Acts and Regulations

96-105 - Underground Mine

Section 46
Disposition versions

Full text
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(1.1)An employer shall ensure that the plans for the mechanical ventilation system referred to in subsection (1) are approved by a competent person.
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(5.1)An employer shall ensure that all of the main mine ventilation fans, both supply and exhaust, that are located on the surface are equipped with an alarm that notifies the control room operators or other appropriate persons that a fan has slowed or stopped.
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.
2010-130
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.