Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 83.djvu/812

 784

PUBLIC LAW 91-173-DEC. 30, 1969

[83 STAT.

quality, and quantity of such equipment, and the interpretations of the Secretary or the Director of the Bureau of Mines rehiting to such equipment in effect on the operative date of this title shall continue in elfect until modified or superseded by the Secretary. After every blasting operation, an examination shall be made to determine whether fires have been started. (b) Underground storage places for lubricating oil and grease shall be of fireproof construction. Except for specially prepared materials approved by the Secretary, lubricating oil and grease kept in all underground areas in a coal mine shall be in fireproof, closed metal containers or other no less effective containers approved by the Secretary, (c) Underground transformer stations, battery-charging stations, substations, compressor stations, shops, and permanent pumps shall be housed in fireproof structures or areas. Air currents used to ventilate structures or areas enclosing electrical installations shall be coursed directly into the return. Other underground structures installed in a coal mine as the Secretary may prescribe shall be of fireproof construction. (d) All welding, cutting, or soldering with arc or flame in all underground areas of a coal mine shall, whenever practicable, be conducted in fireproof enclosures. Welding, cutting or soldering with arc or flame in other than a fireproof enclosure shall be done under the supervision of a qualified person Avho shall make a diligent search for fire during and after such operations and shall, immediately before and during such operations, continuously test for methane w4th means approved by the Secretary for detecting methane. Welding, cutting, or soldering shall not be conducted in air that contains LO volume per centum or more of methane. Eock dust or suitable fire extinguishers shall be immediately available during such welding, cutting, or soldering. (e) Within one year after the operative date of this title, fire suppression devices meeting specifications prescribed by the Secretary shall be installed on unattended underground equipment and suitable fire-resistant hydraulic fluids approved by the Secretary shall be used in the hydraulic systems of such equipment. Such fluids shall be vised in the hydraulic systems of other underground equipment unless fire suppression devices meeting specifications prescribed by the Secretary are installed on such equipment. (f) Deluge-type water sprays or foam generators automatically actuated by rise in temperature, or other no less effective means approved by the Secretary of controlling fire, shall be installed at main and secondary belt-conveyor drives. Where sprays or foam generators are used they shall supply a sufficient quantity of water or foam to control fires. (g) Underground belt conveyors shall be equipped with slippage and sequence switches. The Secretary shall, within sixty days after the operative date of this title, require that devices be installed on all such belts which will give a warning automatically when a fire occurs on or near such belt. The Secretary shall prescribe a schedule for installing fire suppression devices on belt haulageways. (h) On and after the operative date of this title, all conveyor belts acquired for use underground shall meet the requirements to be established by the Secretary for flame-resistant conveyor belts.

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