Coal Mining Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/90-97)

51. No electricity shall be supplied or used in any part of a coal mine unless the electrical system and electrical equipment and the use thereof have been approved by the Coal Mining Safety Commission.

• 52. (1) The mine manager shall prepare plans, including written instructions, for the installation, inspection, testing and maintenance of all mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, machinery and tools in use in the coal mine.

• (2) The plans referred to in subsection (1) and any changes in those plans shall be certified by an engineer.

• (3) The chief mechanic shall supervise the implementation of the mechanical aspects of the plans referred to in subsection (1).

• (4) The chief electrician shall supervise the implementation of the electrical aspects of the plans referred to in subsection (1).

• (5) The mechanical work and the electrical work required by the plans referred to in subsection (1) shall be carried out by mine mechanics and mine electricians, respectively.

• (6) Every mine mechanic or mine electrician who carries out any work provided for in the plans referred to in subsection (1) shall make a written report of that work to the mine manager.

• (7) Every report referred to in subsection (6) shall be read and countersigned by the chief mechanic and the chief electrician who shall take action immediately to correct any defect that is known by or reported to either of them and that is likely to affect the safety or health of employees.

53. At least once every 24 hours of operation of a coal mine, a mine mechanic shall

• (a) inspect the external parts of every conveyor and belt line in use in the coal mine; and

• (b) make a record of the inspection referred to in paragraph (a) in a book kept for that purpose.

• 54. (1) Where any workings in a coal mine are advancing towards or are within 50 m of an area that contains or is likely to contain a dangerous accumulation of water or a dangerous concentration of flammable gas, the working face shall be not more than 5 m in width or 4 m in height.

• (2) Where any workings in a coal mine are advancing towards or are within 50 m of an area that contains or is likely to contain a dangerous accumulation of water or a dangerous concentration of flammable gas, boreholes shall be bored for the purpose of locating the dangerous accumulation of water or dangerous concentration of gas, as follows:

  • (a) at least one borehole shall be bored near the centre of the working face

    • (i) where the working face is not more than 2.5 m in width or height, to a depth of at least 5 m in advance of the working face, and

    • (ii) where the working face is more than 2.5 m in width or height and not more than 5 m in width or 4 m in height, to a depth of at least 20 m in advance of the working face;

  • (b) at least two boreholes shall be bored near each side of the working face

    • (i) where the working face is not more than 2.5 m in width or height, to a depth of at least 3 m in advance of the working face, and

    • (ii) where the working face is more than 2.5 m in width or height and not more than 5 m in width or 4 m in height, to a depth of at least 12 m in advance of the working face; and

  • (c) where the seam of a working face is 3.5 m thick or more, a borehole shall be bored at an angle of not less than 20° up from the roof of the area where the working face is located

    • (i) where the working face is not more than 2.5 m in width or height, to a depth of at least 5 m in advance of the working face, and

    • (ii) where the working face is more than 2.5 m in width or height and not more than 5 m in width or 4 m in height, to a depth of at least 20 m in advance of the working face.

• (3) Where a boring referred to in subsection (2) makes contact with a dangerous accumulation of water or a dangerous concentration of flammable gas, a qualified person shall

  • (a) report the accumulation or concentration to the overman;

  • (b) while any work is being performed at the working face, monitor the accumulation or concentration using a locked-flame safety lamp and a methanometer; and

  • (c) take appropriate measures to dissipate the accumulation or concentration.