Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 66.djvu/753

 66 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 5 5 2 - J U L Y 16, 1952

"(6) Welding, cutting, or soldering with arc or flame in underground face regions in other than a fireproof enclosure shall be done under the direct supervision of a certified person who shall test for methane before and during such operations in gassy mines and shall make a diligent search for fire after such operations in all mines. Eock dust or suitable fire extinguishers shall be immediately available during such welding, cutting, or soldering. " (h) MISCELLANEOUS.—(1) The drilling and sealing of oil and gas wells penetrating coal beds or underground workings of mines shall be done in compliance with State statutes. "(2) Whenever any working place in an underground mine approaches within fifty feet of abandoned workings in such mine as shown by surveys made and certified by a competent engineer or surveyor, or within two hundred feet of any other abandoned workings of such mine, which cannot be inspected and which may contain dangerous accumulations of water or gas, or within two hundred feet of any workings of an adjacent mine, a borehole or boreholes shall be drilled to a distance of at least twenty feet in advance of the face of such working place. Such boreholes shall be drilled sufficiently close to each other to insure that the advancing face will not accidentally hole through into such workings. Boreholes shall also be drilled not more than eight feet apart in the rib of such working place to a distance of at least twenty feet and at an angle of forty-five degrees. Such rib holes shall be drilled in one or both ribs of such working place as may be necessary for adequate protection of persons working in such place. " (3) I n a gassy mine, smoking shall not be permitted underground, nor shall any person be permitted to carry smoking materials, matches, or lighters underground. " (4) I n a gassy mine, persons underground shall use only permissible electric lamps for portable illumination. "(5) Black blasting powder shall not be stored, handled or used underground in a mine; but for a period of six months after the effective date of this section, this paragraph shall not apply to any mine in which the storage, handling, or use of such powder is expressly permitted by a statute of the State in which such mine is located. "(6) Mudcaps (adobes) or other unconfined shots shall not be fired underground in a mine. However, in anthracite mines mudcaps or other open, unconfined shots may be fired, if restricted to battery starting when no gas or fire hazard is present, and if it is otherwise impracticable to start the battery; likewise, in anthracite mines open, unconfined 'shake' shots in working places and other places in pitching veins may be fired, when no gas or fire hazard is present, if the taking down of loose, hanging coal by other means is too hazardous for men working in such places. Only permissible explosives shall be used for such open, unconfined shots in anthracite mines. "(7) Every hoist used to transport persons at a mine, other than hoists used in excavating shafts or slopes, shall be equipped with overspeed, overwind, and automatic stop controls unless a second engineer is on duty. Every hoist used to transport such persons shall be equipped with brakes capable of stopping the platform, cage, or other device for transporting persons when fully loaded; and with hoisting cable adequately strong to sustain the fully loaded platform, cage, or other device for transporting persons, and have a proper margin of safety. Cages or platforms which are used to transport persons in vertical shafts, except cages or platforms which are also used to transport coal, shall be equipped with safety catches that act quickly and effectively in an emergency, and the safety catches shall be tested at least once every two months. Every hoist that is used 93300 O - 53 - 48

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