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

63. (1) Every surface hoist shall be operated by a hoist operator who is a qualified person.

(2) No person, other than an authorized person, shall enter a hoist room.

(3) A hoist operator shall be in attendance in the hoist room at all times when a person is in an underground portion of the coal mine that is normally entered by means of a hoist.

64. (1) No hoist operator shall operate a surface hoist above ground that is used for transporting employees unless a physician has

• (a) examined the hoist operator

  • (i) in the three-month period prior to the operation of the hoist, and

  • (ii) on the hoist operator’s return to work after an illness or injury for which the hoist operator received medical attention; and

• (b) certified that the hoist operator is mentally and physically fit to operate a surface hoist.

(2) The employer shall keep the physician’s certificate referred to in paragraph (1)(b) at the coal mine in which the hoist operator who is the subject of the certificate works.

65. (1) Every surface hoist shall meet the following standards:

• (a) the engine shall be installed on a concrete or other rigid foundation;

• (b) hoisting drums on which the rope is coiled shall be provided with flanges or horns and, where a hoisting drum is conical, with such other safety devices as will prevent the rope from slipping;

• (c) the hoist shall be equipped with a device that

  • (i) clearly indicates to the hoist operator the location of the cage or trip, and

  • (ii) where a trip may be used on more than one track, is of a type that indicates on which track the trip is being hoisted;

• (d) the hoist shall be equipped with a braking system that

  • (i) stops cages or trips within the deceleration rates set out in the procedures referred to in subsection 59(1) for both the descending and ascending modes,

  • (ii) is automatically applied in the event of a power failure, and

  • (iii) may be applied by the hoist operator in the event of an emergency;

• (e) the hoist shall be equipped with an overwind preventor and a speed controller that shut off the power and apply the braking system when the cage or trip travels

  • (i) beyond the top or bottom of the run, or

  • (ii) at a speed in excess of the maximum speed for the cage or trip set out in the procedures referred to in subsection 59(1);

• (f) unless the overwind preventor and speed controller referred to in paragraph (e) are in full and fixed engagement with the hoisting engine, the overwind preventor and speed controller shall be

  • (i) designed to be fully engaged automatically or by the hoist operator whenever persons are to be transported, and

  • (ii) provided with an automatic device that indicates to the hoist operator and all persons responsible for the loading of the cage or trip that the overwind preventor and speed controller have been fully engaged; and

• (g) where used for transporting persons, the hoist shall be equipped with at least two brakes that meet the requirements of subparagraphs (d)(i) to (iii).

(2) Every device referred to in paragraph (1)(c) shall be tested for effective functioning after every adjustment to the length of the hoist rope.