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

• 143. (1) For the purposes of section 142, the mine manager shall, at random intervals not exceeding one month, cause a search to be made of

  • (a) every person who is not an employee and who is granted access to the underground portion of the coal mine;

  • (b) every employee who is not normally employed underground and who is granted access to the underground portion of the coal mine; and

  • (c) at least 10 per cent of employees who are normally employed underground.

• (2) Searches referred to in subsection (1) shall be made

  • (a) in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), immediately before the person goes underground; and

  • (b) in the case of an employee referred to in paragraph (1)(c), after the employee leaves the wash house and before the employee goes underground, or at any time when the employee is underground.

• (3) The mine manager or the underground manager and at least one designated person shall be present to witness any search referred to in subsection (1).

• (4) A person who is selected as the subject of a search under this section may, instead of being searched by another person, search himself in the presence of the witnesses referred to in subsection (3) and two witnesses of the person’s own choosing.

• (5) Where a person who has entered a coal mine is found to have in the person’s possession any thing referred to in subsection 142(1), the person shall

  • (a) be instructed to leave the coal mine as soon as this may be done without jeopardizing the safety of others; and

  • (b) immediately follow the instruction referred to in paragraph (a).

• (6) A complete record of the finding of any thing referred to in subsection 142(1) in the possession of any person shall be made by the mine manager and kept above ground at the coal mine for a period of not less than 10 years after the date of the finding.

• 144. (1) No flammable material shall be used in the construction of any underground room or part of a roadway that houses main engines, main pumps, booster fans, battery chargers or other mechanical equipment or electrical equipment in a coal mine or a portion of a coal mine if the equipment is installed for the period of time during which the coal mine or the portion of the coal mine is in operation.

• (2) No flammable material shall be used within 15 m of the approaches to an area referred to in subsection (1).

• 145. (1) No person shall use flammable material in the construction of any underground engine room, motor room or other room or place in which stationary machinery is operated.

• (2) No oil, grease, canvas or other flammable material shall be stored underground unless it is stored

  • (a) in a non-flammable container; or

  • (b) at a place 15 m away from where it or any other flammable material is used.

146. At least one portable fire extinguisher that has a rating of 10A:60B:C and that meets the standards set out in the National Standard of Canada standard CAN4-S508-M83, Rating and Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishers, dated June 1983, shall be provided

• (a) at every working face; and

• (b) at every location where an engine or an electric motor is installed or where flammable materials are stored.