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

Dangerous Conditions

• 46 (1) Where an overman who is responsible for an underground portion of a coal mine becomes aware of a dangerous condition in that portion of the coal mine, the overman shall

  • (a) evacuate all persons, other than an employee referred to in subsection (3), from the portion affected by the dangerous condition;

  • (b) post a sign in a conspicuous place as close as possible to the dangerous condition but outside the danger area created by the dangerous condition, to warn persons of the dangerous condition; and

  • (c) report the existence of the dangerous condition orally to the mine manager or the underground manager.

• (2) Where a sign is posted in accordance with paragraph (1)(b), no person shall enter the danger area referred to in that paragraph.

• (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to an employee whose presence is necessary to correct the dangerous condition referred to in subsection (1).

Inspection on Behalf of Employees

• 47 (1) The employees employed in a coal mine may, for the purpose of an inspection and test for gas on behalf of the employees, be represented by any of the following persons identified by them for that purpose:

  • (a) a person who holds a certificate as a mine examiner; and

  • (b) two persons who belong to one of the following categories, namely,

    • (i) two employees who are employed in the coal mine, at least one of whom holds a certificate as a mine examiner, or

    • (ii) two persons each of whom holds a certificate as a coal miner and has at least five years’ experience of work underground in a mine from which coal is extracted, and at least one of whom holds a certificate as a mine examiner.

• (2) At least once every month, the employer shall permit the representatives referred to in subsection (1) to inspect every part of the coal mine, including the machinery and equipment therein, and to test for gas therein.

• (3) For the purposes of an inspection or test on behalf of employees, the mine manager and the employees in the coal mine shall give every assistance necessary to the representatives referred to in subsection (1).

• (4) The employer, the mine manager or an officer of the coal mine chosen by the employer or mine manager may accompany the representatives who carry out an inspection or test referred to in subsection (2).

• (5) The results of an inspection or test referred to in subsection (2) shall be reported in writing to the employer and to a safety officer at the district office.

Guards, Fences and Barricades

48 Where a machine, piece of equipment, tool, fixed ladder, fixed landing or lighting system is likely to be hazardous to the safety or health of an employee, a guard or fence shall be installed for the protection of the employees.

49 Where live tests are performed on electrical equipment in an area, a guard or fence shall be installed for the protection of the employees, and no unauthorized person shall enter the area unless the electrical equipment is locked out.

• 50 (1) Where flammable gases are discharged from a methane drainage system in an area, a barricade shall be installed in a location where the concentration of flammable gas does not exceed 2 per cent, to prevent access to the area by unauthorized persons.

• (2) Warning signs shall be posted on the barricade referred to in subsection (1), indicating that access by unauthorized persons is prohibited.

Mechanical Equipment and Electrical Equipment

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.

Accumulations of Water or Concentrations of Gas

• 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.

Solid Measure

55 No coal mine shall be worked below the sea bottom or below a body of water or material that may flow, except under the following conditions:

• (a) a solid barrier of unworked mineral of 50 m or more shall be left between the workings of a submarine lease and any other submarine lease;

• (b) subject to paragraph (c), where a coal seam or stratified deposit is worked, there shall be a cover of 55 m or more of solid measure; and

• (c) where a passageway is driven, there shall be a cover of 30 m or more of solid measure.

Geological Faults

• 56 (1) At least one exploring drift shall be driven in advance of the working face of workings in a coal mine that are advancing towards an area

  • (a) that is less than 300 m below the sea bottom or a body of water or material that may flow; and

  • (b) where there is likely to be a geological fault at a distance of 50 m or less from the working face.

• (2) Where the throw or dislocation of a geological fault exceeds 10 m or where the faces of the fault plane are separated by material more than 600 mm thick, no coal face shall be worked within 11 m of that fault.

• (3) Where a solid measure below a sea bottom is less than 150 m, soundings shall be taken to a distance of at least 300 m in advance of any workings referred to in subsection (1) for the purpose of determining the depth of the water, and levels shall be taken at the working face at least once every three months for the purpose of determining the depth of the solid measure.

• (4) The location of the soundings and the levels referred to in subsection (3) shall be marked on a plan of the underground workings that is kept readily available at the coal mine in respect of which it applies for examination by employees.

Training

• 57 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall be employed to work as a coal miner at a working face unless the person is a coal miner.

• (2) A person who is not a coal miner may be employed at a working face to perform the functions of a coal miner if the person is employed for training purposes for not more than eight months and a qualified person accompanies the person, exercises close personal control over the person and provides appropriate guidance to the person in respect of safe work practices.

• (3) No person shall be employed at a working face to perform functions other than the functions of a coal miner unless the person has received training in the safety and health procedures to be followed.

58 Every employee whose employment in a coal mine requires that the employee be the holder of a certificate, other than a coal miner’s certificate, shall complete a refresher course, approved by the Provincial Board, within six months after the expiration of every five-year period after

• (a) the date of the certificate; or

• (b) the date of the most recent refresher course taken by the employee in respect of the certificate.

PART IIIUnderground Transportation and Hoisting

Underground Transportation

• 59 (1) The mine manager shall prepare in writing and implement safe procedures for the operation of cages, trips and mobile equipment underground.

• (2) The procedures referred to in subsection (1) shall specify the conditions under which persons may be transported.

• (3) The employer shall submit a copy of the procedures referred to in subsection (1) and any changes in those procedures to the Coal Mining Safety Commission for approval at least 30 days before the implementation of the procedures or changed procedures.

• 60 (1) Transportation underground by trips or mobile equipment shall be subject to the following conditions:

  • (a) an electric lamp with a red light shall be affixed to the approaching end of the trip or mobile equipment;

  • (b) switches, derails, stop blocks, frogs and other track safety devices shall be installed in a manner that provides for the safe operation of trips on the track and for the safety of employees walking in the roadway;

  • (c) a clearance of not less than 300 mm shall be provided on one side of the trip or mobile equipment and of not less than 600 mm on the other side;

  • (d) a clearance of not less than 300 mm shall be provided

    • (i) above the top of any load on the trip or mobile equipment, or

    • (ii) where the trip or mobile equipment is covered, above the top of the cover;

  • (e) manholes shall be provided at intervals not exceeding 50 m in all roadways in which trips or mobile equipment are moved by mechanical means, other than by locomotives;

  • (f) in all roadways in which trips or mobile equipment are moved by locomotives, the maximum interval between manholes shall be

    • (i) 100 m in roadways that have no curve and where the gradient does not exceed 3.5 per cent, and

    • (ii) 30 m in all other roadways and on curves; and

  • (g) where the gradient of a roadway referred to in paragraph (e) exceeds 5.2 per cent, the employer shall set out in writing and keep at the entrance to the roadway procedures that specify the speed limits and safety control measures for trips and mobile equipment on that roadway.

• (2) Where a roadway that is used for transportation intersects a roadway that is used by employees, a fence shall be installed and a warning sign posted at the intersection.

• (3) Every manhole referred to in subsection (1) shall be

  • (a) securely supported;

  • (b) at least 1.3 m in depth and 0.9 m in width; and

  • (c) 1.5 m in height or the height of the roadway, whichever is the higher.

• (4) Every manhole shall be located on the side of the roadway that has the greater clearance.

• (5) Every manhole shall be

  • (a) kept clear of material;

  • (b) kept free of obstacles to entry; and

  • (c) clearly marked with an identifying number.