giving prior written notice to the Chief Compliance Officer or the committee and shall notify the Chief Compliance Officer and the committee of the construction of the dam or bulkhead as soon as possible after the emergency.
6(3)An employer shall ensure that the plans and specifications for any of the projects referred to in subsection (1) are approved in writing by an engineer.
6(4)An employer shall ensure that any project referred to in subsection (1) is carried out in accordance with the plans and specifications approved in writing by the engineer.
Scaled plans
7(1)An employer shall ensure that the following scaled plans are made and updated monthly:
(a) a surface plan showing the boundaries of the property on which the underground mine is located, and all lakes, streams, roads, railways, electric power transmission lines, main pipelines, buildings, shaft openings, adits, open surface working, dumps, tailings disposal sites and magazines in or adjacent to the property;
(b) underground plans of each level of the mine showing all underground workings, including shafts, tunnels, dams, bulkheads, electrical substations, magazines, fuel storage areas, shop areas, garages, refuge stations and lunch rooms, with the plan for each level shown on a separate drawing;
(c) vertical plans showing all shafts, winzes, tunnels, drifts, stopes and other mine workings in relation to the surface and the top of the bedrock;
(d) ventilation plans, showing the direction and volume of the main air currents, the location of permanent fans, ventilation doors and stopings and connections with adjacent mines;
(e) location of diamond drill holes;
(f) the position of all portable electrical substations in the mine; and
(g) all concealed electrical cables within the mine that may be intercepted by mining activity.
7(2)An employer shall ensure that the plans referred to in subsection (1) are readily available for inspection by an officer and the committee upon request.
Closure or abandonment
8Where an underground mine is to be closed or abandoned, an employer shall give written notice to the Chief Compliance Officer of the intent to close or abandon the mine at least thirty days before the intended closure or abandonment.
Operations approaching abandoned mines
9(1)Where a working in an underground mine is approaching any abandoned working in another underground mine, an employer shall ensure that no work is done within ninety metres of the working that has been abandoned until a method of proceeding with the work has been approved in writing by an engineer and a copy of the method has been sent to the Chief Compliance Officer at least seven days before proceeding with the work.
9(2)An employer shall ensure that the method of proceeding with the work that has been approved by the engineer is carried out as approved.
III
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Employee record
10An employer shall keep a record in which is entered the name and address of every person who is employed at an underground mine, and the record shall include the person’s employment history and the certificates of fitness required under this Regulation.
Certificate of fitness
11(1)Before hiring a person to work underground, an employer shall obtain from the person a certificate of fitness in Form 1 signed by a medical practitioner and dated not more than two months before the person commences work underground.
11(2)An employer shall ensure that an employee who regularly works underground holds a valid certificate of fitness in Form 1.
Medical examination of employees
12(1)An employer shall ensure that medical examinations are carried out in accordance with subsection (2) for all employees who are required to work underground.
12(2)The nature and frequency of the medical examinations shall be as follows:
(a) an annual clinical examination of the respiratory system;
(b) annual pulmonary function tests of forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume at one second;
(c) once in every three years, chest X-rays, including postero-anterior views;
(d) an annual audiometric test; and
(e) such other tests or examinations as may be considered necessary by a medical practitioner.
12(3)An employee who works underground shall undergo the examinations required under subsection (2) and shall ensure that a certificate of fitness in Form 1 is forwarded to the employer forthwith.
Employee training
13(1)An employer shall ensure that an employee who works underground is adequately trained in the recognition of unsafe ground conditions and the precautions to be taken concerning such ground conditions.
13(2)An employer shall ensure that an employee who works underground is adequately trained with respect to
(a) the emergency preparedness plan referred to in section 64,
(b) the locations of, and routes to, refuge stations, exits, escapeways and other places of safety,
(c) the basic identification of gases and other hazards that may be associated with the mining operation, and
(d) the use of protective equipment.
Fall protection
14An employer shall ensure that no employee works near or in any raise, shaft, ore pass or any other steeply inclined opening unless the employee uses an individual fall-arresting system, or a safety net that meets the requirements of section 50 of the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Fall protection
15No employee shall work near or in any raise, shaft, ore pass or any other steeply inclined opening unless the employee uses an individual fall-arresting system, or a safety net that meets the requirements of section 50 of the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Control of entry and exit
16(1)An employer shall ensure that a record is kept of all persons underground at any time.
16(2)An employer shall ensure that
(a) a supervisor is on duty above ground whenever a person is underground, and
(b) a supervisor checks in and checks out, or causes to be checked in and out, every person who goes underground.
16(3)Except for a person making an inspection or doing repairs or in an emergency, no person shall enter or leave an underground mine except by travelways designated for that purpose.
16(4)Where in an emergency, a person leaves an underground mine other than by a travelway designated for that purpose, the person shall immediately report to a supervisor referred to in subsection (2).
Working alone
17An employer shall ensure that an employee who works alone underground is
(a) competent with respect to the work assigned,
(b) visited by a supervisor at least once during the shift, and
(c) provided with a means of communication with a supervisor or a person designated by the supervisor and reports to or is contacted by the supervisor or person designated at least every two hours.
Regular mine inspections
18(1)An employer shall ensure that a person
(a) inspects on each shift all parts of a mine where employees are working,
(b) inspects weekly all other parts of the mine except those parts that have been abandoned and barricaded, and
(c) inspects and scales the roofs and walls of all stopes and other work areas as often as the nature of the ground and the work requires.
18(2)An employer shall ensure that a person who performs an inspection pursuant to subsection (1) is competent.
18(3)A supervisor shall, before going off shift, make and sign in a record book to be kept at the mine, an accurate report of the conditions found as a result of the inspections under subsection (1).
18(4)The supervisor on the oncoming shift shall read and countersign the report referred to in subsection (3) and ensure that appropriate action is taken to ensure the health and safety of employees in the areas inspected.
18(5)An employer shall ensure that the book referred to in subsection (3) is made available to the committee and to an officer on request.
18(6)An employer shall ensure that the book referred to in subsection (3) is kept for three years after the last misfire recorded in the book or, if no misfires are recorded, for three years from the last entry in the book.
Notification of unusual occurrences
19An employer shall notify an officer and the committee within twenty-four hours and make a full written report to the Commission within fourteen days after any of the following occurrences:
(a) an accident involving the hoist, sheaves, hoisting rope, conveyance, shaft timbering or any part of the operation of the shaft;
(b) a fire involving an air compressor, air receiver or compressed air line;
(c) an unexpected inrush of water from old workings or otherwise;
(d) a failure of an underground dam or bulkhead;
(e) an outbreak of fire;
(f) an asphyxiation causing a partial or total loss of physical control of any person;
(g) a flammable gas in mine workings;
(h) an unexpected extensive subsidence or caving of mine workings; or
(i) an incident involving electric control gear or cables that produced or could have produced a dangerous situation.
Rockbursts and seismic events
20(1)Where a rockburst or significant seismic event occurs within or adjacent to the workings of an underground mine, an employer shall, within twenty-four hours after the occurrence, notify the Chief Compliance Officer.
20(2)An employer shall keep a record of all rockbursts and significant seismic events showing, to the extent possible, the time and location and other relevant information pertaining to the rockburst or seismic event, including any injury to persons.
20(3)An employer shall ensure that the information required for the record referred to in subsection (2) is entered forthwith in the record.
20(4)An employer shall make a record referred to in subsection (2) available to an officer and the committee on request.
Electrical equipment
21An employer shall ensure that all electrical equipment is installed, maintained and operated in accordance with the applicable requirements of CSA standard CAN/CSA-M421-93, “Use of Electricity in Mines”, and that the standard is readily available for use by electricians in the mine.
Alternate source of electrical power
22(1)An employer shall ensure that an underground mine utilizing a hoist has an alternate source of electrical power to its regular power supply that is capable of providing sufficient power to operate and maintain services essential to the safe evacuation of the mine.
22(2)An employer shall maintain a record book showing maintenance schedules, test runs and scheduled outages on the alternate source of electrical power and the prime mover.
22(3)An employer shall keep a record book referred to in subsection (2) for a period of three years after the last entry in the book and shall make it available to an officer on request.
Voice communication system
23(1)An employer shall ensure that a system is installed and maintained for communicating by voice between persons at an attended place on the surface and
(a) the collar of the shaft including the collar of an internal shaft,
(b) each landing station in use in a shaft,
(c) the hoist room for the shaft including the hoist room for an internal shaft,
(d) each underground refuge station, and
(e) each continuous mining machine.
23(2)If the system referred to in subsection (1) uses radio frequencies, an employer shall obtain and keep a certificate from an engineer stating that the system is suitable for underground use.
Communication or signalling system using radio frequencies
24Where a communication or signalling system uses radio frequencies for transmitting signals, an employer shall ensure, and each employee who uses the communication or signalling system shall ensure, that the system is used only if precautions have been taken against
(a) setting off any electric blasting caps,
(b) the inadvertent operation of any other blasting device that may respond to the radio frequencies or the radiated energy, and
(c) the inadvertent overriding of the remote control of any unit of mobile equipment.
Underground fill
25(1)Where sand, slag or tailings are to be used for fill underground, an employer shall ensure that before the material is used
(a) it has been tested to ensure its suitability for the purpose, particularly with respect to its self-draining characteristics and stability,
(b) sulphide material is not included in the material in quantities that may induce spontaneous combustion, and
(c) the cyanide content in the liquid portion of any tailings is less than 0.005 mg per litre expressed as potassium cyanide.
25(2)Where sand, slag or tailings have been used for fill, an employer shall ensure that the cyanide content in the liquid portion of the effluent from the filled area does not exceed 0.005 mg per litre expressed as potassium cyanide.
25(3)An employer shall ensure that no person goes onto any fill without adequate protection against subsidence of the fill or reaction to physical contact with the fill.
Dust control
26(1)An employer shall ensure that water under pressure or an adequate alternative suitable for the operation and the health and safety of employees is used to control dust
(a) in all drilling operations,
(b) during blasting operations or as soon as practicable after the blasting operations, and
(c) during loading or scraping of ore or rock.
26(2)An employer shall ensure that adequate dust controls are installed at crusher stations or similar installations where a high production of dust occurs.
Water control
27(1)An employer shall use machines and equipment suitable for keeping an underground mine free from the accumulation and flow of water so as to ensure the safety of persons working in the mine or in an adjoining mine.
27(2)Where a working approaches a place where there is or may be an accumulation of water, an employer shall ensure that exploration holes are kept well in advance of the working face and precautions are taken to eliminate the danger of an unexpected breakthrough into the place containing the accumulation of water.
27(3)Where ore, waste, backfill or other similar material is transferred by gravity through a raise, an employer shall take adequate precautions to ensure that water, frozen material or water-bearing material does not enter the raise in such quantities so as to present the hazard of a sudden emergence of a quantity of material in a fluid or semi-fluid state to a person controlling the passage of material through or withdrawing material from the raise.
27(4)An employer shall ensure that cuttings from the reaming of a bored raise are not allowed to accumulate above the brow of the raise.
27(5)An employer shall ensure that water and spillage in a shaft sump is kept at such a level that tail ropes, guide ropes, rubbing ropes and tension devices for skips are clear of the water and spillage.
Escapeways, ladderways and ladders
28(1)Where a shaft has been sunk or an adit has been driven and production stoping has commenced, an employer shall provide and maintain a separate escapeway in addition to the hoisting shaft or opening through which employees enter or leave the mine.
28(2)An employer shall ensure that an escapeway required under subsection (1) is not less than thirty metres from the hoisting shaft or opening through which employees enter or leave the mine.
28(3)Where there is only one shaft or winze, an employer shall ensure that the shaft or winze is equipped with a walkway or ladderway.
28(4)An employer shall ensure that an escapeway required under subsection (1), and a walkway or ladderway required under subsection (3), provides unobstructed access to the surface from the deepest workings of the mine, and is of a size to afford an easy passageway for a person wearing self-contained breathing apparatus.
28(5)An employer shall ensure that
(a) an escape plan is included as part of the emergency preparedness plan,
(b) an escapeway map is posted in refuge stations,
(c) legible signs showing the way to escapeways are posted in prominent places underground, and
(d) all employees are instructed in the escape plan and the location of escapeways.
28(6)An employer shall ensure that each escapeway, ladderway and ladder is inspected at least once a month and that each is maintained in a safe condition, free from obstructions and cleared of any hazardous accumulation of material without undue delay.
28(7)An employer shall ensure that a person who performs an inspection pursuant to subsection (6) is competent.
28(8)A person making an inspection pursuant to subsection (6) shall make a report in writing to the employer describing the inspection and the conditions found.
Escapeways, ladderways and ladders
29(1)Except for an auxiliary ladder used in sinking operations, an employer shall ensure that no ladder is installed in a vertical position in a shaft, winze or main escapeway.
29(2)Where in a shaft, winze or main escapeway in an underground mine or in a headframe used with a shaft or winze, a ladderway is inclined at more than seventy degrees from the horizontal, an employer shall ensure that
(a) the ladderway is provided with adequate platforms at intervals not exceeding 7.5 m,
(b) the ladders are offset at the platform,
(c) except for openings large enough to permit the passage of a person wearing rescue equipment, the platforms are fully closed, and
(d) the ladders are placed over the openings of the platforms below.
29(3)Where in a shaft, winze or main escapeway in an underground mine or in a headframe used with a shaft or winze, a ladderway is inclined at less than seventy degrees to the horizontal, an employer shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a) and (c).
29(4)Where in a stope, raise used as a travelway or other working in an underground mine, a ladder is inclined
(a) between fifty degrees but not more than sixty degrees to the horizontal, an employer shall ensure that the ladder is provided with adequate platforms at intervals not exceeding nine metres,
(b) between sixty degrees but not over seventy degrees to the horizontal, an employer shall ensure that the ladder is provided with adequate platforms at intervals not exceeding 7.5 m, and
(c) seventy degrees or over to the horizontal, an employer shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d).
29(5)An employer shall ensure that a landing platform is installed at all points where ladders are offset.
29(6)Subsections (2) to (5) do not apply to ladderways or ladders installed before the commencement of this Regulation.
29(7)During sinking operations in a shaft or winze, if a permanent ladder is not provided to the bottom, an employer shall ensure that an auxiliary ladder that reaches from the permanent ladder to the bottom is provided in such position that it may be promptly lowered to any point where an employee is working.
29(8)When a ladderway and skipway occupy the same compartment, no person shall travel in the ladderway while the skip is in motion except for the purpose of handling material in the skip.
29(9)An employer shall ensure that a ladderway in a shaft, winze, raise, stope, main escapeway or travelway is protected from material being hoisted or lowered.
29(10)An employer shall ensure that a ladderway is protected from falling objects.
Raises
30(1)Except where a climbing conveyance or a raise borer is used, an employer shall ensure that a raise inclined at over fifty degrees from the horizontal that is to be driven more than eighteen metres slope distance, is divided into at least two compartments, one of which is maintained as a ladderway.
30(2)An employer shall ensure that timbering used to divide a raise referred to in subsection (1) is kept within a safe distance of the face of the raise and that the distance between the face of the raise and the top of the timbering does not exceed 7.5 m.
Ramps, travelways and haulageways
31Where the face of a main ramp exceeds a vertical depth of ninety metres without intermediate access to the ramp from an operating shaft or winze, an employer shall provide a suitable vehicle to transport persons up or down the ramp.
Ramps, travelways and haulageways
32Where a hazardous condition arises in a travelway or haulageway, an employer shall ensure that the travelway or haulageway is closed and signs are posted at all entrances to the travelway or haulageway warning of the hazardous condition.
Ramps, travelways and haulageways
33An employer shall ensure that a haulageway is maintained in good condition and that the dust level is controlled so as not to endanger the health or safety of employees using the haulageway.
Ramps, travelways and haulageways
34(1)An employer shall ensure that on every level on which track haulage is used
(a) there is a clearance of at least four hundred and fifty millimetres between each side of the haulageway and the cars,
(b) there is a minimum clearance of six hundred millimetres between one side of the haulageway and the cars, or
(c) safety stations are cut every thirty metres along the haulageway and are plainly marked or lighted.
34(2)An employer shall ensure that on every level on which mobile equipment is used, a minimum total clearance of 1.5 m is maintained between the sides of the haulageway or workings and the equipment.
34(3)An employer shall ensure that the clearance between the roof of a haulageway and the highest point of mobile equipment is at least three hundred millimetres and that in no case is the clearance less than 1.2 m from the driver’s seat.
Ramps, travelways and haulageways
35An employer shall, for each underground ramp with a grade greater than ten per cent that is used as a main haulageway for mobile equipment and that does not have a line of sight visibility between passing areas, ensure that traffic control lights are used or that plainly marked or lighted safety stations are cut every thirty metres along the haulageway.
Securing ground
36(1)Where the enclosing ground is not secure, an employer shall ensure that every adit, tunnel, stope or other working in which work is being carried on or through which an employee passes, is made secure.
36(2)Where ground support is necessary, an employer shall ensure that an employee does not work under unconditioned ground except for the purpose of ground support and that the employee uses a working method that does not jeopardize the employee’s health or safety.
36(3)An employer shall ensure that an employee who works underground checks, and every such employee shall check, the backs, walls and face of the employee’s work area for any loose conditions before beginning any assigned work.
36(4)An employer shall provide an employee with an adequate supply of properly dressed scaling bars, gads and other equipment necessary for scaling.
Shaft station
37Where a cross-cut or drift extends from a shaft in any direction on a level, an employer shall ensure that a suitable shaft station is excavated where the shaft intersects the level.
Overhead protection
38An employer shall ensure that no employee works in an area where someone is working overhead unless appropriate measures are taken for protection of the employee working below.
Securing openings
39(1)An employer shall ensure that an opening into which a person, equipment or material may fall is adequately barricaded and that signs are posted on the barricade with the wording “Danger - Keep Out - Defense d’entrer”.
39(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), an employer may permit an employee to enter an opening referred to in subsection (1) for the purpose of making such place secure if the employee wears an individual fall-arresting system and is attended by another employee equipped and trained to effect a rescue.
Dump points
40An employer shall ensure that dump points are illuminated to provide good visibility at all times to employees using, working near or travelling near the dump points.
Dumping and loading of material
41(1)An employer shall ensure that no material is dumped from any vehicle over an opening, an ore pass or a bank more than three metres in height unless there is
(a) an anchored block or a ridge of material sufficient to keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the edge of the opening, ore pass or bank, or
(b) a signal person in the sight of the operator of the vehicle, directing the operator and ensuring that the vehicle is kept at a safe distance from the edge of the opening, ore pass or bank.
41(2)An employer shall ensure that no employee remains in the cab of any vehicle while it is being loaded by mobile equipment unless the cab has adequate protection against spill from the loading operation.
Chutes
42(1)An employer shall ensure that no employee goes out on the broken material above a chute, and no employee shall go out on the broken material above the chute.
42(2)Where there is a hang-up or a suspected hang-up in a chute, an employer shall ensure that the location of the hang-up is identified by suitable signs and surrounded by barricades and that any employee working in the area is notified of the danger.
42(3)An employer shall prepare a written procedure to be followed to clear a hang-up or suspected hang-up in a chute, and an employee who clears a hang-up or suspected hang-up shall follow the written procedure.
42(4)An employer shall make a copy of the written procedure referred to in subsection (3) available to an officer and the committee upon request.
42(5)An employer shall ensure that no employee enters, and no employee shall enter, any chute or transfer raise used for the passage by gravity of ore, rock or other material, unless the chute or transfer raise is emptied and properly secured to prevent the inadvertent entry of ore, rock or other material.
Unconsolidated material
43(1)Where mobile equipment is used underground to load unconsolidated material, an employer shall, in order to ensure the safety of the operator and employees in the area, ensure that the material is kept at a suitable angle and that no working face of the material has a vertical height greater than 1.5 m above the reach of the equipment being used.
43(2)An employer is not required to comply with subsection (1) if there are no employees in the area and the mobile equipment is operated by remote control with the operator in a safe place.
Unconsolidated material
44(1)An employer shall ensure that a ladder is available and maintained one metre above the crest of any unconsolidated material when an employee is working on top of the material or, in the case of access from the level above, the ladder extends to the unconsolidated material.
44(2)Where an employee is securing a stoping area from the top of unconsolidated material, an employer shall provide a safe area of retreat for the employee.
44(3)An employer shall provide the safe area of retreat required by subsection (2) by ensuring that the crest of the unconsolidated material is maintained not less than nine metres from the most advanced line of rockbolts or otherwise secured area.
Tugger hoists
45(1)An employer shall ensure that a tugger hoist is maintained and used so as not to endanger the safety of employees.
45(2)An employer shall ensure that the ropes, sheaves, brakes, attachments and other parts of a tugger hoist are regularly examined and kept in a safe condition.
45(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who performs an examination pursuant to subsection (2) is competent.
45(4)An employer shall install a safeguard to protect the operator of a tugger hoist in the event of a rope on the hoist breaking.
IV
AIR QUALITY
Ventilation system for underground areas
46(1)An employer shall ensure that an adequate mechanical ventilation system that supplies fresh air to all underground areas to which an employee has access is installed, maintained and used in an underground mine.
46(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), an employer may supply compressed air to an underground area to which an employee has access when
(a) it is not practical to use auxiliary fan ventilation, and
(b) the pipeline used to supply the air is
(i) independent of the pipeline used to supply air to drills or other machinery,
(ii) controlled only at the beginning of the heading, and
(iii) operating when a charge is detonated.
46(3)An employer shall ensure that the mechanical ventilation system referred to in subsection (1) prevents the entry of air contaminants or the re-entry of exhausted air through the main surface air intake.
46(4)Where practical, an employer shall ensure that air contaminants are removed at source.
46(5)An employer shall ensure that all main mine ventilation fans, both supply and exhaust,
(a) are of fire resistive construction,
(b) have fire resistive housing, if any,
(c) are reversible where practicable, and
(d) have operating controls located on the surface.
46(6)An employer shall ensure that all pipes, ducting and line brattice used for conveying underground mine ventilating air are of materials that do not support progressive combustion.
46(7)Where a stationary internal combustion engine is installed in a building on the surface, an employer shall ensure that the exhaust of the engine is conducted to a point well outside the building so as to prevent exhaust fumes from re-entering the building, entering the intake of any air compressor or contaminating the atmosphere of any adjacent building or mine working.
Air quality requirements
47An employer shall ensure that the air to which an employee is exposed meets the following requirements:
(a) the air contains not less than 19.5 per cent and not more than 23 per cent by volume of oxygen; and
(b) the air is of sufficient volume to prevent
(i) exposure of the employee to a level of concentration of an air contaminant or mixture of air contaminants in excess of the threshold limit values,
(ii) where there is no threshold limit value, exposure of the employee to a level of concentration of an air contaminant or mixture of air contaminants that the employer knows or ought reasonably to know constitutes a hazard to the health or safety of the employee, and
(iii) exposure of the employee to a level of concentration of an air contaminant or mixture of air contaminants in excess of fifty per cent of the lower explosive limit of the air contaminant or mixture of air contaminants.
Measurement of volume of air movement
48(1)An employer shall ensure that the volume of air movement in all underground areas to which an employee has access is measured and recorded
(a) at least monthly,
(b) after any major change to the ventilation system, and
(c) after any significant change of work procedure or change to the underground environment that may affect air quality.
48(2)An employer shall ensure that a person who measures and records the volume of air movement pursuant to subsection (1) is competent.
48(3)An employer shall keep a record made under subsection (1) for a period of not less than one year after the record is made.
Method of heating underground air
49An employer shall ensure that any proposed method of heating the underground mine ventilating air is approved in writing by an engineer as being capable of heating the required volume of air without adversely affecting the health or safety of employees.
Notification of use of diesel engine underground
50(1)An employer shall notify the Chief Compliance Officer in writing of any diesel engine that is to be used underground at least one week before such intended use and shall include the following information in the notice with respect to the engine:
(a) name of manufacturer, name of model and serial number;
(b) specifications of the exhaust conditioning equipment; and
(c) specifications of the fire suppression system, if one is required under section 94.
50(2)Where a diesel engine referred to in subsection (1) has a power rating equal to or in excess of seventy-five kilowatts, an employer shall provide with the notice required under subsection (1), where available,
(a) the certification number assigned by the Approval and Certification Center of the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labour which indicates that the engine has been approved for use in an underground mine, or
(b) details of the quantity and type of air contaminant being exhausted from the exhaust system for that model of engine prepared in accordance with the requirements of CSA standard CAN/CSA-M424.2-M90, “Non-Rail-Bound Diesel-Powered Machines for Use in Non-Gassy Underground Mines”.
Testing of diesel engine
51(1)An employer shall ensure that each diesel engine in operation underground is tested for the following air contaminants at the specified positions and frequencies:
(a) the carbon monoxide content of the atmosphere adjacent to the operating diesel engine or at the operator’s position at least once every two weeks;
(b) the nitrogen dioxide content of the atmosphere adjacent to the operating diesel engine or at the operator’s position at least once every two weeks;
(c) the aldehyde content of the atmosphere adjacent to the operating diesel engine or at the operator’s position at least once every three months;
(d) the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere adjacent to the operating diesel engine at least once a month; and
(e) the sulphur dioxide content of the atmosphere adjacent to the operating diesel engine at least once every three months.
51(2)An employer shall ensure that each diesel engine in operation underground is tested for the level of respirable combustible dust concentration in accordance with the method and frequency established in the air monitoring plan.
51(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who tests a diesel engine pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) is competent.
When diesel engine not to be operated underground
52An employer shall ensure that no person operates, and no person shall operate, a diesel engine underground when
(a) one or more employees in the area where the engine is operating are or will be exposed to air contrary to the requirements of section 47, or
(b) the flow of air in the area where the engine is operating is less than 4.0 m3/min. per maximum kilowatt power of the engine being operated.
Air monitoring plan
53(1)An employer shall prepare and implement an air monitoring plan.
53(2)An air monitoring plan referred to in subsection (1) shall be prepared and implemented within two months after the commencement of this Regulation and, in the case of a person who becomes an employer after the commencement of this Regulation, within two months after the person becomes an employer.
53(3)An employer shall consult with the committee in the preparation of the air monitoring plan and with respect to any subsequent amendments to the plan.
53(4)An employer shall file a copy of the plan and any subsequent amendments to the plan with the Commission and the committee within one month after the plan is prepared or amended, as the case may be.
53(5)Subject to the requirements of this Regulation, an employer shall ensure that an air monitoring plan
(a) establishes procedures to measure, record and evaluate the quality of air for the purposes of section 47 and the volume of air movement in all areas of an underground mine to which an employee has access and establishes the frequencies of the measurements,
(b) details the method and frequency of measurement of the air contaminants from diesel engines referred to in subsection 51(1) and, where practicable, the respirable combustible dust concentration from diesel engines,
(c) where the concentration of radon and thoron disintegration products are less than 0.04 WL, as determined in accordance with section 62, details the frequency of measurement of the concentration of radon and thoron disintegration products,
(d) includes air movement specifications, air monitoring schedules, monitoring techniques and equipment to be used, and
(e) describes the procedures and corrective measures to be followed in the event that
(i) one or more employees are or will be exposed to air contrary to the requirements of section 47,
(ii) the volume of air movement does not meet the specifications in the plan,
(iii) the flow of air in an area where a diesel engine is operating is less than 4.0 m3/min. per maximum kilowatt power of the engine being operated, or
(iv) the respirable combustible dust concentration from a diesel engine exceeds a time weighted average of 1.5 mg/m3.
53(6)An employer shall ensure that an air monitoring plan is updated at least annually or whenever a change in the plan is necessary, whichever occurs first, and that a copy of the updated plan is filed with the Commission and the committee within one month after the update.
53(7)An employer shall ensure that the data acquired pursuant to the air monitoring plan is compiled quarterly and made available to the committee as soon as possible after the completion.
53(8)An employer shall make a copy of the air monitoring plan and any data acquired pursuant to the plan available to an officer upon request.
Additional testing of air
54(1)An employer shall ensure that at least one person designated by the employer and one person designated by the employee representatives of the committee is present underground during each regularly scheduled shift working underground in those areas designated by the committee and that they are authorized to test the air in an area referred to in subsection (3) when contacted by a supervisor for that purpose.
54(2)If no areas have been designated by the committee, an employer shall ensure that at least one person designated by the employer and one person designated by the employee representatives of the committee is present underground during each regularly scheduled shift working underground and that they are authorized to test the air in an area referred to in subsection (3) when contacted by a supervisor for that purpose.
54(3)Upon the reasonable request of an employee to a supervisor for a test of the air in the area where the employee is working or for a verification of an earlier air test in the area, the supervisor shall, as soon as reasonably possible after the request is made, contact both a person designated by the employer and a person designated by the employee representatives of the committee to test the air in the area.
54(4)A person contacted by a supervisor for the purpose of this section shall as soon as reasonably possible after being contacted conduct such tests of the air for oxygen or air contaminants as the person considers necessary or advisable.
54(5)An employer shall ensure that a person designated under this section has access to the air monitoring equipment, the air monitoring plan and the data acquired pursuant to the plan when called upon to conduct a test of the air underground.
54(6)An employer shall ensure that a person designated under this section and all members of the committee have received sufficient training to be capable of testing the air underground for oxygen and air contaminants and evaluating the results of the test.
Methane
55Where methane is known to occur at an underground mine, an employer shall advise employees who work underground of
(a) the probability of encountering methane, and
(b) the measures to be taken and procedures to be followed as required under this Regulation.
Methane
56(1)An employer shall ensure that an electrically powered diamond drill used underground is equipped with a properly calibrated instrument that continuously monitors for the presence and concentration of methane while the drill is being operated.
56(2)An employee operating an electrically powered diamond drill underground shall use the instrument referred to in subsection (1) to continuously monitor for the presence and concentration of methane.
56(3)An employer shall ensure that an employee who uses a pneumatic diamond drill underground is provided with and uses a hand-held methane detector that continuously monitors for the presence and concentration of methane.
56(4)An employee operating a pneumatic diamond drill underground shall use the methane detector referred to in subsection (3) to continuously monitor for the presence and concentration of methane.
Methane
57(1)Where a person encounters methane of an unknown concentration in an area or has reason to believe that methane is present in an unknown concentration in an area, the person shall
(a) cease all activity that might create a source of ignition, including diamond drilling,
(b) warn other persons in the area of the presence of methane,
(c) take precautions to prevent the inadvertent entry of persons into the affected area, and
(d) immediately notify a supervisor.
57(2)A supervisor notified under paragraph (1)(d) shall
(a) ensure that any activity that might create a source of ignition in the affected area, including diamond drilling, ceases,
(b) designate the affected area a fire hazard area,
(c) evacuate the affected area,
(d) take precautions to prevent the inadvertent entry of persons into the affected area,
(e) ensure that the affected area is tested to determine the methane concentration,
(f) ensure there is an adequate level of ventilation in the area, and
(g) depending on concentration of the methane present in the affected area, authorize the resumption of activities or comply with the requirements of section 59 or 60.
57(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who tests for methane concentration pursuant to paragraph (2)(e) is competent.
Methane
58A person who has been warned of the presence of methane in an area shall cease any activity, including diamond drilling, that might create a source of ignition until authorized by a supervisor to resume the activity, and shall, where required, evacuate the area.
Methane
59(1)Where a person encounters methane in an area in a concentration under 1.25% by volume of methane, the person shall immediately notify a supervisor.
59(2)Where a supervisor is notified under subsection (1), the supervisor shall
(a) designate the area as a fire hazard area,
(b) ensure that adequate ventilation of the area is maintained, and
(c) ensure that an employee monitors the concentration of methane in the area as long as there are employees in the area.
59(3)Where a person encounters methane in an area in a concentration equal to or exceeding 1.25% but not exceeding 2.5% by volume of methane, the person shall
(a) cease all activity that might create a source of ignition, including diamond drilling,
(b) warn other persons in the area of the presence of methane,
(c) immediately notify a supervisor, and
(d) take precautions to prevent the inadvertent entry of persons to the affected area.
59(4)Where methane is present in an area in a concentration equal to or exceeding 1.25% but not exceeding 2.5% by volume of methane, an employer shall ensure that
(a) all activity that might create a source of ignition, including diamond drilling, ceases,
(b) the area is or remains designated a fire hazard area,
(c) an adequate level of ventilation is maintained in the area, and
(d) an employee monitors the concentration of methane in the area as long as there are employees in the area.
59(5)Where a person encounters methane in an area in a concentration equal to or exceeding 2.5% by volume of methane, the person shall
(a) cease all activity that might create a source of ignition, including diamond drilling,
(b) warn other persons in the area of the presence of methane,
(c) immediately notify a supervisor,
(d) take precautions to prevent the inadvertent entry of persons to the affected area, and
(e) evacuate the area.
59(6)Where methane is present in an area in a concentration equal to or greater than 2.5% by volume of methane, an employer shall ensure that
(a) all sources of ignition are isolated, and
(b) no person is permitted to remain or enter in the affected area, except in the case of an emergency, when adequately trained personnel equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus may enter the area.
Lower explosive limit
60Where the concentration of an air contaminant or mixture of air contaminants exceeds fifty per cent of its lower explosive limit, an employer shall ensure that all sources of ignition are isolated and shall not permit any person to enter or remain in the affected area, except in the case of an emergency when adequately trained personnel equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus may enter the area.
Air quality for hoist operator
61(1)Where, in an underground or tower mounted hoist room, the normal air supply may become contaminated, an employer shall ensure that uncontaminated air is available to the hoist operator by means of
(a) an enclosed booth with a positive supply of uncontaminated air,
(b) a self-contained breathing apparatus, together with a fully charged cylinder of compressed air of at least 8.5 m3 capacity that conforms to CSA standard CAN3-Z180.1-M85, “Compressed Breathing Air and Systems”, or
(c) a self-contained breathing apparatus for closed-circuit oxygen rebreathing.
61(2)An employer shall ensure that a hoist operator who may be required to use self-contained breathing apparatus is competent in its use.
Testing for ionizing radiation
62(1)In this section
“time weighted average concentration” means the concentration of radon or thoron over a normal eight hour workday and forty hour work week to which nearly all employees may be repeatedly exposed without adverse effect;
“WL” means the concentration of radon (Rn 222) or thoron (Rn 220) disintegration products in one cubic metre of air that will release 2.08 x 10-5 joules of alpha particle energy during their radioactive decay to lead - 210 (radium D) or lead - 208 (thorium D) respectively;
“WLM” means the exposure resulting from the inhalation of air containing one WL of radon or thoron daughters for one WM where one WM equals one hundred and seventy working hours.
62(2)An employer shall ensure that the concentration of radon or thoron disintegration products is monitored by properly calibrated instruments in accordance with the following schedule:
(a) where concentrations are less than 0.04 WL, in accordance with the frequency established in the air monitoring plan;
(b) where concentrations are in the range of 0.04 WL to 0.20 WL, inclusive, at least quarterly; and
(c) where concentrations are over 0.20 WL, at least monthly.
62(3)If radon or thoron daughter levels at any time exceed 0.30 WL, an employer shall take immediate steps to reduce the level of concentration by engineering controls and shall ensure that precautions are taken to protect the health and safety of employees if the engineering controls are ineffective.
62(4)An employer shall ensure that the exposures of employees to radon or thoron are maintained as low as reasonably achievable by appropriate engineering controls and that individual exposures do not exceed 4.8 WLM per year and the time weighted average concentration does not exceed 0.40 WL.
62(5)An employer shall
(a) appoint a person to measure and record the exposure of each employee exposed to radon or thoron,
(b) report these exposures in Form 2 to the Commission at the intervals required by the Commission, and
(c) post a copy of the report in a conspicuous place at the place of employment.
62(6)An employer shall ensure that a person appointed under paragraph (5)(a) is competent.
62(7)Where exposures are less than 0.10 WLM per quarter year, a report under subsection (5) is not required.
Testing air quality of reopened workings
63(1)An employer shall ensure that underground workings that are not in the main ventilation circuit and that have been
(a) in disuse for some time,
(b) temporarily in disuse due to the stoping method, or
(c) sealed at one or more entrances or exits,
are barricaded off and posted with signs warning of the possibility of unsatisfactory air quality.
63(2)An employer shall ensure that before the workings referred to in subsection (1) are used again
(a) the air in the workings is tested, having regard to the requirements of this Regulation and the air monitoring plan, and
(b) only such persons as are necessary to carry out the tests are allowed in the workings until the tests are completed.
63(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who tests air pursuant to paragraph (2)(a) is competent.
V
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND FIRE PROTECTION
Emergency preparedness plan
64(1)An employer shall prepare an emergency preparedness plan, in writing, that is to be followed both on the surface and underground in case of a fire or other emergency occurring underground or in a building or structure where the entrance to the mine may be endangered.
64(2)An employer shall file a copy of the emergency preparedness plan with the Commission and the committee within one month after the commencement of this Regulation and in the case of a person who becomes an employer after the commencement of this Regulation, within three months after becoming an employer.
64(3)An employer shall ensure that the emergency preparedness plan is updated at least annually or whenever a change in the plan is necessary, whichever occurs first, and that a copy of the updated plan is filed with the Commission and with the committee within one month after the plan is updated.
64(4)An employer shall ensure that all employees whose health and safety might be affected by a fire or other emergency are adequately instructed and informed regarding their duties and responsibilities in the event it is necessary to implement the emergency preparedness plan.
Fire fighting
65An employer shall ensure that there is a sufficient number of employees on the surface who are trained in surface fire fighting procedures and the procedures required in the emergency preparedness plan referred to in section 64 and that
(a) the names of the employees are posted in a conspicuous place,
(b) the employees are tested for proficiency in the procedures at least once a year, and
(c) a written report of the results of the test is made and kept on file.
Mine rescue
66An employer shall prepare a written procedure to be followed on the surface and underground to ensure adequate direction and supervision of any mine rescue operation that may be required.
Mine rescue
67(1)An employer shall ensure that a sufficient number of persons trained in the use and maintenance of mine rescue equipment and in mine rescue procedures are available above ground during each shift.
67(2)An employer shall ensure that each member of a mine rescue team receives at least eight training sessions, distributed throughout the year, in mine rescue procedures, exclusive of mine rescue competition training.
Mine rescue
68Where the services of a mine rescue team are required, an employer shall notify an officer and the committee without undue delay.
Mine rescue
69An employer shall ensure that at least twelve units of closed-circuit self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus with a minimum duration of two hours and other equipment as may be needed for use by a mine rescue team are kept on the surface and maintained in a state of readiness.
Emergency warning systems
70(1)An employer shall ensure that an underground mine is equipped with an adequate warning system to be used in an emergency.
70(2)An employer shall test the effectiveness of the warning system required under subsection (1) by conducting at least four tests every year.
70(3)The tests referred to in subsection (2) shall be spaced evenly apart from one another throughout the year and arranged so that every employee who works underground is exposed to the testing of the warning system at least once every year.
70(4)An employer shall ensure that a written report on each test is prepared as soon as possible after the test and a copy is provided forthwith to the committee and is made available to an officer on request.
Self-rescue emergency escape breathing equipment
71An employer shall provide each employee who works underground with self-rescue emergency escape breathing equipment.
Refuge stations
72An employer shall establish and maintain underground a sufficient number of refuge stations that
(a) are constructed of fire resistive material,
(b) are of sufficient size to contain air that would sustain the life of the number of employees intended to be sheltered for eight hours or are equipped with a means for the supply of compressed air or oxygen that would sustain life of the number of employees intended to be sheltered for eight hours,
(c) are capable of being sealed to prevent the entry of gases,
(d) contain tables and benches,
(e) have an adequate means of voice communication with the surface,
(f) are equipped with an adequate supply of potable water and suitable emergency toilet facilities,
(g) are provided with a first aid kit that meets the requirements of subsection 12(3) of the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act,
(h) have a posted escape plan and posted emergency procedures, and
(i) have full instructions posted concerning the conduct of persons within a refuge station during refuge and instructions not to smoke.
Refuge stations
73An employer shall ensure that a refuge station referred to in section 72
(a) is not used for any purpose other than a lunch room or a storage area for first aid supplies and mine emergency equipment, and
(b) is checked daily to ensure compliance with the requirements of section 72.
Protection of entrance
74(1)An employer shall ensure that an entrance to an underground mine is protected from fire hazard by ensuring that
(a) the building that houses the entrance is of fire resistive construction,
(b) the building that houses the hoist is of fire resistive construction,
(c) all buildings and structures physically connected to the entrance, including the conveyor to the mill, are of fire resistive construction, and
(d) no boiler plant, stationary internal combustion engine, fuel storage tank or mine air heating plant using flammable or volatile materials is installed within thirty metres of the entrance, hoist room, headframe or portal house.
74(2)Paragraphs (1)(a) and (c) do not apply to a building that houses the entrance to an underground mine or to a building or structure physically connected to the entrance, including the conveyor to the mill, if such building or structure was erected before the commencement of this Regulation.
74(3)Paragraph (1)(d) does not apply to a steam boiler or diesel engine that was installed before the commencement of this Regulation in conformity with subsection 49(1) of New Brunswick Regulation 77-58 under the Mining Act.
74(4)Paragraph (1)(d) does not apply to a gasoline or other internal combustion engine that was installed before the commencement of this Regulation in conformity with subsection 49(2) of New Brunswick Regulation 77-58 under the Mining Act.
Protection of entrance
75An employer shall ensure that flammable refuse does not accumulate in or about any headframe, portal house, shaft house or any building or structure where fire may endanger the mine entrance.
Protection of entrance
76An employer shall ensure that, except for the purpose of immediate transfer to underground workings, flammable or volatile materials are not stored in a headframe, portal house or shaft house or any building or structure where fire may endanger the mine entrance.
Protection of entrance
77An employer shall ensure that the storage of gasoline or other liquid fuel is not permitted within thirty metres of a headframe, collar or other entrance to a mine and that drainage in the event of a spill is away from the headframe, collar or other entrance.
Fire prohibited
78No person shall set or maintain a fire underground for any purpose.
Fire hazard area
79(1)An employer shall designate and clearly identify an area as a fire hazard area if methane is present in the area or if there is an unusual susceptibility to the creation of a fire by smoking, by open flame or by other means of producing heat or fire in the area.
79(2)An employer shall designate each fuelling station, fuel and oil storage area, underground magazine and the area around a portable storage box as a fire hazard area.
79(3)No person shall smoke, use an open flame, operate a diamond drill or perform any activity that might create a source of ignition in or within 7.5 m of an area designated as a fire hazard area, except as permitted in subsection (4) or (5).
79(4)Where welding, cutting or an allied process is necessary in a fire hazard area or within 7.5 m of a fire hazard area, an employer shall ensure that written procedures are developed and followed that enable such work to be performed safely.
79(5)A person may operate a diamond drill in or within 7.5 m of an area designated as a fire hazard area because of the presence of methane only if the concentration of methane by volume in the area is less than 1.25%.
79(6)An employer shall post signs prohibiting smoking and open flame within 7.5 m of a fuelling station or a fuel and oil storage area in all travelways and haulageways approaching the fuelling station or fuel and oil storage area.
Fuelling stations, fuel and oil storage areas and garages
80(1)An employer shall ensure that each fuelling station and fuel and oil storage area, and the system and procedure for the transfer of fuel by gravity from the surface to a fuelling station or fuel and oil storage area, is approved in writing by an engineer as adequately designed and constructed.
80(2)An employer shall ensure that each underground fuelling station, fuel and oil storage area and garage
(a) does not have any pit installed in the floor,
(b) is ventilated by a through current of air or is force ventilated,
(c) is equipped with fire fighting equipment, and
(d) is so located that in the event of a fire or explosion in any one of them, there is a minimum effect on the others and on the other areas of the mine.
80(3)An employer shall ensure that each underground fuelling station and fuel and oil storage area has
(a) a floor made of concrete or equivalent fire resistive and non-absorbent material, or
(b) a method of containment adequate to prevent any fuel or oil being absorbed in the floor.
80(4)An employer shall ensure that each underground garage has
(a) a floor made of concrete or equivalent fire resistive and non-absorbent material, or
(b) areas with concrete pads so designed that any spill or leakage of fuel or oil is contained on the concrete pads.
80(5)An employer shall ensure that an underground garage is not located closer than 7.5 m to a fire hazard area.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
81An employer shall ensure that all flammable and volatile material, except that being used in mobile equipment or machinery or that required for immediate use, is stored in a fuel and oil storage area or, where there is more than five hundred litres in total, in a storage area equipped with a fire suppression system.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
82An employer shall ensure that usable timber is stored so as to ensure that fire hazards are kept to minimum and that adequate fire protection equipment is available in the area where the timber is stored.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
83(1)In this section
“flammable liquid” means any liquid having a flashpoint below 37.8°C and having a vapour pressure not exceeding 275.8 kPa (absolute) at 37.8°C.
83(2)An employer shall ensure that flammable liquids and volatile liquids are stored and transported only in containers meeting the requirements of CSA standard B376-M1980, “Portable Containers for Gasoline and other Petroleum Fuels”.
83(3)An employer shall ensure that flammable or volatile materials are distributed to their proper destination without undue delay.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
84An employer shall ensure that oil or grease kept for use underground is kept in an adequate container and that the container is returned to the surface within twenty-four hours after it is emptied.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
85An employer shall ensure that any oil or diesel fuel spill is taken up at once with sand or other suitable absorbent, deposited in a covered fire resistive container and removed from the mine within twenty-four hours after it is taken up.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
86(1)An employer shall ensure that flammable refuse is
(a) removed from the workings to the surface at least once a week,
(b) in the case of oil or grease refuse, removed daily from the mine in covered fire resistive containers, unless the oil or grease refuse is stored in fire resistive containers in a storage area designated by the employer as a fire hazard area, and
(c) disposed of at the surface in an adequate manner.
86(2)Every supervisor shall daily, before going off shift, certify in the book required by subsection 18(3) that there is no accumulation of flammable refuse underground in the area of the mine under his or her supervision except as reported by him or her.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
87An employer shall ensure that liquid fuel is not transferred from one container to another by the direct application of air under pressure.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
88(1)An employer shall ensure that the fuel tank of an internal combustion engine installed in a surface building is arranged so that the transfer of fuel is conducted to the tank in a tightly jointed pipe or conduit.
88(2)An employer shall ensure that the air displaced from the fuel tank is conducted to a safe point outside the building before being discharged into the atmosphere.
Handling of flammable and volatile material
89An employer shall ensure that the fuel oil used in a diesel engine underground has a closed cup flashpoint of not less than 52° Celsius and sulphur content of not greater than 0.5% by mass and that fuel with a heavy asphalt base is not used.
Compressed gas
90An employer shall ensure that an acetylene gas generator is not used in an underground mine or in the buildings and plant used in connection with the extraction of any metallic or non-metallic mineral or mineral-bearing substance from the mine.
Compressed gas
91Where a cylinder of compressed gas is operated from within any shaft conveyance or where the cylinder is set up in a location that is not readily accessible to the employee operating the nozzle equipment, an employer shall ensure that a second employee attends to the operation of the cylinder control devices at all times.
Compressed gas
92(1)Where work involving the use of acetylene torches or other hot work equipment is conducted underground or within any headframe, portal house, shaft house or any building or structure where fire may endanger the mine entrance, an employer shall establish a code of practice for such work and shall ensure that the code of practice is adhered to.
92(2)An employer shall make a copy of the code of practice described in subsection (1) available to an officer and the committee on request.
Fire suppression systems
93An employer shall ensure that a fire suppression system consisting of sprinklers, foam or other adequate means of suppressing fire is provided
(a) in each area where more than five hundred litres in total of flammable or volatile materials are stored, and
(b) in each surface building or surface structure, other than a fan house, located above or adjoining a mine entrance.
Fire suppression systems
94(1)An employer shall ensure that each mining machine, stationary engine and piece of mobile equipment using hydraulic fluid with tank capacity greater than twenty litres
(a) is equipped and maintained with an adequate fire suppression system, or
(b) uses a fire resistant hydraulic fluid that meets the requirements of CSA standard CAN/CSA-M423-M87, “Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluids”.
94(2)An employer shall ensure that each diesel engine rated at more than one hundred and ten kilowatts is equipped and maintained with an adequate fire suppression system.
Fire fighting equipment
95(1)An employer shall provide and maintain adequate fire fighting equipment at all crusher stations, electrical substations, magazines, pump stations, shaft stations and fire hazard areas, both on the surface and underground.
95(2)An employer shall provide and maintain adequate fire fighting equipment in or about every headframe, portal house, shaft house and every building or structure where a fire may endanger the mine entrance.
95(3)An employer shall ensure that all equipment required for fire extinguishing is readily accessible and adequately marked.
Use of fire resistive material
96An employer shall ensure that all underground fuelling stations, fuel and oil storage areas, garages, storage areas where flammable liquids or volatile materials are kept, lunch rooms and buildings and enclosures necessary for the housing of machines and equipment are constructed of fire resistive material and are located and maintained so as to reduce any fire hazard to a minimum.
Fire doors
97(1)An employer shall ensure that a fire door is
(a) installed underground to close off the shaft from the mine workings, and
(b) where practicable, installed on the surface to close off the shaft or main entrance from buildings or structures physically connected to the shaft or main entrance, including both ends of any conveyor from the headframe storage bins to the mill.
97(2)An employer shall ensure that a fire door is installed for each storage area constructed after the commencement of this Regulation and used to store more than five hundred litres of flammable or volatile material so that the fire door will close off the storage area from other areas of the mine.
97(3)An employer shall ensure that a fire door is
(a) constructed of fire resistive material,
(b) maintained in proper working order,
(c) kept clear of all obstructions so as to be readily usable at all times, and
(d) where practicable, provided with latches that
(i) may be opened from either side, and
(ii) prevent opening of the door by reversal of the air current.
Inspection of fire protection equipment
98(1)An employer shall ensure that there is a monthly inspection of fire fighting equipment, fire suppression systems, fire hydrants and fire doors.
98(2)An employer shall ensure that a person who does an inspection pursuant to subsection (1) is competent.
98(3)A person who does an inspection pursuant to subsection (1) shall record the findings of the inspection in writing and send a copy forthwith to the employer and the committee describing the inspection and the conditions found.
VI
TRACK HAULAGE AND MOBILE EQUIPMENT
Locomotives and trains
99(1)An employer shall ensure that a locomotive used in track haulage is equipped with
(a) one or more adequate headlights,
(b) an audible warning device,
(c) a fire extinguisher in working condition,
(d) adequate brakes,
(e) if electric powered, an automatic shut-off switch constructed so that power to the motor can only be maintained by continuous pressure of the locomotive operator on the switch, and
(f) if diesel powered, a readily accessible shut-off valve in the fuel line to the engine from the fuel tank.
99(2)An employer shall ensure that a train used in track haulage is equipped with an adequate tail light or reflector.
99(3)An employer shall ensure that the control levers of storage battery and trolley locomotives are arranged so that the levers cannot be moved accidentally when the power is on.
Rail track switch
100An employer shall ensure that a rail track switch in which a person’s foot may become trapped has guards at the frog and switch point to effectively protect against the hazard.
Maintenance of rail tracks
101An employer shall ensure that all rail tracks are maintained in good working condition.
Warning before movement of track haulage equipment
102An operator of track haulage equipment shall sound a warning signal prior to moving the equipment.
Mobile equipment
103(1)An employer shall ensure that mobile equipment
(a) is powered by an engine that does not use gasoline, propane or other volatile fuels,
(b) has the electric storage battery for the engine protected by a cover insulated against electrical contact,
(c) has the engine electrical system provided with a main breaker or fused switch and protective devices for each branch circuit,
(d) has a readily accessible shut-off valve included in the fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine,
(e) is fitted with a scrubber or other exhaust purifier,
(f) is equipped with lights or reflectors that show, in the direction of the travel, the width of the equipment,
(g) carries wheel chocks to be used when the equipment is left unattended or undergoing maintenance, and
(h) is equipped with an ABC type fire extinguisher of at least 4.53 kg in working order.
103(2)Subject to subsection (3), section 220 of the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act applies with the necessary modifications to mobile equipment.
103(3)An employer shall ensure that mobile equipment that is a passenger automobile or truck manufactured after January 1, 1974 is equipped with a rollover protective structure that meets the following criteria:
(a) the rollover protective structure and supporting attachments are designed, fabricated and installed in such a manner to support not less than twice the weight of the equipment, based on the ultimate strength of the metal and integrated loading of supporting members with the resultant load applied at the point of impact;
(b) there is a vertical clearance of 1320 mm between the deck and the rollover protective structure at the access openings; and
(c) the rollover protective structure and supporting attachments referred to in paragraph (a) are certified as meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) by the manufacturer of the rollover protective structure, the installing agency or an engineer.
103(4)An employer is not required to comply with subsection (3) with respect to a passenger automobile or truck manufactured after July 1, 1974 that is being used in an underground mine immediately before the commencement of this subsection and in respect of which a deviation has been given by the Chief Compliance Officer if the automobile or truck continues to be used in the mine in accordance with the deviation or until the deviation is revoked, whichever occurs first.
103(5)Sections 221, 223, 224 and 226 to 230 of the General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act apply with the necessary modifications to mobile equipment.
Operation of mobile equipment
104(1)An employer shall ensure that only an employee authorized by the employer operates mobile equipment underground.
104(2)Only an employee authorized by an employer under subsection (1) shall operate mobile equipment underground.
104(3)In the operation of mobile equipment underground, an employer shall fix the maximum load to be carried and the maximum speed and grade at which the equipment is to travel, not to exceed the manufacturer’s specifications, and shall ensure that each employee who operates the mobile equipment is instructed with respect to loads, speeds, grades and all such other matters as are necessary to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.
104(4)An employee who operates mobile equipment underground shall not exceed the maximum load to be carried by the equipment or the maximum speed or grade at which the equipment is to travel.
104(5)An employer shall ensure that no employee other than the operator rides in or upon mobile equipment unless the equipment is designed for transporting persons or unless it is required by the procedures for training operators referred to in subsection (3).
104(6)No employee other than the operator shall ride in or upon mobile equipment unless the equipment is designed to transport persons or unless it is required by the procedures for training operators referred to in subsection (3).
104(7)An employer shall ensure that procedures for training operators of mobile equipment and for operating mobile equipment are in writing and are readily available to employees and to an officer on request.
Operation of mobile equipment
105No employee shall put any mobile equipment in motion unless the employee is satisfied it is in safe operating condition and the employee
(a) has an unrestricted view of the area over which the mobile equipment is to be moved,
(b) receives signals from some other person who has an unrestricted view of the area over which the mobile equipment is to be moved, or
(c) has just previously inspected on foot the immediate area over which the mobile equipment is to be moved.
Unattended units of track haulage and mobile equipment
106(1)An employer shall ensure that track haulage equipment and mobile equipment that is electrically powered is not left unattended unless the brakes have been set, the control lever left in a neutral position, the source of power shut off and, in the case of mobile equipment, the wheels chocked.
106(2)An employer shall ensure that track haulage equipment and mobile equipment that is diesel driven is not left unattended unless the brakes have been set, the engine stopped and, in the case of mobile equipment, the wheels chocked.
106(3)An employer shall ensure that adequate reflectors or lamps are placed around any track haulage equipment or mobile equipment that is left unattended.
106(4)An employer shall ensure that a bucket, blade, jib or box on track haulage equipment or mobile equipment is lowered or adequately blocked when left unattended.
106(5)An employer shall ensure that track haulage equipment or mobile equipment is not left unattended within thirty-six metres of a refuge station, magazine for explosives, fuelling station or a fuel and oil storage area.
106(6)Subsections (1) to (5) apply with the necessary modifications to an employee who operates track haulage equipment or mobile equipment that is electrically powered.
Maintenance
107(1)An employer shall ensure that all parts of a unit of track haulage equipment and mobile equipment are properly maintained and the equipment is not used if it has any defect likely to affect its safe operation.
107(2)An employer shall ensure that at least once in every shift the track haulage equipment and mobile equipment in use is examined to ensure that it is in good working order and that any deficiencies are recorded in the maintenance record system.
107(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who conducts an examination pursuant to subsection (2) is competent.
107(4)An employer shall ensure that a record book of all examinations under subsection (2) and all maintenance performed on each piece of mobile equipment and track haulage equipment powered by a diesel engine is kept and the record is made available to the committee and to an officer on request.
107(5)A record book referred to under subsection (4) shall be kept for at least three years after the last entry in the book.
VII
EXPLOSIVES
Conduct of underground blasting operation
108An employer shall ensure that all underground blasting operations are conducted by a competent person.
Conduct of underground blasting operation
109No person other than a competent person shall conduct an underground blasting operation.
Conduct of underground blasting operation
110(1)A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure the safety of all persons within and adjacent to a blasting area.
110(2)All persons within or adjacent to a blasting area shall comply with the directions given by the person who conducts the underground blasting operation.
Permitted explosives
111An employer shall ensure that only explosives listed in the most recent list of the Chief Inspector of Explosives, Explosives Division, Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, as Fume Class 1 Blasting Explosives are used underground.
Preparation of explosive
112An employer shall ensure that the preparation of an explosive is done only by a manufacturer licensed under the Explosives Act (Canada).
Frozen explosives and defective detonators
113An employer shall ensure that
(a) frozen explosives are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended procedure, and
(b) defective detonators or components are not used.
Empty explosive cartons and wrappings
114An employer shall ensure that empty explosive cartons and wrappings are
(a) collected from the site before blasting, and
(b) disposed of after the blast is completed.
Time-expired, deteriorated or damaged explosives
115(1)An employer shall ensure that time-expired, deteriorated or damaged explosives are destroyed using methods approved by the supplier.
115(2)An employer shall ensure that a person who destroys explosives pursuant to subsection (1) is competent.
Explosives and heated condition of material
116An employer shall ensure that explosive is not used to blast or break up ore or other material where the heated condition of the ore or other material creates a risk of premature explosion of the charge.
Explosives not to be carried in clothing
117(1)No person shall carry any explosive in the person’s clothing.
117(2)An employer shall ensure that no person carries any explosive in the person’s clothing.
Access to explosives
118Except during the handling and transportation of explosives on the surface or between the surface and underground storage, an employer shall ensure that only the person who is conducting the underground blasting operation or a person under that person’s supervision has access to explosives.
Separation of detonators and other explosives
119An employer shall ensure that detonators are kept separate and apart from other explosives and that underground magazines and portable storage boxes for detonators and for other explosives are kept at least 7.5 m apart.
Explosives to be kept in underground magazine
120An employer shall ensure that all explosives are kept in an underground magazine except
(a) when being transported to or from the underground magazine, or
(b) when being used in an underground blasting operation.
When explosives may be kept at loading area
121Notwithstanding section 120, where explosives in excess of the capacity of underground magazines are required for blasting underground, an employer shall ensure that only such quantities of explosives as can be used in a forty-eight hour period are delivered to and kept at the loading area and that the explosives are
(a) located so there is minimal possibility of mobile equipment hitting them,
(b) located so that in the case of fire in the mine, they are not likely to become overheated,
(c) conspicuously marked by a sign with the words “DANGER-EXPLOSIVES/EXPLOSIFS”,
(d) kept at least 7.5 m from any detonator, and
(e) adequately guarded.
Fire protection when explosives kept at loading area
122An employer shall ensure that there is adequate fire protection equipment readily available at a loading area where explosives are kept.
Portable storage boxes in loading area
123An employer shall not use a portable storage box in a loading area unless the box is of steel construction with a non-conductive lining and does not contain more than two hundred kilograms of explosives or five hundred detonators at any time.
Underground magazines
124An employer shall ensure that an officer is notified at least fourteen days before the commencement of construction of an underground magazine.
Underground magazines
125(1)An employer shall ensure that an underground magazine is
(a) substantially constructed,
(b) equipped with a fire door that meets the requirements of subsection 97(3),
(c) designated a fire hazard area in accordance with section 79,
(d) located so there is minimal possibility of mobile equipment hitting it,
(e) located so that in case of fire in the mine the explosives are not likely to become overheated, and
(f) conspicuously marked by a sign with the words “DANGER - EXPLOSIVES/EXPLOSIFS”.
125(2)An employer shall ensure that there are no electrical fixtures or electrical wiring inside an underground magazine and that the wire and motor of any fan ventilating the magazine is kept outside the magazine.
Care of underground magazines and portable storage boxes
126An employer shall ensure that each underground magazine or portable storage box is
(a) in the charge of a competent person,
(b) not used for the storage of materials other than explosives,
(c) kept orderly, clean and free of rubbish,
(d) equipped with adequate fire protection, and
(e) kept locked at all times when an attendant is not present.
Inspection of underground magazines and portable storage boxes
127(1)An employer shall ensure that
(a) a weekly inspection of all underground magazines and portable storage boxes is carried out by a competent person, and
(b) the person making the inspection reports the results of the inspection in writing forthwith to the employer.
127(2)An employer shall make a copy of any report made under paragraph (1)(b) available to the committee.
Prohibitions respecting explosives
128An employer shall ensure that no explosive is stored within thirty metres of a transformer, fuelling station, fuel and oil storage area, hoist room, access ramp or refuge station or within one hundred metres of an underground shaft station.
Prohibitions respecting explosives
129(1)An employer shall ensure that
(a) no article or thing liable to ignite spontaneously or likely to cause an explosion or fire is taken into or stored beside a loading area or a magazine or portable storage box, and
(b) no person smokes or uses an open flame within 7.5 m of the storage or handling of explosives.
129(2)No person shall
(a) take an article or thing liable to ignite spontaneously or likely to cause an explosion or fire into or store it beside a loading area or a magazine or portable storage box, or
(b) smoke or use open flame within 7.5 m of the storage or handling of explosives.
Removal of explosives when operations cease or are suspended
130An employer shall ensure that when a mine operation ceases or is suspended for more than ninety days, all explosives are removed from the mine and disposed of in an adequate manner.
Transportation of explosives
131(1)An employer shall ensure that
(a) a competent employee is in charge of the handling and transportation of explosives on the surface or between the surface and underground storage or a loading area,
(b) detonators are transported in separate containers from other explosives,
(c) explosives are transported in their original unopened containers or in suitable containers of non-sparking material designed for the purpose, or if small quantities are being handled, in a suitable container or bag of non-sparking material which is clearly marked as containing explosives,
(d) there is no undue delay in the transportation of the explosives, and
(e) a flashing red light accompanies the explosives when being transported.
131(2)Where explosives are transported in a shaft conveyance, an employer shall ensure that
(a) the employee in charge of the transportation of the explosives gives notice to the cage tender, deckman and hoist operator immediately before transportation commences,
(b) no other materials are handled with the explosives,
(c) no person travels on the conveyance with the explosives except a person required to handle the explosives, and
(d) explosives delivered to a shaft station are not left unguarded.
131(3)The employee in charge of the transportation of explosives in a shaft conveyance shall give notice to the cage tender, deckman and hoist operator immediately before transporting the explosives in the shaft conveyance.
131(4)During the transportation of explosives, an employer shall ensure that mobile equipment or a train used for transporting explosives
(a) is in good working condition,
(b) has wood, canvas or other non-sparking material covering all metal liable to come in contact with containers of explosives,
(c) is equipped with a multi-purpose fire extinguisher that is of a minimum size of nine kilograms and in good working condition,
(d) displays signs indicating the presence of explosives at the front, rear and sides, and
(e) when transporting more than five hundred detonators or two hundred kilograms of other explosives, is equipped with a fire suppression system.
131(5)An employer shall ensure that mobile equipment or a train used for transporting explosives underground, except when used in connection with the loading of drill holes, is not used for any other operation until the explosives are removed from the mobile equipment or train.
Transportation of explosives
132An employer shall ensure that explosives that are being transported are secured so as to prevent any part of the load from being dislodged.
Transportation of explosives
133(1)Where explosives are being transported by means of a train, an employer shall ensure that
(a) the locomotive is maintained on the forward end of the train unless a person walks in advance of the train,
(b) the explosives are not carried on the locomotive, and
(c) an empty car or a drawbar of equal length separates the locomotive from the car carrying the explosives.
133(2)Where the means of transportation is a train pulled by a trolley locomotive, an employer shall ensure that a car carrying explosives is protected from contact with the trolley wire.
Transportation of explosives
134An employer shall ensure that mobile equipment or a train transporting explosives underground does not exceed 10 km/h and that, where possible, specific arrangements for the right-of-way are made before the mobile equipment or train is moved.
Transportation of explosives
135When explosives are transported by a towed vehicle, an employer shall ensure that the towed vehicle
(a) is in good working condition,
(b) is provided with a secure towing hitch and safety chain, and
(c) has wood, canvas or other non-sparking material covering all metal liable to come in contact with containers of explosives.
Preparation for drilling
136(1)Before drilling, sampling or similar work is commenced on any working face, an employer shall ensure that the working face is washed with water and examined for misfires and bootlegs.
136(2)No employee shall commence to drill, sample or do similar work on any working face unless the working face is washed with water and examined for misfires and bootlegs.
136(3)An employer shall ensure that non-sparking tools and materials are used during the washing and examination referred to in subsection (1).
136(4)An employee who washes or examines a working face shall ensure that non-sparking tools and materials are used.
136(5)Where hygroscopic minerals and salts are mined and water cannot be used to wash the working face, an employer shall ensure that before drilling, sampling or similar work is done on any working face, a written procedure is prepared in consultation with the committee for an alternate method of checking the working face for misfires and bootlegs.
136(6)Where hygroscopic minerals and salts are mined and water cannot be used to wash the working face, no employer shall permit any person to drill, sample or do similar work on the working face unless the work is done in accordance with the written procedure referred to in subsection (5).
136(7)An employer shall make a copy of the written procedure referred to in subsection (5) available to an officer upon request.
Drilling restrictions
137(1)An employer shall ensure that drilling operations and loading explosives in drill holes are not carried on simultaneously on the same development face.
137(2)An employer shall ensure that no drilling is done within one hundred and fifty millimetres of a bootleg.
137(3)An employer shall ensure that no drilling is done within 1.5 m of a hole containing explosives unless the drilling is remotely controlled.
137(4)An employer shall ensure that, except where the drilling is done by remote control and employees are sufficiently protected, no sectional steel drilling takes place
(a) within 7.5 m of any hole containing explosives, or
(b) closer than a distance equal to one and one-half times the depth of the drill hole to any hole containing explosives, if there is the possibility of the drill deviating off course and intersecting with a loaded hole.
137(5)An employer shall ensure that redrilling of benches or drop raises when remotely controlled is performed in a safe manner to avoid endangering anyone in or about a mine in case of a detonation of a hole or holes in the bench or drop raises.
137(6)Where a development face is advancing to breakthrough into an existing working, an employer shall ensure that no drilling on the same face is done within twice the length of the longest drill steel used until the face or faces of the breakthrough area have been washed or checked and examined as required by section 136.
137(7)Subsections (1) to (4) and (6) apply with the necessary modifications to an employee who is drilling.
137(8)Subsection (1) applies with the necessary modifications to an employee who is loading explosives.
Loading operations
138(1)A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that
(a) each drill hole is inspected and cleaned before any explosive is placed in the hole,
(b) a drill hole is of sufficient size to admit the free insertion of the explosive to be used to the bottom of the hole,
(c) only tamping rods of wood or other non-metallic, non-sparking material are used in loading explosives in drill holes,
(d) a cartridge used in loading a drill hole remains in its original wrapping, and
(e) while explosives are being loaded into a drill hole, every person not required for the blasting operation is barred from the vicinity.
138(2)Where a hole is loaded pneumatically with explosive, a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that
(a) only a semi-conductive hose manufactured for such purpose is used,
(b) the pneumatic loading equipment is capable of providing protection against the hazards of static electricity, and
(c) if an electrical blasting cap is used, no plastic or non-conducting liners are used and the cap is not placed in the hole until the pneumatic loading of the hole has been completed, except where a procedure for doing otherwise has been prepared and adopted by the employer.
Loading operations
139(1)A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that
(a) explosives and detonators are kept and handled separately until the last practicable moment when the explosives are primed,
(b) no explosive is primed in any place where explosives are stored,
(c) primed explosives are not slit or tamped,
(d) the wrapping is not removed from nitroglycerine-based products, and
(e) time-expired, deteriorated or damaged explosives are not used.
139(2)A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that cartridges are primed as near to their point of use as is practicable and only in sufficient number for the immediate work in progress and that primed cartridges are not transported, stored or handled inside a vehicle or near any electrical equipment.
Loading operations
140An employer shall ensure that a safety fuse assembly is not used underground.
Loading operations
141(1)An employer shall ensure that detonators are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
141(2)A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that detonators are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Preparation to blast
142(1)Where more than one area underground is to be blasted from a common electrical source, an employer shall ensure that a written procedure complying with subsection (2) is prepared and followed.
142(2)The written procedure required by subsection (1) shall
(a) designate one or more persons to initiate a blast from a common electrical source, and
(b) specify the procedures to be followed by the person or persons to verify before the blast is initiated that
(i) all the areas to be blasted have been evacuated and secured, and
(ii) precautions have been taken to ensure the health and safety of all persons in the underground mine.
142(3)An employer shall ensure that a person designated pursuant to paragraph (2)(a) is competent.
142(4)An employer shall ensure that the written procedure required by subsection (1) is available for inspection by an officer upon request.
142(5)A person designated pursuant to paragraph (2)(a) to initiate a blast from a common electrical source shall, before each blast, ensure that the procedures referred to in paragraph (2)(b) have been complied with.
Preparation to blast
143(1)Where one area is to be blasted, the person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall, before blasting, cause all entrances to the area and all areas where the health or safety of employees may be endangered by the blasting to be guarded so as to prevent access to the areas during blasting.
143(2)A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall, before blasting in one area, ensure that all persons have left areas referred to in subsection (1), except those required to assist in the blasting, and shall ensure that sufficient warning is given in every direction before the blast is fired.
Firing
144(1)An employer shall ensure that no person other than a person who is conducting an underground blasting operation or a person designated pursuant to paragraph 142(2)(a) fires a blast.
144(2)No person other than a person who is conducting an underground blasting operation or who is designated pursuant to paragraph 142(2)(a) shall fire a blast.
144(3)No person other than a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall
(a) prime an explosive,
(b) make any connection that leads or will lead from the primed charge to an initiating device, or
(c) connect any delay or sequencing device or program the delay or sequence for the blast.
144(4)A person who fires or initiates a blast shall, immediately after each blast, record the blast in the book referred to in subsection 18(3).
Firing
145An employer and a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall each ensure that only a detonator and equipment normally used with a detonator is used to initiate a blast.
Firing
146A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that drill holes are not tied in until the last practicable moment before firing and, except in the case of long hole blasting operations, that all drill holes charged in one loading operation are fired in one simultaneous or consecutive blast.
Electrical initiation blasting
147Where electrical initiation of blasting is used, an employer shall ensure that only a blasting machine or a blasting switch is used to initiate a blast.
Blasting machine
148(1)An employer shall ensure that a blasting machine used in an underground blasting operation is
(a) of a type and design specifically manufactured for the purpose,
(b) kept in good mechanical and electrical condition,
(c) tested at least annually and before any blast that may require the maximum output of the machine, using methods specified by the supplier,
(d) clearly marked with the capacity of the machine, and
(e) only opened for repair or examination by a competent person.
148(2)An employer shall ensure that a person who conducts a test pursuant to paragraph (1)(c) is competent.
148(3)An employer and a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall each ensure that the capacity of the blasting machine used in the operation is not exceeded.
Blasting switch
149An employer shall ensure that a blasting switch used in an underground blasting operation
(a) is designed for the purpose,
(b) is constructed so that it automatically opens the circuit by gravity and short-circuits the blasting conductor,
(c) has the live side within a fixed locked box accessible only to a person who is conducting the underground blasting operation or a person designated pursuant to paragraph 142(2)(a),
(d) has the door of the box arranged so that it cannot be closed or locked unless the contacts of the device are open and the short circuiting device is in place,
(e) where the power source is from 550 volt circuits, is electromagnetically operated, and
(f) is installed and maintained by a qualified electrician.
Testing of electric detonators
150Before a blast is fired, a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that electric detonators are
(a) tested for continuity with a blasting meter before being used, and
(b) shunted or short-circuited after being tested until they are connected in circuits.
Testing of electric blasting circuit
151Before connecting an electric blasting circuit to the lead wires and before connecting the lead wires to the power source, a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that the electric blasting circuit is tested with a blasting meter for continuity and resistance as calculated.
Precautions
152An employer shall ensure that the firing cables or wires used for firing blasts in one area are not used for firing blasts in another area until all proper precautions are taken to ensure that the firing cables or wires for the other area have no electrical connection with leads from the first area unless both areas are to be blasted at one blast.
Blasting more than one area from common electrical source
153Where blasting of more than one area is to take place from a common electrical source, an employer shall ensure that the design of the electrical initiation system has been prepared by a competent person.
Extraneous electricity
154(1)In this section
“extraneous electricity” means unwanted electrical energy greater than 50 mA that is present in a blasting area and that may enter an electric blasting circuit and includes stray electrical current, static electricity, radio frequency energy and time-varying electric and magnetic fields.
154(2)An employer and a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall each ensure that electric initiation of blasting is not used where there is danger from extraneous electricity.
Prohibition respecting lead wires
155A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that lead wires do not
(a) come in contact with detonating cords, or
(b) come closer than three hundred millimetres to
(i) pipes, rails or other continuous metal grounding circuits, or
(ii) power, lighting and communication cables.
Electrical storm
156Where there are signs of an electrical storm in the area and until the electrical storm has passed, an employer shall ensure that if an electric means of initiation is being used, the person conducting the blasting operation
(a) short-circuits the lead wires, and
(b) does not make any further electrical blasting hook-ups.
Distance of radio transmitters to blasting circuit
157An employer and a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall each ensure that electric detonators are not connected to a source of ignition unless
(a) every radio transmitter that is closer to a blasting circuit than the distance prescribed in Schedule A has been turned off, and
(b) every radio transmitter that has not been turned off is prevented from approaching closer to a blasting circuit than the distance prescribed in Schedule A.
Use of electric blasting caps
158(1)Where electric blasting caps are used, a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that the protective shunt is not removed from the leg wire until connections are made.
158(2)A person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that
(a) wires leading to the blasting area are short-circuited while the leads from the electric blasting caps are being connected to each other and to the firing cables,
(b) the short circuit required under paragraph (a) is not removed until all persons have retreated from the blasting area and the short circuit is so located that a premature explosion would be harmless to the person opening the short circuit, and
(c) the wires leading to the blasting area are not connected to the blasting machine or blasting switch or cable to the common electrical source until the blasting area has been cleared.
Disconnection of firing cables
159A person who fires a blast by an electric means of initiation shall ensure that the wires are disconnected from the blasting machine or blasting switch box and short-circuited immediately after the blast has been fired and, where applicable, that the blasting switch is locked in the open position.
Diamond drill holes
160(1)Where a mine heading is advancing toward a diamond drill hole, an employer shall ensure that the collar or the nearest point of intersection of the hole with the heading is securely closed off or guarded at all times while blasting is being done within 4.5 m of any possible intersection of the hole with the heading.
160(2)An employer shall ensure that the collar and any points of intersection with the heading of every diamond drill hole underground are plainly marked in accordance with subsection (3) at the time that drilling is discontinued or an intersection is made.
160(3)A mark shall consist of the single capital letter “H” measuring three hundred millimetres placed within 1.2 m of the collar or point of intersection.
Blasting in adjacent mine
161Where a person is working underground in an adjacent mine with connecting workings, an employer shall ensure that an underground blasting operation is not performed unless the times of blasting have been agreed upon by the respective employers.
Re-entering blasted area
162(1)Where there is no reason to suspect that a charge has misfired, all persons shall remain outside the danger area until ten minutes after the last charge explodes.
162(2)No person shall enter a danger area where a blast has been fired until a person designated by the employer makes a thorough inspection of the site and approves the area as safe.
162(3)An employer shall ensure that a person designated under subsection (2) is competent.
162(4)Notwithstanding subsection (2), a person when making an inspection under subsection (2) may be accompanied by an assistant who is under the continuous supervision of the person.
Re-entering blasted area
163(1)An employer shall ensure that before any employee returns to the scene of a blasting operation that sufficient air has been introduced into the area so as to ensure that no employee is exposed to air contrary to the requirements of section 47.
163(2)Where blasting is done in a raise or stope, a person who conducts an underground blasting operation shall ensure that precautions are taken to prevent the blast from closing the entrance to or exit from the raise or stope or interfering with the effective circulation of air in the raise or stope.
163(3)Where material from a blast may block the entrance in a single compartment raise or box hole, an employer shall ensure that precautions are taken to assure the adequate ventilation of the area before an employee enters after a blast.
Misfires
164(1)An employer shall establish a code of practice for the safe handling of misfires and shall have the code of practice available for inspection by the committee or an officer.
164(2)Where a charge has misfired or is suspected of having misfired, no person shall enter the danger area until thirty minutes after the last charge was due to explode.
164(3)On expiration of the time referred to in subsection (2), the employer shall ensure that only a person designated by the employer enters the danger area and that the person inspects the site thoroughly to assess the situation or potential hazard with respect to the misfire or suspected misfire.
164(4)An employer shall ensure that a person designated under subsection (3) is competent.
164(5)Where one or more misfires are found, the person referred to in subsection (3) shall
(a) follow the instructions in the code of practice, and
(b) notify a supervisor.
Misfires
165An employer shall, as far as practicable, ensure that the cause of a misfire is established and that corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence.
Misfires
166Where the initiation of a blast is done using electric detonators and no explosion results, an employer shall ensure that the electric detonators are removed from the source of ignition.
Misfires
167(1)If a misfire has not been disposed of at the end of a shift, the supervisor shall report the fact, together with the location of the misfire, to the supervisor of the next shift before work is commenced by the next shift.
167(2)An employer shall ensure that
(a) every person working in the immediate area of a misfire is informed of the misfire,
(b) the misfire is recorded in the record book referred to in subsection 18(3), and
(c) the record book referred to in subsection 18(3) shows the location of each misfire, the number of misfired holes and the disposition of each misfire.
Secondary blasting
168Where secondary blasting takes place, an employer shall ensure that written procedures are established for safe blasting practice and that all persons engaged in secondary blasting are trained in and follow the written procedures.
Abandonment of development headings
169An employer shall ensure that a development heading is not abandoned or work in a development heading is not discontinued until
(a) the material broken at the firing of the last round of explosives has been cleared from the face, and
(b) the whole face of the heading has been examined for explosives in misfires.
VIII
CLIMBING CONVEYANCES AND AIR COMPRESSORS
Climbing conveyances
170(1)An employer shall have in the employer’s possession, for each climbing conveyance, a certificate from the manufacturer of the climbing conveyance stating, with respect to the conveyance,
(a) the maximum safe load,
(b) the maximum allowable speed, and
(c) if applicable, the maximum allowable gradient.
170(2)If an employer is unable to obtain the certificate referred to in subsection (1) from the manufacturer, the employer shall obtain a certificate for the climbing conveyance from an engineer with respect to the items referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) to (c).
170(3)An employer shall ensure that modifications to increase the capacity or speed of a climbing conveyance or modifications to any of its components are made only as approved by an engineer and shall obtain from the engineer a certificate stating the revised maximum safe load, the maximum allowable speed and, if applicable, the maximum allowable gradient, as the case may be.
170(4)An employer shall make a certificate referred to in subsections (1) to (3) available to an officer upon request.
Climbing conveyances
171An employer shall ensure that a climbing conveyance has a plate fixed in the cab of the unit stating the maximum allowable load rating, the maximum allowable speed and, if applicable, the maximum allowable gradient of the climbing conveyance.
Climbing conveyances
172A person who operates a climbing conveyance shall not exceed the maximum allowable load rating, the maximum allowable speed and, if applicable, the maximum allowable gradient as stated on the plate fixed in the cab of the unit.
Climbing conveyances
173(1)An employer shall ensure that a climbing conveyance is maintained in a safe condition.
173(2)An employer shall ensure that each climbing conveyance is examined at least once a week with respect to
(a) the safety devices of each unit for operation and cleanliness,
(b) the brakes, top and bottom limits and station controls,
(c) the guides and hoisting compartments generally, and
(d) the external parts of the motors and units.
173(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who examines a climbing conveyance pursuant to subsection (2) is competent.
173(4)An employer shall ensure that a record book of inspections, maintenance and repairs is kept for each climbing conveyance and the record book is made available to an officer on request.
173(5)A record book referred to in subsection (4) shall be kept for a period of three years after the last entry in the book.
Climbing conveyances
174(1)An employer shall ensure that a climbing conveyance has
(a) more than one means of braking, each means being capable of stopping the climber and holding it in place,
(b) independently operated service brakes arranged to permit independent testing,
(c) an automatic overspeed brake,
(d) a separate manually operated emergency descent brake, and
(e) emergency escape equipment.
174(2)An employer shall ensure that the strength of every load carrying component in a climbing conveyance is not less than five times the maximum static load to which the component will be subjected in normal service.
Climbing conveyances
175A person who operates a climbing conveyance shall ensure at the beginning of a shift that the brakes of the climbing conveyance are in safe working condition.
Air compressors
176(1)An employer shall ensure that a procedure for the safe operation of an air compressor is in writing and is readily available to an employee operating the air compressor.
176(2)An employer shall ensure that an air compressor driven by a prime mover exceeding ten kilowatts is
(a) designed and installed to minimize the hazard of fire or explosion due to the accumulation of carbonaceous materials in the air system, and
(b) provided with protective devices that prevent its operation if
(i) the temperature of the air at the discharge line is in excess of normal,
(ii) the temperature of the cooling water or cooling air is in excess of normal, or
(iii) the flow and pressure of compressor lubricating oil is below normal.
176(3)An employer shall ensure that the protective devices described in paragraph (2)(b) are tested and functioning properly before the air compressor is used for the first time and that the devices are thereafter tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
Air compressors
177An employee shall not use an air compressor described in subsection 176(2) unless the protective devices described in paragraph 176(2)(b) are functioning properly.
Air compressors
178An employer shall ensure that a portable air compressor is equipped with two 9 kg ABC fire extinguishers.
IX
MINE HOISTING PLANTS
Application
179This Part applies to an underground mine equipped with a mine hoisting plant.
Preliminary requirements
180(1)Before a mine hoisting plant is put into service, an employer shall test the effectiveness of all brakes, clutches, overwind devices and other hoist controls of the mine hoisting plant.
180(2)An employer shall notify an officer at least one week before the tests required under subsection (1) of the time and date of the tests.
180(3)An employer shall ensure that a report of the tests is prepared by an engineer and the tests are certified as satisfactory by the engineer.
180(4)An employer shall make a copy of the report referred to in subsection (3) available to an officer upon request.
Logbooks
181(1)An employer shall use for each mine hoisting plant the following logbooks:
(a) Rope Record Book;
(b) Hoist Operator’s Logbook;
(c) Electrical Hoisting Equipment Record Book;
(d) Hoisting Machinery Record Book; and
(e) Shaft Inspection Record Book.
181(2)An employer shall keep a logbook required under subsection (1) for three years after the last entry in the book.
Design of headframe and shaft
182An employer shall ensure that a headframe is
(a) designed by an engineer,
(b) constructed in accordance with the plans of the design,
(c) of sufficient strength to safely withstand all loads to which it is likely to be subjected,
(d) of sufficient height to provide a distance for an overwind that exceeds the greater of
(i) twice the stopping distance of the hoist at the maximum speed permitted by the hoist controls, or
(ii) three metres, and
(e) of fire resistive material.
Design of headframe and shaft
183(1)An employer shall ensure that a mine shaft
(a) is designed by an engineer,
(b) is constructed in accordance with the plans of the design,
(c) has a means to guide each shaft conveyance to prevent contact with another shaft conveyance or with shaft furnishings,
(d) has underwind clearances that exceed the stopping distance of a shaft conveyance when travelling at the maximum speed permitted by the hoist controls, except
(i) during shaft sinking, or
(ii) when chairs are used to land a skip during loading, and
(e) where a friction hoist is used, has tapered guides or other such devices above and below the limits of regular travel of the shaft conveyance and counterweight arranged to act as a direct physical brake to decelerate and stop the shaft conveyance and counterweight in the event of an overtravel.
183(2)An employer shall ensure that the hoisting compartments of a shaft, unless securely closed off, are equipped at all entrances at the surface and at every level by a gate that is
(a) not less than 1.2 m in height,
(b) constructed with bottom clearance kept to a minimum,
(c) strong enough to withstand any impact from activity carried on at the shaft station, and
(d) kept closed except when the shaft conveyance is being loaded or unloaded at that entrance or for repairs.
183(3)An employer shall ensure that, except when a shaft is being sunk, a barrier or obstruction is installed in the shaft to prevent a shaft conveyance from being lowered into water in the shaft bottom.
Shaft obstructions
184(1)An employer shall ensure that a procedure to prevent a shaft conveyance or counterweight from coming into contact with an intermediate shaft obstruction is in writing and posted in the hoist room for use by the hoist operator.
184(2)An employer shall ensure that protective devices and procedures are used to prevent a shaft conveyance or counterweight from coming into contact with an intermediate shaft obstruction.
184(3)An employer shall ensure that the location of an intermediate shaft obstruction is marked on the depth indicator of a hoist.
184(4)An employer shall ensure that protective devices are installed to prevent the inadvertent entry into the shaft hoisting compartment of any device that may become an intermediate shaft obstruction.
184(5)A door covering the shaft at the collar to facilitate the maintenance of a shaft conveyance is not an intermediate shaft obstruction if
(a) it is positively latched out of the shaft compartment when not in use, and
(b) dual lights are installed to indicate to the hoist operator whether the door is in or out of the shaft compartment.
Hoist requirements
185An employer shall obtain a certificate for each hoist from the manufacturer of the hoist or from an engineer certifying
(a) the maximum rope pull,
(b) the maximum suspended load, and
(c) in the case of a friction hoist, the maximum unbalanced load,
and shall ensure that no hoist is loaded above the maximums as certified.
Hoist requirements
186An employer shall ensure that
(a) no alterations designed to increase hoisting capacity are made to a hoist, and
(b) the control devices of a hoist are designed and installed to be fail safe.
Hoist requirements
187An employer shall ensure that a mine hoisting plant is not operated if the employer knows or ought to know that the plant has a defect that is likely to affect the health or safety of employees or is in an improper state of repair, except for the purpose of correcting the defect or improper state of repair.
Hoist requirements
188An employer shall ensure that bolts and fittings of a mine hoisting plant are properly secured.
Hoist requirements
189No employer shall use or permit the use of a steam or air powered hoist.
Brakes
190(1)An employer shall ensure that a shaft conveyance is not used to transport a person or material unless the hoist used to operate the conveyance has a braking system consisting of at least two sets of mechanical brakes to stop and hold the drum of the hoist.
190(2)An employer shall ensure that each set of mechanical brakes referred to in subsection (1)
(a) can stop and hold the drum when the shaft conveyance or counterweight is operating at its maximum load,
(b) are so arranged as to be capable of being tested independently, and
(c) are arranged to apply normal braking effort before a linkage or brake piston reaches a limit of travel.
190(3)An employer shall ensure that at least one of the sets of mechanical brakes referred to in subsection (1) is designed and arranged to
(a) apply directly to the drum, and
(b) apply automatically when
(i) the safety circuit of the hoist is interrupted, or
(ii) the pressure in the hydraulic or pneumatic system for applying brakes has dropped below normal.
Brakes
191(1)An employer shall ensure that the braking system of a hoist is designed and arranged to safely stop and hold the hoist under all conditions of normal load, speed and direction of travel.
191(2)An employer shall ensure that the braking system of a hoist is arranged so that
(a) the brakes are applied by a control that is clearly identified, and
(b) any brake weights installed to provide auxiliary braking force can be readily tested for freedom of movement.
Brakes
192(1)An employer shall ensure that the brakes of a drum hoist are arranged to decelerate the hoist at a rate greater than 1.5 m per second per second and less than 3.7 m per second per second where braking is initiated by an interrupted safety circuit and the hoist is
(a) normally used for the transporting of persons, and
(b) operating in the normal full speed zone.
192(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to a drum hoist installed before the commencement of this Regulation.
Clutches
193(1)An employer shall ensure that a clutch of a drum hoist is interlocked with the brake so that the clutch
(a) can be disengaged only when the brake of the drum is fully applied, and
(b) is fully engaged before the brake of the drum can be released.
193(2)An employer shall ensure that the controls for engaging and disengaging a clutch on a drum hoist are guarded to prevent their inadvertent operation.
193(3)An employer shall ensure that a band type friction clutch is not used on a drum hoist.
Drums
194(1)Subject to subsection (2), an employer shall ensure that the drum diameter to rope diameter ratio for a drum hoist is equal to or greater than
(a) 60 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is 25.4 mm or less, and
(b) 80 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is greater than 25.4 mm.
194(2)An employer shall ensure that the drum diameter to rope diameter ratio for a drum hoist in use for shaft sinking or for preliminary development work during shaft sinking is equal to or greater than
(a) 48 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is 25.4 mm or less, and
(b) 60 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is greater than 25.4 mm.
194(3)An employer shall ensure that the drum diameter to rope diameter ratio of a friction hoist is equal to or greater than
(a) 80 to 1, for stranded ropes, and
(b) 100 to 1, for locked coil ropes.
Drums
195(1)An employer shall ensure that no drum hoist has
(a) more than three layers of rope where the drum has helical or spiral grooving or does not have grooving,
(b) more than four layers of rope where the drum has parallel and half pitch grooving, or
(c) less than three dead turns of the rope on the drum.
195(2)Subject to subsection (3), an employer shall ensure that the drum of a drum hoist has
(a) grooves that properly fit the rope, unless the hoist is being used for shaft sinking or preliminary development work during shaft sinking in which case the drum may be smooth, and
(b) flanges of sufficient height to contain all the rope and strong enough to withstand any loading by the rope.
195(3)An employer shall ensure that the drum of a conical drum hoist has grooves that prevent the rope from slipping off.
195(4)An employer shall ensure that a drum hoist and a sheave are arranged so that the rope
(a) coils properly across the face of the drum,
(b) winds smoothly from one layer to another, and
(c) winds without cutting into the rope layer beneath.
Depth indicators
196An employer shall ensure that a hoist is provided with depth indicators that continuously, accurately and clearly show to the hoist operator the location
(a) of a shaft conveyance and counterweight,
(b) in an inclined shaft, of a change in gradient that requires a reduction in hoist speed,
(c) at which the overwind, underwind and track limit devices are set to operate,
(d) of any intermediate shaft obstruction,
(e) of the limits of normal travel for the shaft conveyance and counterweight, and
(f) of any collar doors, dump doors and crosshead landing chairs.
Sheaves
197(1)Before a sheave is used, an employer shall obtain a certificate for the sheave from the manufacturer of the sheave or from an engineer certifying as to
(a) the maximum rated load,
(b) the diameter of rope for which it was designed,
(c) the breaking strength of the rope for which it was designed, and
(d) the maximum amount of groove wear that is permitted.
197(2)An employer shall ensure that
(a) no sheave is loaded above the maximum rated load, as stated in a certificate obtained under subsection (1),
(b) the diameter of the rope used for the sheave is the diameter for which the sheave was designed, as stated in the certificate obtained under subsection (1),
(c) the rope used on the sheave meets or exceeds the breaking strength of the rope for which the sheave was designed, as stated in the certificate obtained under subsection (1), and
(d) the maximum amount of groove wear that is permitted, as stated in the certificate obtained under subsection (1), is not exceeded.
197(3)Subject to subsection (4), an employer shall ensure that the sheave diameter to rope diameter ratio for a drum hoist is equal to or greater than
(a) 60 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is 25.4 mm or less, and
(b) 80 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is greater than 25.4 mm.
197(4)An employer shall ensure that the sheave diameter to drum diameter ratio for a drum hoist in use for shaft sinking or for preliminary development work during shaft sinking is equal to or greater than
(a) 48 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is 25.4 mm or less, and
(b) 60 to 1, where the nominal rope diameter is greater than 25.4 mm.
197(5)An employer shall ensure that the sheave diameter to rope diameter ratio of a friction hoist is equal to or greater than
(a) 80 to 1, for stranded ropes, and
(b) 100 to 1, for locked coil ropes.
197(6)An employer shall ensure that
(a) a sheave is made of material that safely withstands the ambient temperatures and is fitted with a groove to fit the rope being used, and
(b) a gauge is provided for measuring the groove radius of the sheave and that the gauge is used each time the sheave is examined to determine the amount of groove wear.
197(7)An employer shall ensure that the shaft of a sheave is examined for flaws by a non-destructive test
(a) before being put into service in a particular location,
(b) after installation, and
(c) at a regular frequency as recommended by a person competent in such testing.
197(8)An employer shall ensure that a person who makes an examination pursuant to subsection (7) is competent.
Electrical hoist safety
198(1)An employer shall ensure that a hoist that is electrically powered is not used unless it has a safety circuit that
(a) is fail safe, and
(b) when interrupted, sets the brakes, removes power from the hoist motor or motors and stops the hoist when it is in motion.
198(2)An employer shall ensure that the safety circuit referred to in subsection (1) is interrupted when
(a) there is a failure of a power supply to the hoist electrical system that may affect safe operation,
(b) there is an overload on the hoist motors of a magnitude and duration exceeding normal,
(c) there is a short circuit in the hoist electrical system, or
(d) a device referred to in section 199, 200 or 201 has operated.
198(3)An employer shall ensure that a switch to interrupt a safety circuit referred to in subsection (1) is installed and the switch is
(a) manually operable,
(b) located within easy reach of the hoist operator when at the controls,
(c) readily recognizable, and
(d) readily operable.
Electrical hoist safety
199(1)An employer shall ensure that a track limit device is installed in each shaft compartment that is operated directly by the shaft conveyance or counterweight so that the device interrupts the safety circuit referred to in subsection 198(1) in the case of an overwound shaft conveyance.
199(2)An employer shall ensure that devices are installed to protect a shaft conveyance or counterweight operated by a hoist that is electrically powered against
(a) an overwind,
(b) an underwind, except during shaft sinking,
(c) approaching the limits of travel at an excessive speed,
(d) operating at a speed in excess of that for which the mine hoisting plant was designed and intended, and
(e) slack rope on a drum hoist, except during shaft sinking.
199(3)A device required by subsection (2) shall
(a) operate to interrupt the safety circuit referred to in subsection 198(1) when the device is activated,
(b) be driven directly by the drum,
(c) be protected for loss of motion,
(d) prevent the paying out of excess rope during shaft sinking, and
(e) be set to stop the hoist before a shaft conveyance or counterweight or its attachments make contact with a fixed part of a mine shaft or headframe.
Electrical hoist safety
200(1)An employer shall ensure that devices are installed for a friction hoist that is electrically powered that are set to interrupt the safety circuit referred to in subsection 198(1) if
(a) there is abnormal slip between the hoist drum and the hoist ropes,
(b) there is abnormal wear of the rope treads or the tread wear limit has been reached,
(c) a shaft conveyance and counterweight approaches the collar of a mine shaft at excessive speed, or
(d) a violent swing or large rise in the loop of a balance rope occurs.
200(2)An employer shall ensure that the devices required for the purpose of paragraph (1)(c) are installed in the shaft.
200(3)An employer shall ensure that a device is installed on a friction hoist that is electrically powered so that the device synchronizes the position of the shaft conveyance with safety devices driven from the drum.
Electrical hoist safety
201(1)An employer shall ensure that a hoist that is electrically powered
(a) has an ammeter within plain view of the hoist operator to indicate the hoist motor current,
(b) except when the slowdown control at the limits of travel is automatic, has a device to warn the operator audibly that the hoist is approaching the limit where a reduction in speed is necessary for safe manual braking,
(c) has an accurate speed indicator,
(d) has a backout device that meets the requirements of subsection (2) by which a shaft conveyance or counterweight can be removed from an overwound or underwound position,
(e) if it has an underwind bypass device, has the device so that it is
(i) manually operable only, and
(ii) able to restrict the hoist operation to slow speed,
(f) has overwind bypass devices that
(i) are manually operable only,
(ii) when in use, restrict hoist operation to slow speed, and
(iii) allow hoist travel beyond the first device providing overwind protection,
(g) has a master controller that has a neutral or brake reset position,
(h) has brake operating levers arranged so that upon an interruption of the safety circuit referred to in subsection 198(1), the power to the hoist cannot be restored until the levers are in the brake applied position,
(i) has accurate and sensitive safety controllers, and
(j) has each safety-related device capable of being effective under the conditions in which it is operated.
201(2)An employer shall ensure that a backout device
(a) is manually operable only, and
(b) allows movement only in the correct direction.
201(3)An employer shall ensure that a safety-related device referred to in this section is adjusted only by a person who is competent.
Hoist operating controls
202(1)An employer shall ensure that a device that permits changing from manual to automatic control is installed on an automatic hoist and the device is
(a) located where it is readily accessible to the manual controls, and
(b) operated only by an employee who is authorized and competent to do so.
202(2)Where a hoist is designed to be operated from control stations located at shaft levels and within a shaft conveyance, an employer shall ensure that the switch for effecting the changeover of the control mode between that at a shaft level and at the shaft conveyance is effective only at the shaft level at which the shaft conveyance is stopped.
Hoist operating controls
203(1)An employer shall ensure that
(a) in a manual operation, when an executive signal is given from a control station at a shaft level, at least five seconds elapse before the hoist moves, and
(b) when operating on automatic mode, an alarm sounds and at least five seconds elapse before the hoist moves.
203(2)An employer shall ensure that, except for jogging, devices at shaft level control stations for initiating hoist motion are effective only when the shaft gate at the level where the conveyance is stopped is closed.
203(3)An employer shall ensure that, except for jogging, devices located within a cage for initiating hoist motion are effective only when the door of the cage and the gate of the shaft are closed.
203(4)An employer shall ensure that when the controls for initiating hoist motion are located within a cage, a device is installed in the cage by which the hoist can be stopped.
Shaft ropes
204(1)An employer shall ensure that a shaft rope is not used unless
(a) a certificate of test has been obtained from the manufacturer of the rope with respect to the breaking strength of the rope as determined in accordance with clause 12.1 or 12.2 of CSA standard CAN/CSA-G4-92, “Steel Wire Rope for General Purpose and for Mine Hoisting and Mine Haulage”, or
(b) a 2.5 m representative sample of the rope has been tested by the Ontario Ministry of Labour Rope Testing Laboratory for its breaking strength by a destructive test and a certificate of test with respect to the breaking strength of the sample has been obtained from the laboratory.
204(2)An employer shall ensure that a certificate referred to in subsection (1) is recorded in the Rope Record Book.
Shaft ropes
205(1)An employer shall ensure that after eighteen months of use, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding six months, a portion of a hoisting rope of a drum hoist is cut off at the lower end above the clamps and that the portion
(a) is at least 2.5 m long,
(b) has its ends adequately fastened, and
(c) is tested
(i) by the manufacturer of the rope for its breaking strength as determined in accordance with clause 12.1 or 12.2 of CSA standard CAN/CSA-G4-92, “Steel Wire Rope for General Purpose and for Mine Hoisting and Mine Haulage” and a certificate of test with respect to the portion is obtained from the manufacturer, or
(ii) by the Ontario Ministry of Labour Rope Testing Laboratory for its breaking strength by a destructive test and a certificate of test with respect to the portion is obtained from the laboratory.
205(2)An employer shall ensure that a certificate referred to in subsection (1) is recorded in the Rope Record Book.
Shaft ropes
206(1)An employer shall ensure that a hoisting rope is tested throughout its working length using a dual-function electromagnetic testing device within six months of being put into service and thereafter
(a) at regular intervals not exceeding six months, or
(b) at intervals shorter than six months, where by interpolation of past tests, the loss in breaking strength will exceed ten per cent of the breaking strength as set out in a certificate of test referred to in subsection 204(1) before the next prescribed test.
206(2)An employer shall ensure that a balance rope and, where practical, a guide or a rubbing rope, is tested throughout its working length using a dual-function electromagnetic testing device
(a) within twelve months of being put into service, and
(b) thereafter at regular intervals not exceeding twelve months except where a test under this subsection discloses a loss exceeding five per cent of the breaking strength as set out in a certificate of test referred to in subsection 204(1), in which case the regular intervals shall not exceed four months.
206(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who does testing pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) is competent.
206(4)An employer shall ensure that a record of each test, including graphs, interpretations and the date of test, signed by the person making the interpretations, is entered forthwith in the Rope Record Book.
206(5)Where a test under this section shows a loss greater than 7.5% of the breaking strength of the rope as set out in a certificate of test referred to in subsection 204(1), an employer shall ensure that an officer is notified of the results of the test immediately.
Shaft ropes
207An employer shall provide specimens from a shaft rope for a destructive test when required to do so by an officer.
Shaft ropes
208An employer shall ensure that no rope is used as a shaft rope if it has been spliced or reversed.
Shaft ropes
209(1)An employer shall ensure that the minimum nominal diameter of a hoisting rope exceeds
(a) 15.9 mm where only one rope supports a shaft conveyance or counterweight, and
(b) 12.7 mm where more than one rope supports a shaft conveyance or counterweight.
209(2)An employer shall ensure that the factor of safety of a hoisting rope installed on a drum hoist is not less than
(a) subject to paragraph (b), 8.5 at the point the rope is attached to a shaft conveyance or counterweight,
(b) 7.5 at the point the rope is attached to a skip or counterweight where the material load was accurately weighed, and
(c) 5.0 at the point the rope leaves the head sheave when the shaft conveyance or counterweight is at its lowest point of normal travel.
209(3)An employer shall ensure that the factor of safety of a hoisting rope installed on a friction hoist is not less than the greater of
(a) the factor obtained from the formula 8.0 minus 0.00164 d, where d is the maximum length of the rope in metres in the shaft compartment below the head sheave or the drum of a friction hoist, or
(b) 5.5.
209(4)An employer shall ensure that the factor of safety of a balance rope is not less than seven.
209(5)An employer shall ensure that the factor of safety of a guide or rubbing rope is not less than five.
Shaft ropes
210(1)An employer shall ensure that no rope is used as a shaft rope if its breaking strength drops below
(a) in any part of a hoisting rope, ninety per cent,
(b) in any part of multi-layer, multi-strand balance rope, ninety per cent,
(c) in any part of a single layer stranded balance rope, eighty-five per cent, or
(d) in any part of a guide or rubbing rope, seventy-five per cent
of the breaking strength of the rope as set out in the certificate of test referred to in subsection 204(1).
210(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), an employer shall ensure that no rope is used as a shaft rope where
(a) the extension of a test piece has decreased to less than sixty per cent of its original extension when tested to destruction and marked corrosion or considerable loss in wire torsion has occurred,
(b) the number of broken wires, excluding filler wires, in any section equal to one lay length exceeds five per cent of the total, or
(c) the rate of stretch in a friction hoisting rope shows a rapid increase over its normal stretch recorded during its service.
Shaft ropes
211(1)An employer shall ensure that shaft ropes are removed immediately when hoisting in a shaft compartment is discontinued with no foreseeable date for resumption.
211(2)Where hoisting is to be temporarily suspended for a period in excess of one month, an employer shall advise an officer of the proposed suspension at least fourteen days before the suspension and shall inform the officer as to how and by whom shaft ropes are to be maintained during the period hoisting is suspended.
211(3)Where hoisting has been discontinued as described in subsection (1) or suspended as described in subsection (2) and is about to resume, an employer shall ensure that, before any shaft rope is reused, a representative sample of the rope is submitted for a test.
211(4)Section 205 applies with the necessary modifications to a test under subsection (3).
211(5)Where hoisting has been discontinued as described in subsection (1) or suspended as described in subsection (2) and is about to resume, an employer shall ensure that an officer is notified at least two days before hoisting resumes.
Shaft ropes
212(1)An employer shall ensure that shaft ropes are attached by closed type devices that will not inadvertently disconnect.
212(2)An employer shall ensure that in a drum hoist installation, the hoisting rope from a shaft conveyance and counterweight is attached to the drum of the hoist.
212(3)An employer shall ensure that no wedge type attachment is used for attaching a shaft rope to a drum, shaft conveyance, shafthead or other part of a mine hoisting plant unless the attachment is
(a) in sound condition, and
(b) certified at least once every six years of use as being in sound condition by a competent person or by the manufacturer.
212(4)When the attachments for a shaft hoisting rope are first installed or reinstalled after disassembling, an employer shall ensure that the following measures and procedures are taken before the hoist is used:
(a) two test trips of the shaft conveyance through the working part of the shaft while carrying the equivalent of a normal load;
(b) an examination of the attachments upon the completion of the two test trips;
(c) any necessary adjustments; and
(d) a record of the test trips, examinations and adjustments are entered forthwith in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book by the person or persons making the test trips, adjustments and examinations.
Shaft conveyances and counterweights
213(1)An employer shall obtain a certificate for each shaft conveyance and counterweight showing its rated load as certified by an engineer and the serial number, date of manufacture and the name of the manufacturer.
213(2)An employer shall ensure that each shaft conveyance and counterweight is examined at least once in every five years of use and a record of such examination is made available to the committee and to an officer on request.
213(3)An employer shall ensure that a person who conducts an examination pursuant to subsection (2) is competent.
213(4)An employer shall ensure that every part of a shaft conveyance and counterweight when in service and carrying the rated load is capable of withstanding at least four times the maximum allowable design stresses without permanent distortion and shall obtain and keep in the employer’s possession a certificate from an engineer to this effect.
213(5)The maximum allowable design stresses are those established by good engineering practice and include the effects of
(a) the weight of the shaft conveyance or counterweight,
(b) the rated load,
(c) any impact load,
(d) any dynamic load,
(e) stress concentration factors,
(f) corrosion,
(g) metal fatigue, and
(h) dissimilar materials.
Shaft conveyances and counterweights
214(1)Where an employee performs work from the top of a shaft conveyance or counterweight, an employer shall ensure that the following is provided for the employee:
(a) a safe footing;
(b) overhead protection; and
(c) a guardrail or an individual fall-arresting system.
214(2)An employer shall ensure that devices are provided and used where necessary in a shaft conveyance to safely secure any equipment or supplies within the conveyance.
Work platforms in shafts
215(1)Where a work platform that is not a shaft conveyance is used to transport or support an employee who is performing work in a shaft, an employer shall ensure that the work platform is
(a) designed by an engineer, and
(b) constructed in accordance with the plans of the design.
215(2)Where a work platform that is not a shaft conveyance is used to transport or support an employee who is performing work in a shaft, an employer shall ensure that the following is provided for an employee:
(a) a safe footing;
(b) overhead protection; and
(c) a guardrail or an individual fall-arresting system.
Chairs
216(1)An employer shall ensure that chairs used for landing a cage that are not attached to the cage are
(a) arranged to fall clear and remain clear of the shaft compartment when the cage is lifted off the chairs,
(b) operable only from outside the cage, and
(c) so arranged as not to distort the cage.
216(2)An employer shall ensure that chairs fastened to shaft station posts are of a chain type.
216(3)An employer shall ensure that chairs attached to the cage are arranged so that positive indication is given that devices are fully retracted before the conveyance is lifted.
Cages
217An employer shall ensure that a cage being used to transport persons
(a) where it is supported by only a single rope or attachment point, has the safety catches and mechanisms required in section 219,
(b) except on any side that has a door, is enclosed by sheet steel at least three millimetres thick or material equivalent in strength,
(c) has a hood of steel plate at least five millimetres thick or material equivalent in strength,
(d) has a door or doors as required in section 218,
(e) has an internal height greater than 2.1 m,
(f) has a clearance at the door that is greater than 1.8 m, and
(g) where practical, has an exit in the roof that can be opened from inside or outside the cage.
Cages
218An employer shall ensure that the door or doors on a cage
(a) cover a substantial part of the opening,
(b) are mounted and arranged so they cannot be opened outward from the cage,
(c) have devices for positive latching in the closed position,
(d) are of solid materials, except for a viewing window,
(e) are arranged so that they may be closed at all times when persons are being transported in the cage,
(f) are mounted so as to provide only enough clearance at the door to permit free closing or opening, and
(g) are of adequate strength to withstand normal shock loads.
Cages
219(1)An employer shall ensure that safety catches and mechanisms installed on a cage
(a) are of adequate type and design,
(b) stop and hold the cage if the supporting rope or attachment breaks, and
(c) successfully pass the free fall test in section 220
(i) before the cage is first used to transport persons, and
(ii) before the cage is first used after repairs to correct distortion of the safety catches and mechanisms.
219(2)This section does not apply to inclined shafts where the shaft conveyance runs on rails.
Cages
220(1)When safety catches and mechanisms are required for a cage, an employer shall ensure that free fall tests are performed under the following conditions:
(a) the cage shall carry a weight equal to its maximum permitted load of persons and any material permitted to be carried at the same time;
(b) the cage shall travel at a speed equal to normal hoisting speed when transporting persons; and
(c) the guides on which the test is made shall be representative of those in the shaft.
220(2)A free fall test is successfully passed if
(a) the cage is decelerated to a stop within one and three times the rate of gravity,
(b) there is no damage to the safety catches and mechanisms,
(c) the safety catches engage the guides continuously during deceleration, and
(d) a calculation shows that the safety catches will stop the cage when it is carrying its maximum load.
220(3)An employer shall ensure that a report of a free fall test and the results are entered in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book.
220(4)An employer shall notify the committee and an officer of the time scheduled for free fall tests at least five days before the tests.
Skips
221(1)Except when a skip is used for the purpose of shaft inspection or maintenance, an employer shall ensure that a skip is used for the transportation of employees only in an emergency, in which case employees shall ride in the skip.
221(2)When a skip is used for the purpose of shaft inspection or maintenance or is used to transport employees in an emergency, an employer shall ensure that the hoist is equipped with control devices that prevent the skip from being taken
(a) to the dump position, or
(b) to the skip loading pocket unless the controls for loading the skip with ore or waste have been made inoperative.
221(3)When a skip is used for the purpose of shaft inspection or maintenance or is used to transport employees in an emergency, an employer shall ensure that the skip is empty except for the persons being transported or doing the inspection or maintenance.
221(4)When a skip is used for the purpose of shaft inspection or maintenance or is used to transport employees in an emergency, an employer shall ensure that the hoist is operated manually and is not permitted to travel in excess of one-half its normal speed and in no case shall the speed be permitted to exceed five metres per second.
221(5)An employer shall ensure that a top unloading skip is equipped with a protective device to prevent overturning when it is used for the purpose of shaft inspection or maintenance.
221(6)An employer shall ensure that before any person enters a skip, the person is informed by an audible or visual signal that the control devices for the hoist are set in operation.
221(7)An employer shall ensure that the openings between a shaft and a skip box over which a person must pass to enter or leave a skip are closed off sufficiently to prevent the person from falling through the opening.
221(8)An employer shall ensure that the shaft signal pull cord is located in a convenient place for a skip tender.
Cage and skip combinations
222Where a shaft conveyance is a cage and skip combination, the provisions of this Regulation that apply to a skip apply to the skip portion of the combination and the provisions of this Regulation that apply to a cage apply to the cage portion of the combination.
Cage and skip combinations
223When the cage portion of a cage and skip combination is used to transport employees, an employer shall ensure that the skip portion is empty.
Hoist signal system
224(1)An employer shall ensure that a signalling system is installed at an underground mine by which signals may be exchanged between the tender of a shaft conveyance and the hoist operator for the purpose of controlling the hoist.
224(2)An employer shall ensure that the system referred to in subsection (1)
(a) is not operated in excess of one hundred and fifty volts,
(b) is supplied with power from a transformer that supplies no other load,
(c) where the primary voltage of the transformer exceeds 750 volts,
(i) has one conductor of the power supply grounded, or
(ii) has the conductors ungrounded if
(A) an isolating transformer with a 1 to 1 ratio supplies the power for the signal, and
(B) the circuit has a device to indicate a ground fault,
(d) has the non-current carrying metal parts of the signalling unit grounded unless the unit is mounted at least 2.4 m above the floor,
(e) except as provided in subsection (3), is capable of providing signals that are
(i) audible and clear,
(ii) separate for each shaft compartment, and
(iii) distinctive in sound in the hoist room for each compartment where the signals are audible from another hoist,
(f) is arranged so that the hoist operator can return a signal to the employee signalling,
(g) is installed at every working level, landing deck and any other necessary shaft location, and
(h) is approved, in writing, by an engineer or a competent person.
224(3)An employer shall ensure that the system referred to in subsection (1) is capable of providing a signal that is both audible and visible when installed on a multi-deck sinking stage.
224(4)An employer shall ensure that signalling systems using radio frequencies for transmitting signals are tested for hazards to electric blasting caps as specified in section 3.4 of CSA standard Z65-1966, “Radiation Hazards from Electronic Equipment”.
Signals for hoist movement
225Where a call system is installed for a cage, an employer shall ensure that
(a) it is not operated in excess of one hundred and fifty volts, and
(b) it is arranged so that the call signals are inaudible to the hoist operator.
Signals for hoist movement
226(1)An employer shall ensure that a signal for hoist movement is given only
(a) by an employee competent and authorized to give signals, and
(b) when the shaft conveyance or counterweight is at the same location as the employee signalling, except during
(i) shaft sinking and preliminary shaft development, or
(ii) maintenance work in a shaft.
226(2)A hoist operator shall ensure that a hoist is not moved on manual control unless
(a) the signal prescribed under this section is given,
(b) the signal is returned by the hoist operator, and
(c) at least five seconds have elapsed after the executive signal has been given.
226(3)An employer shall ensure that signals are given in the following sequence when a hoist is moved under manual control:
(a) cautionary;
(b) destination; and
(c) executive.
226(4)An employer shall ensure that the following basic code of signals to a hoist operator is used:
a)where the shaft
conveyance is moving,
stop immediately
1 signal
b)where the shaft
conveyance is
stationary, hoist
1 signal
c)lower
2 signals
d)persons entering or
leaving a shaft conveyance
3 signals
e)caution - blasting to
take place
4 signals
f)release of shaft
conveyance
5 signals
g)emergency
9 signals
h)chairing
1 signal
followed by
2 signals
i)hoist slowly
3 signals
followed by
3 signals
followed by
1 signal
j)lower slowly
3 signals
followed by
3 signals
followed by
2 signals
226(5)An employee authorized to give signals shall comply with the signals prescribed in subsection (4).
226(6)The following procedure shall be followed after 4 signals:
(a) the hoist operator shall answer after 4 signals by raising the shaft conveyance a few feet and then lowering it slowly;
(b) following 4 signals, only 1 signal is required to signal for raising personnel away from a blast; and
(c) the hoist operator shall remain at the controls until the act of raising the shaft conveyance has been completed.
226(7)Where it is necessary for the operation of a shaft conveyance, the supervisor in charge of an underground mine may establish signals in addition to those prescribed in subsection (4).
226(8)An employer shall ensure that the basic code of signals and the signals established under subsection (7) are posted in every hoist room, working level, landing deck and cage.
Shaft sinking
227Sections 228 to 238 apply during shaft sinking and preliminary development work during shaft sinking at an underground mine.
Shaft sinking
228(1)An employer shall ensure that a bucket used to transport persons
(a) is provided when the vertical depth of a shaft below the collar exceeds fifty metres, and
(b) is at least 1.07 m high.
228(2)An employer shall ensure that an employee being transported in a bucket rides inside the bucket and an employee being so transported shall ride in the bucket.
228(3)Where the distance between a head sheave and the shaft bottom exceeds one hundred metres, an employer shall ensure that a crosshead is used with a bucket.
228(4)An employer shall ensure that a crosshead referred to in subsection (3)
(a) is landed on at least two chairs at the bottom crosshead stop to prevent distortion,
(b) is attached to the rope by a safety appliance in such manner that where the crosshead jams in the shaft compartment, the bucket is stopped, and
(c) is of a type that encloses the bucket unless the shaft compartment is tightly lined and the bucket is barrel shaped.
228(5)An employer shall ensure that all buckets, crossheads and safety devices or attachments to the buckets or crossheads are of a design approved in writing by an engineer.
Shaft sinking
229An employer shall ensure that dual lights are installed in the hoist room to indicate to the hoist operator that
(a) the crosshead and bucket are descending together from the bucket dumping position,
(b) the service doors are in or out of the shaft compartment, and
(c) the dump doors are in or out of the shaft compartment.
Shaft sinking
230(1)An employer shall ensure that a service door or doors to cover the sinking compartment of a shaft are provided.
230(2)An employer shall ensure that the service door or doors required by subsection (1)
(a) are installed at the collar and any place in the shaft where tools and other materials are loaded or unloaded into or from the bucket,
(b) are automatically latched out by mechanical devices when out of the shaft compartment,
(c) are closed when a bucket is being loaded or unloaded with tools and other materials, and
(d) are closed when persons are entering or leaving a bucket.
Shaft sinking
231(1)An employer shall ensure that dump doors are installed and maintained that
(a) prevent a bucket from being dumped when the dump doors are open, and
(b) prevent any material from falling down the shaft while the bucket is being dumped.
231(2)An employer shall ensure that dump doors referred to in subsection (1) are provided with devices that securely latch the doors out of the shaft compartment automatically.
Shaft sinking
232Where a multi-deck stage is being used, an employer shall ensure that the stage is
(a) designed by an engineer, and
(b) constructed in accordance with the plans of the design.
Shaft sinking
233An employee shall ensure that a bucket is filled so that no piece of loose rock projects above the level of the rim of the bucket.
Shaft sinking
234(1)An employer shall instruct employees in the proper procedure for riding in a bucket and of loading restrictions and shall ensure that employees comply with the instructions and loading restrictions.
234(2)Each employee shall comply with the instructions and loading restrictions referred to in subsection (1).
Shaft sinking
235(1)An employer shall instruct and require that no employee signal that a bucket is ready to leave the top or bottom of a shaft until the bucket has been steadied.
235(2)An employee shall not signal that a bucket is ready to leave the top or bottom of a shaft until the bucket has been steadied.
Shaft sinking
236When a bucket is returning to the shaft bottom, a hoist operator shall
(a) stop the bucket at a distance of at least five metres and not more than ten metres above the bottom of the shaft, and
(b) lower the bucket slowly below the point described in paragraph (a) only on a separate signal.
Shaft sinking
237(1)On the initial trip following a blasting operation, a hoist operator shall not lower a bucket transporting employees below a point
(a) less than fifteen metres above the blasting set, bulkhead or sinking stage, or
(b) where the health and safety of the employees is likely to be endangered.
237(2)Below the point described in subsection (1), a hoist operator shall lower the bucket slowly only on the signal of the employees being transported.
237(3)An employer shall ensure that on the initial trip described in subsection (1) only a sufficient number of employees are transported as are required to conduct a proper examination of the part of the shaft that may be affected by the blast.
Shaft sinking
238An employer shall ensure that the shaft doors are closed when employees are working at the bottom of a shaft during the dumping cycle of the shaft conveyance.
Operation of hoist
239(1)An employer shall ensure that no person operates a hoist unless that person has attained the age of nineteen years.
239(2)A person who operates a hoist shall
(a) undergo a medical examination by a medical practitioner before commencing work as a hoist operator and every twelve months thereafter, and
(b) obtain a certificate of fitness certifying that the person is physically and mentally fit to discharge the duties of a hoist operator and is not subject to any infirmity of body or mind that may interfere with the duties of a hoist operator.
239(3)An employer shall ensure that a copy of the hoist operator’s certificate of fitness is posted in the hoist room.
239(4)A hoist operator’s certificate of fitness shall be in Form 3 and expires twelve months after its date.
Operation of hoist
240(1)A hoist operator shall record in the Hoist Operator’s Logbook for each shift worked by the operator
(a) the working condition of
(i) the hoist brakes, clutches and clutch brake interlocks,
(ii) the depth indicator,
(iii) the signal system,
(iv) the hoist controls,
(v) the overwind and underwind devices, and
(vi) other devices that may affect safe hoist operation,
(b) the results of any tests required by this Regulation,
(c) any trial trips,
(d) the actual starting and finishing time,
(e) work being conducted in the shaft, including time started and finished,
(f) any instructions given affecting hoist operations, and
(g) any unusual circumstances in connection with the operation of the hoist.
240(2)A hoist operator shall
(a) review and countersign all entries in the Hoist Operator’s Logbook for the preceding two shifts, and
(b) sign in the Hoist Operator’s Logbook for the operator’s period of duty.
240(3)Any person issuing special instructions to the hoist operator shall record and sign such instructions forthwith in the Hoist Operator’s Logbook.
240(4)Each working day, the supervisor in charge of a hoist shall review and countersign the entries in the Hoist Operator’s Logbook for the preceding twenty-four hour work period.
240(5)An employer shall ensure that the Hoist Operator’s Logbook is kept in the hoist room.
Operation of hoist
241A hoist operator shall
(a) at the start of the shift
(i) test for the satisfactory working condition of the hoist brakes, and
(ii) test the holding capacity of any friction clutch
in accordance with a procedure established for the hoist,
(b) before the hoist is used on any shift, test the overwind and underwind protective devices by operating the hoist into them,
(c) make a return trip of a shaft conveyance
(i) through the working part of a shaft, if there has been a stoppage in hoisting for a period exceeding two hours, and
(ii) below any part of a shaft that has been under repair, after the repairs have been completed,
(d) remain at the hoist controls when the hoist is in motion under manual control,
(e) except when the hoist is on automatic hoist control, apply the hoist brakes and set the controls to remove power from the hoist motors before leaving the hoist operator’s position,
(f) not speak to any other person when the hoist is in motion and under manual control, except in an emergency or when the hoist is being repaired, maintained, adjusted or examined,
(g) not operate the hoist to transport any person unless at least two brakes can be applied to stop the hoist drum,
(h) not lower persons on an unclutched drum,
(i) when heavy loads or irregularly shaped loads are on or under the shaft conveyance, operate the hoist with caution,
(j) complete the hoist movement required by an executive signal after the hoist movement is begun unless there is a signal to stop or an emergency signal, and
(k) upon receiving three signals, remain at the hoist controls unless the hoist movement required by the signal is completed.
Operation of hoist
242(1)No person shall enter or remain in the hoist room at any time without the prior authorization of the employer.
242(2)No person shall
(a) operate or interfere with devices or controls for operating a hoist unless authorized,
(b) speak to the hoist operator while the hoist is in motion and on manual control, except in an emergency or when the hoist is being repaired, maintained, adjusted or examined,
(c) be on a cage while it is being placed onto or removed from chairs,
(d) be in or under a shaft conveyance or counterweight that is supported by an unclutched drum unless the conveyance or counterweight is secured in position or during shaft sinking or preliminary development work during shaft sinking,
(e) leave a shaft conveyance that has inadvertently stopped at a point other than a shaft station, except upon instruction from an authorized person outside the conveyance,
(f) put to use any chairs for landing a cage, unless a signal for chairing has been made and returned,
(g) permit the normal operation of a hoist if an object that may be a hazard to the operation of a shaft conveyance or counterweight has fallen down a shaft until
(i) a visual shaft inspection through the affected part has been made,
(ii) any obstructions have been removed, and
(iii) any damage affecting safe operation of the hoist has been repaired.
Operation of hoist
243An employer shall instruct a hoist operator in the special procedures to follow in operating the hoist in the particular situations where there is
(a) an intermediate shaft obstruction,
(b) an emergency, or
(c) an inadvertent hoist stoppage,
and in the procedures for operating any safety devices.
Operation of hoist
244An employer shall ensure that a notice is posted in the hoist room warning that no person is to speak to the hoist operator while the hoist is in motion and under manual control, except in an emergency or when the hoist is being repaired, maintained, adjusted or examined.
Operation of hoist
245(1)An employer shall ensure that a hoist operator is available within sight and hearing of the operating console of the hoist to manually operate an automatically controlled hoist when persons are underground.
245(2)A hoist operator shall be within sight and hearing of the operating console of a hoist to manually operate an automatically controlled hoist when persons are underground.
Operation of hoist
246(1)When a hoist is being manually operated, an employer shall designate a person to
(a) give signals in accordance with section 226,
(b) be in charge of a shaft conveyance,
(c) maintain discipline of persons riding in a shaft conveyance,
(d) enforce the load limits for the shaft conveyance, and
(e) notify the hoist operator of heavy loads or irregularly shaped loads on or under the shaft conveyance.
246(2)An employer shall ensure that a person designated under subsection (1) is competent.
Operation of hoist
247When a hoist is automatically operated, an employer shall ensure that
(a) persons using the hoist are adequately trained in its operation,
(b) a person is designated to enforce load limits on the conveyance, and
(c) the hoist operator is informed of heavy loads or irregularly shaped loads on or under the conveyance.
Operation of hoist
248An employer shall, in consultation with the committee, establish procedures in writing for removing persons from a shaft conveyance that stops inadvertently at a place in a shaft other than a shaft station.
Operation of hoist
249(1)Where equipment or supplies are being transported in a shaft, an employer shall ensure that when the equipment or supplies
(a) are in a shaft conveyance, they are loaded and secured in a manner to prevent shifting,
(b) are secured to a hoisting rope of the shaft conveyance, they are secured in a manner to prevent damage to the rope and to permit the safety mechanisms of the conveyance to operate, and
(c) are transported below the shaft conveyance or crosshead, they are suspended in a manner to prevent contact with shaft furnishings.
249(2)An employer shall ensure that the suspension system used to transport equipment or supplies below the shaft conveyance or crosshead when transporting the equipment and supplies is capable of withstanding at least four times the maximum allowable design stresses without permanent distortion to any component of the system and shall obtain and keep in the employer’s possession a certificate from an engineer to this effect.
Operation of hoist
250(1)An employer shall ensure that no person is transported in a shaft conveyance
(a) that is a cage, unless the cage doors are closed, except for inspection or maintenance purposes,
(b) while the hoist that is raising or lowering the shaft conveyance is transporting ore or waste,
(c) where personal hand tools or equipment are being transported, unless such tools or equipment are
(i) protected by guards,
(ii) secured, and
(iii) the combined load does not exceed eighty-five per cent of the material load limit of the conveyance,
(d) except when a hoist is being automatically operated, unless an employee authorized to give signals is in charge of the conveyance, and
(e) with explosives, supplies or rolling stock.
250(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(e), an employee required to handle explosives or supplies may be transported with the explosives or supplies if space is provided for the employee’s safe transportation and the combined load does not exceed eighty-five per cent of the material load limit of the conveyance.
250(3)Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(e), an employee may be transported with supplies and rolling stock in a multi-deck cage if the employee is carried on the top deck and
(a) the supplies and rolling stock are carried on another deck and are adequately secured,
(b) the doors of the top deck are closed,
(c) the combined load does not exceed 85 per cent of the material load limit of the conveyance, and
(d) the scheduled trips for persons have been completed.
Operation of hoist
251Where a mine shaft exceeds one hundred metres in vertical depth, an employer shall provide a shaft conveyance, other than skip, for the raising and lowering of employees.
Electrical hoisting equipment inspection
252(1)An employer shall appoint a person to examine a hoist that is electrically powered or controlled.
252(2)An employer shall ensure that a person appointed under subsection (1) is competent.
252(3)A person appointed under subsection (1) shall examine the hoist with respect to the following items once each week:
(a) hoist motors;
(b) hoist controls;
(c) electrical safety devices; and
(d) signalling devices.
Electrical hoisting equipment inspection
253(1)An employer shall ensure that a record of the examination required under subsection 252(3) and any servicing and repairs of a hoist that is electrically powered or controlled are entered forthwith in the Electrical Hoisting Equipment Record Book.
253(2)A person performing the examination, servicing or repairs of a hoist that is electrically powered or controlled shall sign and date the entries in the Electrical Hoisting Equipment Record Book.
Electrical hoisting equipment inspection
254An employer shall ensure that a record of a failure or accident involving an electrical component of a hoist motor, hoist controls, electrical safety devices or signalling devices is entered forthwith in the Electrical Hoisting Equipment Record Book.
Electrical hoisting equipment inspection
255The supervisor in charge of the mine hoisting plant shall
(a) at least once each week, review the entries made in the Electrical Hoisting Equipment Record Book during the preceding week,
(b) ascertain that the examination under subsection 252(3) has been made and all necessary work done, and
(c) upon completion of each review required by paragraph (a), certify in the Electrical Hoisting Equipment Record Book that paragraphs (a) and (b) have been complied with.
Hoisting machinery inspection
256(1)An employer shall appoint a person to examine the mechanical parts of a mine hoisting plant.
256(2)An employer shall ensure that a person appointed under subsection (1) is competent.
256(3)A person appointed under subsection (1) shall examine the mechanical parts of a mine hoisting plant as follows:
(a) at least once in each normal production day,
(i) the exterior of each hoisting and tail rope to detect the presence of kinks or other damage and note the appearance of the rope dressing, and
(ii) the safety catches of the shaft conveyance for any defects;
(b) at least once in each week,
(i) any shaft conveyance safety mechanisms for proper adjustment and freedom of movement,
(ii) any head, deflection or idler sheaves, their shafting and bearer and sole plates,
(iii) the attachments of each shaft rope,
(iv) the attachments on any shaft conveyance or counterweight,
(v) any shaft conveyance, counterweight and work platform,
(vi) the hoist parts, brakes, brake-clutch interlocks, depth indicators,
(vii) any hoisting equipment being used for shaft sinking, and
(viii) any auxiliary brake operating weights to assure their freedom of movement and holding capacity;
(c) at least once each month,
(i) the shaft ropes to determine
(A) the amount of wear, distortion and corrosion,
(B) the need for lubrication, and
(C) the need for changing the wear patterns,
(ii) the hoisting ropes for the number and location of broken wires, and
(iii) the friction treads of a friction hoist;
(d) at least once for every six months of service, the hoisting rope of a drum hoist within the attachments at the drum and at the drum sprout; and
(e) at least once every twelve months,
(i) the bolt locking devices, foundation bolts and all bolts critical to hoist safety,
(ii) the hoisting rope of a friction hoist within the attachments at the shaft conveyance or counterweight in accordance with an established procedure, and
(iii) the bails, suspension gear and structure of the shaft conveyance and counterweight.
Hoisting machinery inspection
257(1)Where safety catches are in use, an employer shall ensure that the safety catches and mechanisms of the cage or other shaft conveyance are tested at least once every three months.
257(2)The tests referred to in subsection (1) shall consist of releasing the empty conveyance suddenly in some suitable manner from rest, so that the safety catches have the opportunity to grip the guides.
257(3)Where the safety catches do not act satisfactorily, an employer shall ensure that the cage or other shaft conveyance is not used for lowering or raising employees or material until the safety catches have been repaired and tested and shown to act satisfactorily.
97-1
Hoisting machinery inspection
258(1)An employer shall ensure that a hoisting rope used on a drum hoist is cleaned and dressed with lubricant when necessary so as to maintain a good coating.
258(2)An employer shall ensure that a hoisting rope used on a friction hoist is cleaned and dressed with lubricant on a schedule established by a competent person.
258(3)An employer shall ensure that automatic rope cleaning and lubricating devices are not used when dressing a drum hoist or friction hoist.
Hoisting machinery inspection
259(1)An employer shall ensure that after every six months of service on a drum hoist, the portion of the hoisting rope that is within the clamps at the attachment of a shaft conveyance or counterweight is cut off.
259(2)An employer shall ensure that after every eighteen months of service on a friction hoist, the portion of the hoisting rope and tail rope that is within the wedge and socket attachments is cut off.
Hoisting machinery inspection
260(1)An employer shall appoint a person to make an examination, using non-destructive methods, to determine the condition of the
(a) mine hoist shafting, brake pins and linkages, and
(b) structural parts, attachment pins and drawbars of a shaft conveyance and counterweight.
260(2)An employer shall ensure that a person appointed under subsection (1) is competent.
260(3)A person appointed under subsection (1) shall perform an examination to determine the condition of the parts referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b)
(a) before first use of the parts, and
(b) at regular intervals, as determined by the person or as required by an officer.
260(4)An employer shall ensure that drawings of the parts to be examined under subsection (1) are made available to the competent person performing the examination.
Hoisting machinery inspection
261(1)An employer shall ensure that a record of the examinations, tests, servicing or repairs of the mechanical parts of a mine hoisting plant is entered forthwith in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book.
261(2)A person performing the examination, test, servicing or repairs of the mechanical parts of a mine hoisting plant shall sign and date the entries in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book.
Hoisting machinery inspection
262The supervisor in charge of the mechanical parts of the mine hoisting plant shall record forthwith a failure or accident involving a mechanical part of a mine hoisting plant in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book.
Hoisting machinery inspection
263The supervisor in charge of the mechanical parts of the mine hoisting plant shall countersign each entry made in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book under section 261.
Hoisting machinery inspection
264The supervisor in charge of the mine hoisting plant shall
(a) at least once each week, review the entries made in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book during the preceding week,
(b) ascertain that the examinations and tests required by sections 256, 257 and 260 have been made and all necessary work done, and
(c) upon completion of the review required by paragraph (a), certify forthwith in the Hoisting Machinery Record Book that paragraphs (a) and (b) have been complied with.
Shaft inspection
265(1)An employer shall appoint a person to examine a shaft and associated components.
265(2)An employer shall ensure that a person appointed under subsection (1) is competent.
265(3)A person appointed under subsection (1) shall examine the shaft and associated components as follows:
(a) the mine shaft, at least once every week;
(b) the shaft guides, timbers, walls and compartments used for hoisting, at least once every month;
(c) the headframe, headframe foundation and backlegs, sheave deck, dump, bin and bin supports, at least once every year; and
(d) the shaft sump, at such frequency as is necessary to assure that the tail, guide and rubbing rope connections are clear of water and spillage.
Shaft inspection
266(1)An employer shall ensure that a record of the examination required by subsection 265(3) and any servicing and repairs of a shaft and associated components is entered forthwith in the Shaft Inspection Record Book.
266(2)A person performing the examination, servicing or repairs of a shaft and associated components shall sign and date the entries in the Shaft Inspection Book.
266(3)An employer shall ensure that the Shaft Inspection Record Book is made available to an officer and the committee upon request.
Shaft inspection
267The supervisor in charge of the mine shaft and headframe shall
(a) at least once a week, review the entries made in the Shaft Inspection Record Book during the preceding week,
(b) ascertain that the examination under subsection 265(3) has been made and all necessary work done, and
(c) upon completion of the review required by paragraph (a), certify forthwith in the Shaft Inspection Record Book that paragraphs (a) and (b) have been complied with.
Shaft inspection
268(1)An employer shall establish, in consultation with the committee, a code of practice for shaft inspections.
268(2)An employer shall ensure that the code of practice for shaft inspections is followed.
268(3)An employee who performs a shaft inspection shall follow the code of practice for shaft inspections.
268(4)An employer shall make a copy of the code of practice for shaft inspections available to an officer on request.
268(5)A code of practice referred to in subsection (1) shall be established no later than two months after the commencement of this Regulation and, in the case of a person who becomes an employer after the commencement of this Regulation, no later than two months after becoming an employer.
X
COMMENCEMENT
Commencement
269This Regulation comes into force on January 1, 1997.
SCHEDULE
MINIMUM DISTANCES FROM RADIO TRANSMITTERS INCLUDING
AMATEUR AND CITIZEN’S BAND TRANSMISSION FREQUENCY IN MHz /
DISTANCES MINIMALES DES ÉMETTEURS MOBILES Y COMPRIS DES
RADIO AMATEURS ET DES BP FRÉQUENCE DE TRANSMISSION EN MHz
TRANSMITTER
POWER
(Watts) /
PUISSANCE DE
L’ÉMETTEUR
(Watts)
MF
1.6-3.4
(Metres) /
MF
1,6-3,4
(Mètres)
HF
28-29.7
(Metres) /
HF
28-29,7
(Mètres)
VHF
35-36
42-44
50-54
(Metres) /
VHF
35-36
42-44
50-54
(Mètres)
VHF
144-148
150.8-161.6
(Metres) /
VHF
144-148
150,8-161
(Mètres)
UHF
450-470
(Metres) /
UHF
450-470
(Mètres)
   0-5    
10
20
20
6
3
   6-10   
15
30
25
9
6
  11-30   
20
55
45
16
10
  31-50   
25
70
55
21
12
  51-60   
30
75
60
23
13
  61-100  
35
100
80
30
18
 101-180  
50
130
110
40
25
 181-250  
60
150
125
50
30
 251-350  
70
180
150
60
35
 351-500  
85
220
180
70
40
 501-600  
90
240
195
75
45
 601-1000 
125
310
250
95
55
1001-1500 
135
345
280
110
65
1501-10000
380
975
795
305
175
N.B. This Regulation is consolidated to March 31, 1997.