Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698835704182.pdf (Uganda)
THE MINING ACT.

Statutory Instrument 148—2.

The Mining (Safety) Regulations.

Arrangement of Regulations.

Regulation 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

PART I—PRELIMINARY.

Citation.

Interpretation.

Supply and posting of regulations and notices.

PART II—SURFACE PROTECTION.

Fencing of surface subsidences or cavities.

Provision of safety pillars.

Power of commissioner to impose restrictions.

Disposal of ground from pits and trenches.


Disused prospecting works to be filled in and works to be fenced.

Power of an inspector to cause carrying out of protective measures.

10.

Loose material not permitted near unprotected edges.

11.

Protection of shafts not in use and elevated platforms, etc.

12.

Poisonous and necessary.

injurious chemical solutions; precautions 13.

Poisonous solutions must not be allowed to escape.

14.

Prevention of flooding.

15.

Construction of dams.

16.


Water channels, dams, etc.

to be kept in repair.

PART III—OPEN-CAST AND UNDERGROUND WORKINGS.

17.

No undercutting.

18.

High vertical faces prohibited in alluvial and other workings unless securely timbered.

19.

Angle of slope.

20.

Hard hats.

21.

Roofing material.

22.

Surface drainage.

23.

Fencing of entrances to shafts, winzes, etc.

24.

Underground entrances to abandoned shafts to be fenced.

25.

Protection underground from falling material.

26.


Dangerous workings to be properly secured.

27.

Responsibility of ganger in charge of workers.

28.

Working or travelling forbidden when repairs are in progress.

29.

Reserve of timber to be kept.

30.

Supporting roof and sides.

31.

Loose articles near shaft entrances prohibited.

32.

Materials forbidden in cages and conveyances together with workmen.

33.

Accidents and certain cases of unconsciousness to be reported.

34.
34.

Safety chains and belts, etc.

35.

Work on one face to cease when connections approach one another.

36.

Requirements regarding advancement of the face of a working, especially towards dangerous accumulations of water or noxious gas.

37.

Safety pillars between adjoining properties.

38.

Distance between shafts.

39.

Second outlet may be necessary.

40.

Removal of timbers and supports prohibited.

PART IV—WINDING AND HAULING.

41.

Specification for windlasses.

42.

Winding engines.

43.


Connection between rope and conveyance.

44.

Quality and condition of winding ropes.

45.

Securing materials during winding.

46.

Filling of bucket.

47.

Cage, etc.

to be stopped before reaching bottom.

48.

Guides for conveyances in shafts.

49.

Protection of workmen in shaft sinking.

50.

Gates where cages are used.

51.

Provision for workmen passing from one compartment to another.

52.

Entering winding compartment prohibited.

53.

Winding prohibited during repairs.


54.

Shaft signals required.

55.

Signals.

56.

Code of signals.

57.

Special signals.

58.

Notice of number of passengers who may travel at one time.

59.

Blasting signals in shaft sinking.

60.

Appointment of winding engine driver.

61.

Regulations concerning winding engine drivers.

62.

Winding plant for persons, permission required.

63.

Automatic brakes.

64.

Provisions where winding of persons is permitted.

65.

Accident or failure of winding engine.


66.

Signalling and safety measures in the case of underground tramways.

PART V—TRAVELLING AND LADDERWAYS.

67.

Ladders and ways of exit.

68.

Permanent ladderways and footways.

69.

Footways and ladderways to be provided in certain shafts.

70.

Platforms to be provided in ladderways.

71.

Construction of mine ladders.

72.

Maximum inclination of ladders.

73.

Ladders to cover the manholes.

74.

Overhanging position prohibited.

75.


Ladders to project three feet above shafts, etc.

76.

Travelling ways in shafts to be partitioned or securely fenced.

77.

Special travelling ways where winding of persons is prohibited.

78.

Carrying tools, etc.

in ladderway prohibited.

79.

Ladders in sinking shafts and in raises in course of extension.

PART VI—VENTILATION AND POISONS.

80.

Underground workings to be properly ventilated.

81.

Disused workings to be examined before being again used.

82.
82.

Working in certain places forbidden.

83.

Water blast to be used in certain circumstances.

84.

Machine drilling.

85.

Removal of fumes.

86.

Drinking water.

87.

Storage of poisons.

88.

Provision of gloves.

89.

Mercury vapour.

PART VII—LIGHTING.

90.

Adequate stationary lights to be provided.

91.

Machinery to be illuminated.

92.

Moving without a light prohibited.

PART VIII—WORKERS.

93.

Record of all employees to be kept.

94.


Intoxicated and crippled persons and intoxicating liquor not allowed in or about a mine; prohibition on employment of persons with tuberculosis.

95.

Women not to be employed in certain works.

PART IX—EXPLOSIVES.

96.

Storage of explosives underground.

97.

Storage of explosives at quarries and at the surface of mines.

98.

Storage of explosives in a licensed magazine obligatory; exemption for temporary storage.

99.
99.

Transporting detonators with dynamite forbidden.

100.

Notice to engine drivers.

101.

Conveyance of explosives in shaft.

102.

Carrying explosives.

103.

Disposal of explosives of mine closing down.

104.

Removal of explosives.

105.

Possession of explosives.

PART X—BLASTING, DUTIES OF GANGERS, ETC.

106.

Only holders of blasting certificate may use explosives.

107.

Application for and issuance of blasting certificate.

108.

Cancellation of blasting certificate.

109.


Certificate to be retained by manager.

110.

Miner conducting blasting to hold certificate.

111.

Large gangs must be divided.

112.

Preparing and firing charges.

113.

Unprotected lights prohibited near explosives.

114.

Tools for opening cases.

115.

Smoking prohibited.

116.

Only cartridges allowed.

117.

Rules to be observed when blasting with gelignite.

118.

Misfires: preliminary precautions.

119.

Suspected misfires.

120.

Misfires.

121.


Ganger must be the first to enter the working place.

122.

Examination of face after blasting.

123.

Holder of blasting certificate responsible for direction of holes and for preventing improper removal of explosives.

124.

Charged holes to be guarded.

125.

Conditions relating to certain drilling equipment.

126.

Duties of ganger or certificated miner in connection with water blasts.

127.
127.

Duties of ganger or certificated miner in relation to ventilating equipment.

128.

Electric blasting.

129.

Waiting places to be specified and used.

130.

Time for charging holes.

131.

Attachment of detonators to fuse.

132.

Capping house.

133.

Transport of carbide.

134.

Duty of person in charge to ensure regulations are observed.

PART XI—MACHINERY.

135.

Installation of boilers and engines to be reported.

136.

Competent person may be required to be in charge of certain equipment.

137.
137.

Fencing, etc.

not to be removed.

138.

Inspection of plant.

139.

Direction of inspector as to plant.

140.

Boilers, etc.

to be in good condition.

141.

Exposed machinery to be fenced.

142.

Loose clothing.

143.

No repairing, oiling, etc.

to be done under risk.

144.

Friction clutches or similar contrivances to be provided.

145.

Electrical machinery and conductors to be protected.

146.

Supply stations to be inaccessible to unauthorised persons.

147.
147.

Restrictions on use of motors underground.

148.

In underground installations switch to be placed at surface.

149.

Method of carrying electrical cables and wires.

150.

Protection of signal and telephone wires.

151.

Safety valves.

152.

Compressed air receivers to be tested.

153.

User of compressed air apparatus.

154.

Dangerous places to be fenced.

155.

No admittance permitted to places where machinery or boilers are housed.

PART XII—MINE PLANS.

156.

Plans to be kept.

157.


Failure to keep plans as required.

158.

Assay plans may be inspected by certain officers.

159.

Plans confidential.

160.

Measurements.

161.

Provisions as to coordinates and surface datum.

162.

Limits of error.

163.

Check survey.

164.

Procedure on closing down.

PART XIII—MISCELLANEOUS.

165.

First-aid kit.

166.

Ambulance stations.

167.

Training of rescue teams and of persons in first aid.

168.

Notice for commencing, discontinuing or recommencing work.

169.
169.

Abandonment of a mine; responsibility for carrying out regulations.

170.

Responsibility of manager.

171.

Responsibility for accident occurring with incompetent worker.

172.

Manager shall provide for the safety and discipline of workers.

173.

Sanitation.

174.

Holder responsible for refusing manager necessary means.

175.

Working places to be visited.

176.

Responsibility regarding dangerous conditions.

177.

Responsibility of surveyor.

178.

Offences.

179.


Employees responsible for reporting danger.

180.

Mine not to be worked without manager.

181.

Appointment of manager.

182.

Underground supervision.

183.

Surveyor.

184.

Appointments.

Schedule Schedule Forms.

THE MINING ACT.

Statutory Instrument 148—2.

The Mining (Safety) Regulations.

(Under section 124 of the Act.)

PART I—PRELIMINARY.

1.

Citation.

These Regulations may be cited as the Mining (Safety) Regulations.

2.

Interpretation.
In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires— (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) “adit” means an artificial pit or hole of an inclination less than three degrees from the horizontal; “banksman” means a person who is appointed by the manager to be stationed at the shaft top to supervise the loading and unloading of persons and materials in the cage, skip or other shaft conveyance and to give the necessary signals to the winding engine driver and onsetter; “boiler” means any apparatus adapted to convert continuously any liquid into steam, vapour or gas of a higher pressure than that of the atmosphere, together with all fittings and appurtenances including superheaters and economisers; “engine” means an arrangement of machinery which converts physical into mechanical power; “explosives” means nitroglycerine, dynamite, or any other nitroglycerine compound, gun cotton, blasting powder, detonators and every other substance, whether similar to those mentioned or not, used in mining operations with a view to producing a practical effect by explosion; “fuse” means a safety fuse; “ganger” means a person in charge of workmen in one or more working places in a mine whether he is the holder of a blasting certificate or not; “inspector” shall be taken to refer to the commissioner, an inspector of mines, a factories inspector or any other inspector (i) (j) (k) (l) appointed for the supervision of the mining and machinery regulations, and the term shall be read to apply to an inspector appointed by the commissioner to supervise the carrying out of the regulation in which the term is used; “manager” means the person registered under these Regulations as responsible for the control, management and direction of a mine or works, or failing such registration the agent accepted under regulation 58(1) of the Mining Regulations, or failing such appointment the holder of the exclusive prospecting licence, location or mining lease within the boundaries of the area of which the mine or works is or are situated, and in the case
 of private mining land for which no manager has been registered the person prospecting or mining, the holder and the person in direct charge of operations; “mine captain” means the person in charge of the underground workings of a mine acting under the direction of the manager; “misfire” and “misfired hole” means a hole in which the explosive or any portion of the explosive has failed to explode; “onsetter” means a person appointed by the manager to have charge of the cage, bucket, skip or other shaft conveyance underground in which persons or materials are being raised or lowered and to give the necessary signals to the engine driver and banksman; (m) “raise” means a shaft or winze which is being excavated (n) (o) (p) (q) (r) upwards; “safety pillar” means every portion of a reef, mineral deposit or ground left for the support and protection of the surface, objects thereon and underground workings; “shaft” means an artificial pit or hole of greater inclination than three degrees from the horizontal; “shift boss” means any person in charge for a shift of any workings of a mine acting under the instructions of the manager or mine captain; “skipman” includes “skip tender” and “cage tender” and means a person appointed by the manager to have charge of the loading of a skip or cage and who may travel with the skip or cage and with men when men are being raised or lowered in it when this is permitted; “steeply inclined” in connection with shafts or winzes or other underground excavation means an inclination to the horizontal of more than forty-five degrees; (s) (t) (u) (v) (w) (x) (y) “stope” means a working in which a section or block of reef is being removed or has been removed; “surveyor” means the person registered as responsible under these Regulations for the upkeep of mine plans and for the accurate survey of the workings; “water blast” means a continuous spray of water projected by means of compressed air; “winding engine” includes all hoists operated by
 mechanical or electrical power and all ancillary shaft and head gear equipment, and “winding engine driver” includes any person operating such a hoist; “winze” means an interior shaft; “workings” includes all excavated portions of a mine; “works” means all plant, machinery, installations, buildings, dams and reservoirs used in connection with the operations of a mine.
3.

Supply and posting of regulations and notices.
(a) (1) Every holder shall have in his or her possession a printed copy of these Regulations and a copy of any special rules made under or by virtue of these Regulations, and it shall be his or her responsibility to ensure that— every banksman, ganger, manager, mine captain, onsetter, shift boss, skipman, surveyor, agent, mine superintendent, electrical and mechanical engineer, winding engine driver and every person appointed under regulation 172(1) of these Regulations is provided with a printed copy of these Regulations and a copy of any special rules made under these Regulations, free of charge; printed copies of these Regulations and copies of any special rules are kept in the main administrative office of the mine and are readily available to all employees; and extracts of these Regulations directly concerning the workers are posted in suitable places where they can be conveniently read and as often as they become effaced, obliterated or destroyed, are renewed.
(b) (c) (2) Every holder shall supply the manager of his or her mine with copies of all notices issued under section 81 of the Act, and every such manager shall keep those notices in his or her possession.

(3) A holder or manager who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this regulation commits an offence; and where a manager commits an offence under subregulation (2) of this regulation, the holder shall be deemed to have committed a like offence.

PART II—SURFACE PROTECTION.

4.


Fencing of surface subsidences or cavities.

Where mining operations have caused subsidences or cavities on the surface, or where subsidences or cavities are likely to occur, such places shall be securely fenced, and conspicuous notice boards shall be erected to warn persons.

5.

Provision of safety pillars.


For the protection of the surface or objects on the surface or in the interests of personal safety or public traffic, pillars shall be left vertically under the surface or surface objects and for such distance beyond as an inspector of mines may consider necessary; the ground beneath the surface or surface objects may be entirely or partially excavated subject to the prior permission of an inspector of mines in writing and subject to such conditions as he or she may order.
6.

Power of commissioner to impose restrictions.
Wherever in the opinion of the commissioner it may be necessary to protect the surface of a mine or of any ground adjoining the mine, or to protect buildings, roads, railways or any structure whatever situated on the surface of a mine or any ground adjoining the mine, it shall be lawful for the commissioner by writing under his or her hand to prohibit the holder from mining in any portion of the mine or to mine under such restrictions and subject to such conditions as he or she may impose.

7.
7.

Disposal of ground from pits and trenches.

(1) The ground removed from any prospecting trench or pit shall, except where the slope of the surface does not allow, be disposed around the boundaries of the opening so that approximately equal ridges are provided on these boundaries.

(2) Where the trench or pit is likely to be dangerous to persons or stock by reason of its situation, the trench or pit shall be fenced.

8.

Disused prospecting works to be filled in and works to be fenced.
Every disused shaft, pit or excavation made for the purpose of prospecting shall within four months of its completion be filled in to the level of the surface by the person who has made the shaft, pit, or excavation or where it is on an area covered by an exclusive prospecting licence, location or mining lease by the holder of the licence, location or lease, as the case may be, or where it is on private mining land by the person who made it.

9.
9.

Power of an inspector to cause carrying out of protective measures.

In the event of regulations 6, 7 and 8 of these Regulations not being complied with, an inspector of mines may cause such protective measures as he or she may deem necessary to be carried out including the filling in of any disused shaft, pit, hole or other excavations at the expense of the holder, and the commissioner may deduct those expenses from any deposit made under section 18 of the Act.

10.
10.

Loose material not permitted near unprotected edges.

No spoil, material, tools or implements of any kind shall lie within two feet of the unprotected edge of any opening.

11.

Protection of shafts not in use and elevated platforms, etc.
The mouth of every shaft or entrance to a mine which is out of use or used only as an airway or as an ore pass, the approach of every open working (not being an ordinary prospecting trench) and every elevated and exposed platform and gangway shall be kept securely fenced or otherwise protected.

12.

Poisonous and injurious chemical solutions; precautions necessary.
Water containing poisonous or injurious chemical solutions used in the treatment of gold or other ores shall be effectually fenced to prevent inadvertent access, and notice boards shall be erected in suitable places warning persons from making use of that water.

13.

Poisonous solutions must not be allowed to escape.


Water containing any poisonous or injurious chemical solution shall not be permitted to escape or enter any stream, lake, race, dam, reservoir or stagnant water without having been previously rendered innocuous.

14.

Prevention of flooding.


At such times as there are violent rainstorms the manager shall provide for an adequate watch to be kept on all artificial constructions on his or her mine for conserving water and on workings which may cause water to converge or accumulate, and shall give notice without delay to the managers, or their representatives, of all mines or workings situated below the construction of any possibility of flooding by reason of the construction.

15.

Construction of dams.


Every dam built for the purpose of impounding water or tailings shall be properly constructed in such a manner as not to endanger life or limb or to cause damage to property and shall be provided with an adequate spillway.

16.

Water channels, dams, etc.

to be kept in repair.

All water channels, pipelines, spillways, dams, tailings dams, sluices and hydraulic appliances at or auxiliary to any mine shall be kept in repair to the satisfaction of an inspector of mines.
PART III—OPEN CAST AND UNDERGROUND WORKINGS.

17.

No undercutting.

In open-cast workings no undercutting shall be allowed, unless suitable support is provided for material undercut.

18.

High vertical faces prohibited in alluvial and other workings unless securely timbered.
In the open-cast working of alluvial soil, soft rock, gravel, clay, tailings, slimes, ashes, debris or other weak ground, no vertical face, unless securely timbered, shall have a height of more than eight feet, but such unsupported open face shall be worked in terraces or at a safe angle of slope; except that where the ground is being dug by a mechanical excavator, a vertical face may have such greater height as an inspector of mines may approve, and the approval may be given subject to such conditions as he or she may think fit to impose.
19.

Angle of slope.

An inspector of mines may determine from time to time the angle of slope to be maintained on any mine workings to ensure the safety of the mine workings, and in such case shall give notice in writing to the manager of the angle of slope to be maintained.

20.

Hard hats.
20.

Hard hats.

(1) Every person in the following places shall, unless exempted in writing by an inspector of mines, wear a miner’s hard hat of a type approved by an inspector of mines— (a) (b) (c) (d) underground; in trenches and outcrop workings more than ten feet deep; on or below stepped faces in rock and quarry faces of a height more than ten feet; and at any works where there may be danger of falling materials or objects.
(2) No person in charge of workers at or in any of the places described in subregulation (1) of this regulation shall allow any worker, unless he or she is wearing a miner’s hat in good condition and of a type approved by an inspector of mines, to work, travel or remain at or in those places.

(3) Miners’ hard hats shall be provided free of charge by the holder for the use of all persons who are required to wear them, and he or she shall maintain them in good condition.
(4) The hats shall be provided free of cost and remain the property of the holder.

21.

Roofing material.

No inflammable material such as thatch or wood shall be used as roof covering on shelters erected over the mouths of shafts.

22.

Surface drainage.

(1) Adequate precautions shall be taken against the flooding of any workings in which workers are employed.

(2) The precautions shall include the establishment and maintenance in good order of stormwater trenches and embankments.

23.
23.

Fencing of entrances to shafts, winzes, etc.

(1) Every entrance to any vertical or steeply inclined shaft, winze, sump and chute shall be kept properly fenced by means of a barrier or gates.

(2) Barriers or gates may be temporarily removed for the purpose of repairs or other necessary operations, if proper precautions are taken to prevent danger to persons or animals.

24.

Underground entrances to abandoned shafts to be fenced.
Every underground entrance to a shaft or other dangerous place which has been temporarily or permanently abandoned shall be securely fenced across the whole width of the entrance.

25.

Protection underground from falling material.


Where any vertical or steeply inclined shaft, winze, sump, chute or stope opens directly into a travelling road, the road and any working place situated on its lower or dip side shall be securely fenced so that persons travelling or working therein are protected against danger from stones or material falling down the shaft, winze, sump, chute or stope.

26.

Dangerous workings to be properly secured.


Where the ground is not naturally safe, every working or pumping shaft and every travelling road, airway or working place, and all adits, levels, crosscuts, stopes and underground passages shall be securely timbered, walled, or otherwise made secure, and kept in safe condition so long as they are in actual use.

27.

Responsibility of ganger in charge of workers.


The ganger in charge of exploring or repair work or in making the place safe shall take all reasonable precautions that the persons under his charge are secured against falls of the hanging wall and other dangers while performing such work.

28.

Working or travelling forbidden when repairs are in progress.
No person unless engaged in repairing, making safe or exploring a place in a mine which is not safe or secure shall travel or work in such place until the place is made secure.

29.

Reserve of timber to be kept.

Where the ground in a working place is not naturally safe, a sufficient supply of suitable timber shall be at hand for immediate use for the purpose of making the place safe.

30.

Supporting roof and sides.


(1) If an inspector of mines considers that the system of props or pillars used for supporting the roof or sides of any mine is inadequate, he or she may require the manager to change the system.

(2) Where the hanging is friable all props shall be provided with headboards or with caps between adjacent timbers.

31.

Loose articles near shaft entrances prohibited.


Tools, wood or any loose articles shall not be laid down or be allowed to remain so near any entrance to any shaft, winze or stope that it may result in their falling into them.

32.

Materials forbidden in cages and conveyances together with workmen.

No truck, iron, timber, tools or other materials shall, except when the shaft is being repaired, be placed in any cage or conveyance in which workmen are being lowered or raised.

33.
33.

Accidents and certain cases of unconsciousness to be reported.

(1) All accidents shall be reported immediately to the person in charge of the shift in which the accident occurred who shall record the accidents in a register to be kept at the mine.

(2) Any case of unconsciousness from heat stroke or inhalation of fumes or poisonous gas shall be reported to an inspector of mines without delay.

34.

Safety chains and belts, etc.


(1) Every person working in a place where there is danger of his or her falling shall wear safety chains and belts which shall be securely attached to the wearer and to safe anchorages.

(2) The safety chains and belts shall be of a design and construction approved by an inspector of mines and shall be provided and maintained in good condition by the holder.

35.

Work on one face to cease when connections approach one another.
(1) When connecting workings are approaching each other and their distance apart has decreased to forty feet, work on one face shall cease during blasting operations on the other.

(2) When connecting workings are approaching each other and their distance apart has decreased to twenty feet, work on one face shall cease.

(3) The surveyor shall be held responsible for informing the manager or mine captain when two approaching faces reach the distances from each other specified in this regulation.

36.
36.

Requirements regarding advancement of the face of a working, especially toward dangerous accumulations of water or noxious gas.

(1) The manager shall ensure that the surveyor is at all time kept informed of every working face which is being advanced.
(2) The surveyor shall inform the manager when the face of a working is being advanced within, or is being advanced so that it will come within 100 feet of— (a) any abandoned, disused or discontinued working or excavation; (b) or any place on the surface where there may be an accumulation of water.
(3) Where any abandoned, disused or discontinued working or excavation contains or is likely to contain a dangerous accumulation of water or noxious gas, or where there is a dangerous accumulation of water at such place on the surface, the manager shall by notice in writing so inform the surveyor.
(4) Before the face of any working which is being advanced reaches a distance of 50 feet from any place where there is or is likely to be a dangerous accumulation of water or noxious gas, the surveyor shall give the manager written notification of the position of the working relative to that place.
(5) When the face of the working reaches a distance of 50 feet from any place where there is or is likely to be a dangerous accumulation of water or noxious gas— (a) (b) the manager shall cause— (i) the dimensions of the working to be restricted to not more than 8 feet in width and 8 feet in height or to such greater dimensions as the inspector of mines may permit; suitably directed boreholes to be drilled from the working, sufficient in number and length to give ample warning of the presence of the water or gas; (ii) (iii) such additional precautions to be taken as circumstances may indicate to be necessary to ensure the safety of persons; the surveyor shall be responsible for the correct establishment of survey pegs necessary for the measurement, direction and inclination of the working and shall provide the manager with the correct relevant survey data in writing.
(6) The requirements of subregulation (5) of this regulation shall be complied with until a holing is effected or until the face of the working passes beyond a distance of 50 feet from that place.
(7) Whenever any shaft is being sunk or any heading advanced through ground which contains or is likely to contain a natural accumulation of water which may constitute a danger, the manager shall cause suitably directed boreholes to be drilled from the shaft or heading, sufficient in number and length to give ample warning of the presence of the water, and shall cause such additional precautions to be taken as circumstances may indicate to be necessary to ensure the safety of persons.

37.
37.

Safety pillars between adjoining properties.

(1) On the inside of the boundary lines of every mine, safety pillars must be left standing the width of which shall not be less than thirty feet, measured at right angles from the boundary lines.
(2) On the joint application of the owners of adjoining mines, an inspector of mines may give permission to either party to weaken, cut through or work their respective pillars between the mines; in the absence of the joint application, the commissioner shall have power to give written permission for the partial working, weakening or cutting through of the pillars.

38.

Distance between shafts.


No shaft shall be sunk within thirty feet of any other shaft without the written permission of an inspector of mines.

39.

Second outlet may be necessary.

Where, in any working served by one shaft only, an inspector of mines finds that a second outlet has become necessary, either for the safety of the workmen employed or for proper ventilation, the manager shall provide an outlet with all reasonable dispatch.

40.

Removal of timbers and supports prohibited.


(1) No person may interfere with or remove any timber or other support, including pillars, put in or left for the support of ground, in any abandoned working, in any closed down mine, or in any mine in operation without the prior permission of an inspector of mines given in writing.
(2) Subregulation (1) of this regulation shall not be deemed to apply in the case of mines in operation to timber and supports removed in the normal course of operations and maintenance.

PART IV—WINDING AND HAULING.

41.

Specification for windlasses.
(1) Windlasses used in winzes and shafts shall comply with the following specifications— (c) (d) (b) (a) where used for hoisting over a greater depth than twenty feet a reliable stopper shall be used which shall be either a sprag-bar, or double-acting or double-faced pawl; all sprag-bars shall be slotted into the windlass frame through a metal plate; the sides of the frame of every windlass shall be drawn together with a distance piece between to ensure rigidity; loose handles must be pinned on square and substantial split-pins must be used; a coaming of not less than three inches high of metal or wood shall be fixed at the immediate edges of the openings below the windlass to prevent any small object being knocked off the platform into the winze or shaft; the barrel of the windlass shall be high enough to allow the bucket or receptacle to be swung clear of the coaming when being removed for emptying; and at least every six months a length of two feet shall be cut off each end of the windlass rope and the rope shall be refastened.
A record shall be kept in the machinery record book of each cutting and refastening.

(e) (f) (2) All windlasses and other similar contrivances used to haul persons and ground shall be subject to the approval of an inspector of mines.

(3) Ropes used on windlasses or other similar contrivances shall have at least four turns round the barrel when the bucket is at the lowest part of the shaft or winze.
Where only one bucket is in use the rope shall, in addition, be securely fastened to the barrel by a U bolt or spikes.

(4) When lowering or raising persons by windlass there shall not be less than four workmen controlling the handles.

42.

Winding engines.

(1) Where winding or hauling is effected by means of an engine an adequate brake shall be provided for every drum and kept in proper working order.
The brake shall be so arranged that, if the engine is at work or at rest, it can be easily and safely manipulated by the engine driver when standing at the levers controlling the engine.

(2) Brake blocks and other spare parts for winding engines shall always be kept in stock at the mine.

(3) An inspector of mines shall at all times have the power to order or conduct a test of the efficiency of all brakes on winding engines.

(4) Lowering from an unclutched drum of a winding engine is prohibited.

43.
43.

Connection between rope and conveyance.

(1) The connection between rope and skip, cage, bucket or other shaft conveyance shall be of such a nature that no accidental disconnection can take place.

(2) The lower end of every winding or hauling rope shall be fitted with a grooved thimble.

44.

Quality and condition of winding ropes.

Ropes used for winding purposes shall be in good condition and of good quality and manufacture, and shall be suitable for the purpose for which they are being used.

45.
45.

Securing materials during winding.

When tools, wood or other materials are to be lowered or hoisted in any shaft, the ends, if projecting above the top of the bucket or other receptacle, shall be securely fastened to the winding rope or the bow.

46.

Filling of bucket.


In shaft-sinking the bucket or other receptacle shall not be filled above the level of the brim; and before the bucket or other receptacle leaves the top or bottom of the shaft or winze, it shall be steadied under the supervision of the workman in charge.

47.

Cage, etc.

to be stopped before reaching bottom.


(1) Where a winding engine is used at a shaft in the course of sinking, the cage, skip or other receptacle shall not be directly lowered to the bottom of the shaft when workmen are there present, but shall be stopped at least 15 feet above the bottom until the signal to lower further has been given by one of the sinkers at the bottom.

(2) This regulation shall not apply to any shaft which is less than 50 feet in depth.

48.
48.

Guides for conveyances in shafts.

(1) All vertical shafts exceeding 100 feet in depth shall be provided with guides for the conveyance or conveyances, unless exempted in writing by an inspector of mines.

(2) The guides shall be kept extended, and the crosshead shall be allowed to travel as near to the shaft bottom as practicable.

49.

Protection of workmen in shaft sinking.


(1) Where a winding engine is used in the course of sinking at a shaft which has no separate ladderway under which those engaged in sinking may find shelter during the winding of rock, materials or water, sufficient protection shall be provided by a suitable covering.

(2) While winding, other than for the purposes of shaft sinking, is going on, workmen employed at the bottom of the shaft shall be securely protected by a cover overhead.

50.
50.

Gates where cages are used.

In vertical or inclined shafts where cages are used every landing place of each winding compartment shall have a gate which shall be operated by the banksman or onsetter only.

51.

Provision for workmen passing from one compartment to another.
At every shaft station where it is necessary for workmen to pass from one side of the shaft to another provision shall be made for them to do so without entering or crossing a winding compartment; such passage shall be securely protected from moving parts of machinery.

52.

Entering winding compartment prohibited.


(1) Entering or crossing a winding compartment of a shaft in which winding by mechanical power is employed is prohibited except for ascending or descending and for purposes of maintenance and repairs.

(2) Subregulation (1) of this regulation shall not apply to persons employed in timbering vertical shafts while sinking operations are being continued.

53.

Winding prohibited during repairs.


(1) No winding shall be carried on or permitted while repairs in the winding compartment arc being made beyond what is necessary for the repairs.

(2) Subregulation (1) of this regulation shall not prohibit persons from working below the lowest point from which winding is taking place; provided that those persons are securely protected by a suitable covering.
(3) The word “repairs” mentioned in this regulation and in regulation 52 of these Regulations shall be taken to include the oiling of rollers and pulleys.

54.

Shaft signals required.


(1) Every shaft or winze exceeding 100 feet in depth in which winding by mechanical power is taking place shall have an efficient means of signalling in respect of each winding engine employed whereby persons engaged in sinking or in shaft inspections or repairs may signal effectively from any depth in the shaft to the engine driver.

(2) Where there is one method of signalling only it shall be entirely mechanical in operation.
Where there is more than one method of signalling, one of the methods of signalling shall be entirely mechanical in operation.

(3) Every shaft or winze other than a sinking shaft or winze in which winding by mechanical power is taking place over a depth of more than 100 feet shall be equipped with some efficient means of interchanging distinct and definite signals between the surface and all working places or stations in it.

55.

Signals.
55.

Signals.

(1) The engine driver is prohibited from starting his engine before he has received a distinct signal.

(2) Only persons duly authorised by the manager or mine captain are allowed to give a signal, other than the accident signal.

56.

Code of signals.


(1) rings— (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) In signalling, the following shaft signals shall be used: knocks or one—raise, when engine is at rest; one—stop, when engine is in motion; two—lower; three—workmen about to ascend or descend or work on or in a conveyance; three—in reply, workmen may enter cage or other conveyance; ten—accident signal.
(2) Where persons are about to enter a cage for the purpose of being raised or lowered, the banksman or onsetter shall not open the gates until he has received the signal “three” back from the engine driver.

(3) No person shall enter or cause or permit any person to enter a cage or other conveyance until the back signal “three” has been received.
(4) The winding engine driver shall in every case ring back before acting on any signal; no engine driver shall act on any signal if he has been unable to do so within sixty seconds after receiving it but shall await a fresh signal.

57.

Special signals.

(1) Special signals in addition to those specified in regulation 56 of these Regulations may be used at any mine provided that they are easily distinguishable by their sound or otherwise from the foregoing code and do not interfere with it in any way.
(2) The code of signals specified in regulation 56 of these Regulations, as well as any special signals that may be in use at a mine, shall be painted on a board or enamelled plate, not less than 20 inches by 20 inches in the form of a distinctly legible notice in English and Swahili and shall be posted up in the engine room, at the top of the shaft, and at all shaft stations in use.

58.

Notice of number of passengers who may travel at one time.
(1) Where persons are allowed to be raised or lowered in any conveyance there shall be posted at all places where the code of signals is posted a notice specifying the number of persons who may enter the conveyance and travel in it at any one time.
(2) Where an inspector of mines considers fit he or she may require at any shaft top, station in the shaft and in the engine room notices to be posted setting out the regulations applicable to the care, operation and use of any winding engine, shaft equipment and conveyances in the shaft.

59.

Blasting signals in shaft sinking.


(1) Where a winding engine is used in the course of shaft sinking, the manager shall see that the engine driver is notified of a prearranged signal indicating that blasting is about to take place.

(2) On receipt of the prearranged signal the engine driver shall raise the bucket not less than ten feet and lower it again as an acknowledgment that the engine driver is ready to act immediately on the receipt of the final signal to raise the persons employed in blasting.
60.

Appointment of winding engine driver.

(1) No person shall be appointed a winding engine driver for the purpose of taking charge of a winding engine used for raising or lowering persons who is under eighteen years of age or whose sight or hearing is defective or who is subject to any other infirmity mental or bodily likely to interfere with the efficient discharge of his duties.
(2) The manager shall cause a medical examination of a proposed winding engine driver to be made by a qualified medical practitioner and shall thereafter satisfy himself or herself by examination that the person is competent before appointing him.

61.

Regulations concerning winding engine drivers.

(1) A winding engine driver shall be on duty at every winding engine used for raising or lowering persons during the whole time any person who is expected to be raised by the engine is underground in the mine.
(2) Except in exceptional circumstances no winding engine driver engaged in raising or lowering persons shall be employed for more than one shift in twenty-four hours and no such shift shall exceed eight hours, and a record shall be kept of the times of employment of winding engine drivers at each shaft where persons are raised or lowered by mechanical power.

(3) Every case of the prescribed hours of work being exceeded shall be reported immediately to an inspector of mines.

62.
62.

Winding plant for persons, permission required.

(1) No winding plant shall be used for the raising or lowering of persons unless the special written permission of an inspector of mines has been granted.
(2) The permit shall state the maximum number of persons to be raised or lowered at any one time, and the maximum speed of winding, and under no circumstances when persons are being raised or lowered shall the speed of winding or the number of persons carried be in excess of that laid down in the written permission.
(3) Permission shall not be granted under subregulation (1) of this regulation unless the provisions of these Regulations have been complied with so far as they are applicable and unless the following special conditions are observed— (a) by actual test it shall be proved to the satisfaction of an inspector of mines that— (i) the winding engine running at various speeds with light and heavy loads can be readily retarded and stopped, and after stopping can be immediately started again in either direction by the engine driver; (ii) the winding engine can lift from bottom to top of the shaft the maximum unbalanced load on one drum; (iv) (iii) each winding drum unclutched from the engine can be maintained in a position of rest with no more slipping than 1 foot, by the unaided effort of its own brake or brakes when bearing double the authorised load of the cage, bucket or other conveyance.
In estimating the authorised load 150 pounds weight shall be allotted for each person; in the case of a hoist, where no part of the rope is rigidly fixed to the drum, there shall be no dangerous slipping of the rope on the drum under any possible working condition; the headgear shall be so constructed that the cage, skip, bucket or other shaft conveyance may be raised 25 feet above its highest passenger stopping place without striking any obstruction; the lowest passenger landing place in any hoisting shaft shall have at least 25 feet of unobstructed overrun space below it in which the cage or other shaft conveyance can travel, and the place below the bottom landing shall be kept clear of water at all times; except that in the case of single cage hoisting, an inspector of mines may in writing grant exemption from any provision of this paragraph where a satisfactory automatic signal is installed 25 feet above the lowest passenger landing place; (b) (c) (d) winding ropes shall be made of steel of the best quality and manufacture, free from any defect, and the wires used in the construction of the ropes shall be of sizes suitable for use with the sheaves and drums fitted.
Winding ropes shall not be used for raising or lowering persons when, owing to deterioration, the breaking strain has become reduced to below six times the maximum working load.
The working load includes the weight of rope in the shaft when at the lowest working point; at the request of an inspector of mines an adequate sample from the end of any winding rope shall be supplied to him or her; also such data as may be required regarding manufacture, dimensions and class of steel; (e) (f) winding ropes newly put on, and the connecting attachments between the rope and cage, skip or other conveyance, shall be carefully examined and properly tested as to their working strength by some competent and reliable person authorised by the manager, and shall be used for the ordinary transport of persons in shafts only after having run two complete trips up and down the working portion of the shaft with the cage or skip being loaded to the full authorised extent.
The result of the above examination shall be immediately recorded in a book which shall always be accessible to an inspector of mines; cages, skips and other conveyances used in vertical and steeply inclined shafts shall have a proper roof or cover and shall have proper safety catches where applicable.

Cages shall be fitted with doors.


The doors and sides of cages shall be such as will prevent any portion of the body of any person riding in the cage from accidentally coming into contact with the timbering or sides of the shaft.

The doors must be constructed in such manner that they cannot be opened accidentally.

Covers, doors and sides must be constructed in a proper manner and of suitable material.
The weight of the cage and the weight of all attachments shall be certified by the maker and shown separately on a plate fixed to the cage in such a position that it may be readily accessible for reading; there shall be on the drum of the winding engine such flanges or horns, and also, if the drum is conical or spiral, such other appliances as may be sufficient to prevent the rope from slipping laterally; there shall be not less than three rounds of rope upon the drum when the cage or other conveyance is at the lowest point of the shaft from which hoisting is being conducted; (g) (h) (i) (j) when this is applicable the end of the rope shall be properly fastened round an arm or the shaft of a drum; (k) when it is considered necessary by an inspector of mines every engine used in raising or lowering persons shall be provided with a reliable depth indicator, in addition to any marks on the rope, which will clearly and accurately show to the engine driver on the driving seat at all times the position of the cage or other conveyance in the shaft and which will, in shafts exceeding 300 feet in depth, ring a bell in the engine room when the conveyance is 60 feet from the top landing place; (l) where changes of gradient in a shaft necessitate reduction of winding speed the point at which the reduction shall be made shall be plainly marked on the depth indicator; (m) a reliable speed indicator shall be attached to the winding engine (n) if considered necessary by an inspector of mines; a suitable automatic device to prevent overwinding of cages or other conveyances shall be provided at every winding shaft where persons are raised or lowered by mechanical power; and (o) if the winding apparatus cannot be provided with some automatic contrivance to prevent overwinding, then the cage or other conveyance, when workmen are being raised, shall not be wound at a speed exceeding 250 feet per minute after the cage or other conveyance has reached a point in the shaft to be fixed by an inspector of mines.
(4) In the case of small hoists when used for sinking purposes to depths not exceeding 200 feet measured vertically, an inspector of mines may grant exemption from the provisions of subregulation (2)(b), (c), (g) and (n) of this regulation on such conditions in writing as he or she may think fit.

63.

Automatic brakes.
All electrically-driven winding systems fitted with mechanically-operated brakes shall be so installed that— (a) (b) (c) (d) the mechanically-operated brakes will be applied automatically the moment the power supply fails; in case of a heavy overload, such as would be caused by the shaft conveyance leaving the rails or becoming jammed in the shaft, a circuit breaker will cut off the power and thus allow the mechanically-operated brakes to come into play; a suitable overwind device which can be set to engage the shaft conveyance at any point in the head frame will cut off the current, in case of an overwind past this point, and thus allow the mechanically-operated brakes to come into play.
In default of a device of this nature some other form of satisfactory and dependable overwind device shall be fitted.

These devices shall be tested by the engine driver at least once a shift and the results of his tests shall be recorded in a suitable book; the brakes shall, on failure of the power supply, be brought into operation by mechanical means, preferably gravity, and shall in no case be operated by an auxiliary electric current.

64.

Provisions where winding of persons is permitted.
Where winding in shafts in accordance with regulation 62 of these Regulations is permitted, the following provisions shall be observed— (a) one, or more than one, competent person, specially deputed by the manager for the purpose, and whose name or names must be registered by the manager in a record book, such book to be termed the machinery record book, shall carefully examine— (i) at least once a day the aerial gear, the winding ropes, and their attachments to the cages or other conveyances and to the drums, the brakes, depth indicators, the cages or other conveyances and their safety catches, the pulley wheels and all and every external part of the winding arrangements upon the proper working of which safety depends; at least once a week the guides or rails and the winding compartments generally, the signalling apparatus and the external parts of the winding engine; (ii) (iii) at least once a month the structure of the rope for the purpose of discovering the amount of deterioration.
For the purpose of this examination the rope must be carefully cleaned at intervals; (iv) at least once a year the winding engine as to the working condition of the internal parts; a report of the result of every examination mentioned in paragraph (a) of this regulation shall be recorded without delay in the machinery record book which must be kept at the mine especially for the purpose, and shall be signed by the person who made the inspection.
The machinery record book shall at all times be open for the inspection of an inspector of mines.
Should, as a result of the examination, any weakness or defect be discovered by which life or limb might be endangered, the weakness or defect shall be reported immediately to the manager and remedied, and no person shall be lowered or raised until the defect is made good; as soon as a rope becomes defective it shall no longer be used for the transport of persons unless the damaged part is at the end and cut off; at every mine where persons are raised or lowered, at least one spare rope, as provided for in regulation 62(3)(d) of these Regulations, shall always be kept in reserve ready for use; special instructions shall be issued by the manager forbidding access to signal wires to any person other than those in charge of them, and care shall be taken to guard against the signal wires being accidentally put into operation; no person shall descend or ascend or order or permit any other person to descend or ascend a shaft or winze on the top of a cage or on the side, bow, rim, bale or carriage of any skip, bucket, truck or other similar means of conveyance, or on the top of a (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (i) (g) (h) loaded or in a partially-loaded skip, bucket, truck or other similar means of conveyance; except that persons engaged in sinking operations, or shaft repairs or authorised to make a shaft examination may ride on the top of an unloaded or partially- loaded cage, skip or bucket if this is necessary for the efficient carrying out of their duties; in no case shall a greater number of persons ride in any cage or other conveyance at any one time than has been duly authorised by an inspector of mines; a person travelling in a cage or other conveyance is prohibited from changing his position in it while the conveyance is in motion; after any stoppage of winding for repairs or for any other purpose exceeding two hours’ duration each cage or other conveyance, before any person is allowed to ride in it, must be run a complete trip up and down the working portion of the shaft at least once with a view of ensuring that
 everything is in good working order; (j) when winding persons, the engine driver shall not run the engine at a greater speed than that specified when permission to use the engine for the purpose was granted, and he shall take care that shocks in starting, running, and in bringing the engine to rest are avoided and that cages or other conveyances are brought gently to rest at stopping places; at every shaft or shaft station where persons are regularly allowed to ride, signals for raising or lowering a person or persons shall only be given by the banksmen, cage tenders and skipmen who shall be responsible for the observance of paragraphs (f), (g) and (i) of this regulation, for the giving of the correct signals, and for the proper closing of the doors and covers of the cage or other conveyance; and no person shall speak to or in any way distract the attention of the person operating a winding engine while it is in motion.
(k) (l) 65.

Accident or failure of winding engine.

Any accident to or failure of any winding engine or equipment in a shaft used for raising or lowering persons shall be reported in writing within twenty- four hours to an inspector of mines.

66.

Signalling and safety measures in the case of underground tramways.
In all underground tramways— (1) (a) where traction is operated by machinery, a signalling apparatus shall be provided by which distinct signals can be given to the engine driver from any part of the tramway; and (b) where traction is operated by gravity and the inclined plane exceeds 150 feet length, some efficient means of communicating distinct signals between stopping places shall be provided.
in (2) Where in underground tramways there is a minimum clearance of less than 18 inches between the side of the tramway and the truck, suitable places of refuge (manholes) shall be provided on the side of the tramway at intervals of not more than 50 feet, and the clearances and the places of refuge shall be kept free from loose materials and broken rocks.
(3) Before any underground tramway is operated, a clearance diagram shall be signed and submitted by the surveyor of the mine to an inspector of mines and a permit obtained from an inspector of mines for the operation of the tramway.
(4) Where the track of an underground tramway is inclined at more than 4 degrees, but not more than 14½ degrees and the trucks are attached to a moving rope, the track and equipment shall be known as an “inclined haulage” and the following special rules shall apply— (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) the haulage mechanism shall be fitted with efficient braking devices to the satisfaction of an inspector of mines; the tracks shall be fitted with suitable runaway trip devices to the satisfaction of an inspector of mines; the opening through which the haulage travels shall not be used as a travelling way for workmen; there shall be provided adequate protection from trucks running out of control for persons working at or operating the incline haulage; and the trucks shall be attached to the rope by a device approved by an inspector of mines.
(5) At all shaft tops and shaft stations underground where the rails of the tramway extend to the shaft there shall be provided at each track a safety stop for mine trucks placed not less than 8 feet from the edge of the shaft.

PART V—TRAVELLING AND LADDERWAYS.

67.

Ladders and ways of exit.


Every manager shall provide and maintain, to the satisfaction of an inspector of mines, such ladder or other ways as will furnish effectual means of exit from any underground workings or of ascent for persons without the assistance of the winding machinery.

68.

Permanent ladderways and footways.


At every mine where a shaft affords the regular means of ingress and egress to persons employed underground the shaft shall be fitted with a proper and permanent footway or ladderway, and the footway shall be approved by an inspector of mines.

69.

Footways or ladderways to be provided in certain shafts.

Where any shaft exceeds one hundred feet in depth it shall be provided with a proper footway or ladderway.

70.

Platforms to be provided in ladderways.


(1) In ladderways exceeding 50 feet in depth and having an inclination of more than 70 degrees from the horizontal, resting places (platforms) shall be provided at convenient intervals.

(2) In all ladderways in vertical or steeply inclined shafts which form a main means of ingress to or egress from the workings other than to or from individual working places, platforms (resting places) shall be fixed not more than 20 feet apart.

71.
71.

Construction of mine ladders.
Every ladder in a mine shall be— (a) (b) of strong construction, the staves shall be bolted together at not less than two places, and the distance between centres of rungs shall not be greater than 12 inches or less than 10 inches; securely fastened to the timbering or walls of the shaft, winze or stope, but so that in no case is any rung closer than 4 inches to the wall or of any timber underneath the ladder, except that in the case of small mines and prospects an inspector of mines may give written permission for the use of ladders with rungs set in notches in the staves and nailed to the staves subject to such conditions as he or she may think fit.
72.

Maximum inclination of ladders.

No ladder shall be erected at more than 80 degrees from the horizontal except with the written permission of an inspector of mines; except that this regulation shall not apply to ladders installed in exploratory winzes or in manways in stopes where the width is not sufficient to allow ladders to be fixed at less than 80 degrees.

73.

Ladders to cover the manholes.


Every ladder shall be so erected that it covers the lower manhole; except that this regulation shall not apply to ladders installed in exploratory winzes or in manways in stopes where the width is not sufficient to allow ladders to be fixed at a slope sufficient to cover the manhole directly beneath.

74.

Overhanging position prohibited.

The fixing of ladders in an overhanging position in travelling ways is prohibited.

75.
75.

Ladders to project three feet above shafts, etc.

Every ladder shall project at least three feet above the collar of the shaft or winze and above every resting place or platform in the shaft or winze, except when strong handrails are fixed at such places.

76.

Travelling ways in shafts to be partitioned or securely fenced.

(1) In vertical or steeply inclined shafts where one compartment is used as a foot travelling way it shall be securely partitioned from the other compartments.
(2) In all other shafts the foot travelling way or ways shall be adequately railed so as to prevent any person inadvertently entering the winding compartment; except that when a shaft is being sunk no partition shall be required to be installed between the lowest working level and the shaft bottom.

77.

Special travelling ways where winding of persons is prohibited.
(1) In all mines where the raising or lowering of persons by means of machinery is prohibited, only such travelling way or ways shall be used in ascending and descending as are specially set apart for the purpose.

(2) The use of other shaft compartments as a means of ingress or egress is permitted only to those persons who are charged with the making of inspections or repairs.

78.

Carrying tools, etc.

in ladderway prohibited.


The carrying of tools or any loose materials up or down the ladderways in vertical or steeply inclined shafts or winzes is prohibited, except where absolutely necessary.

79.

Ladders in sinking shafts and in raises in course of extension.

(1) Where a shaft is in the course of sinking, the ladderway shall finish sufficiently far from the shaft bottom to be secure from damage from blasting.
A chain ladder shall extend from the lower end of the ladderway to the bottom of the shaft at all times while workmen are there present at the bottom; except that where an inspector of mines deems it necessary he or she may require at any winze or at any mine that a chain ladder shall extend to the bottom of the winze or any shaft or winze at all times during any period during which the winze or shaft is in the course of sinking.
(2) Where an inclined raise is being extended at an angle of 50E or more measured from the horizontal and is to be driven more than 60 feet slope distance, it shall be divided into two or more compartments one of which shall be maintained as a ladderway, and shall be equipped with suitable ladders.

The timbering shall be maintained within a safe distance of the face, and in no event shall the distance between the face and the top of the timbering exceed 25 feet.
In such cases a chain ladder shall be secured to the footwall by means of a stout iron pin and shall at all times be kept as near the working place as possible.

(3) Where in accordance with these Regulations twin raises and winzes are driven within 30 feet of each other, the division of each raise into two or more separate compartments may be dispensed with if the raises are connected across at intervals of not more than 50 feet and an access road to each developing end is kept open at all times.
PART VI—VENTILATION AND POISONS.

80.

Underground workings to be properly ventilated.

All parts of every underground working shall be properly and sufficiently ventilated to the satisfaction of an inspector of mines.

81.

Disused workings to be examined before being again used.
Underground works, especially shafts, sumps and winzes, which have been in disuse for some time, shall be tested with a candle flame which must burn strongly before they are used again, in order to ascertain whether or not foul air or other dangerous gases have accumulated there.

Until such places are fit to work in, no person shall be allowed to enter.

82.

Working in certain places forbidden.


No person shall work or remain in, permit or order any other person to work in any place in a mine where the air contains excessive or dangerous amounts of dust, smoke or fumes.

83.

Water blast to be used in certain circumstances.

Where drilling is conducted by compressed air and an inspector of mines considers it to be necessary, a water blast shall be used at any working face specified.

84.

Machine drilling.


(1) No machine drilling dry shall be permitted at surface or underground without the written permission of an inspector of mines except in the case of popholing.

(2) Where machine drilling is employed, all development ends shall be adequately ventilated; and to meet such needs auxiliary ventilation equipment shall be kept available and shall be used.

85.

Removal of fumes.


When situated in a building, all vessels used for any purpose whereby noxious fumes are generated shall be fitted with hoods and appliances so designed that the fumes generated in the vessels are effectively carried directly to the outside air.

86.

Drinking water.

An adequate supply of wholesome drinking water shall be provided in each testing room and assay office, and the supply shall be distinctly labelled “Drinking Water”.

87.

Storage of poisons.


(1) Mercury, cyanide or other poisonous substances used in any mining or milling process shall be stored in a separate compartment specially set aside for the storage of such poisonous substances.

The compartment shall be locked and shall be in the care of a responsible person duly authorised by the manager.

(2) No person shall remove from a mine any mercury, cyanide or other poisonous substance without the prior written permission of the manager.
(3) Where possible, cyanide drips shall be screened.

88.

Provision of gloves.

Where persons are required to handle mercury or cyanide or substances containing mercury or cyanide, an adequate supply of suitable rubber gloves shall be provided by the manager for the use of those persons free of charge.

89.

Mercury vapour.


In any process whereby the vaporisation of mercury is made possible, due care shall be exercised that no person shall be exposed to the resultant fumes, and a warning shall be given to all persons in the vicinity that such a process is in operation.

PART VII—LIGHTING.

90.

Adequate stationary lights to be provided.


Adequate stationary lights shall be provided during working hours at all stations in shafts as well as at stopping and refuge places in levels where winding or hauling is effected by means of machinery and at night at all working places on the surface; except that— (a) (b) the tops of winzes need not be lighted when no hoisting is being carried on; and this regulation shall not apply to places not in actual use.

91.

Machinery to be illuminated.


All places where winding, driving, pumping or other machinery is erected, and in proximity to which persons are working or moving about, shall be so lighted that while the machinery is in operation its external moving parts can be clearly distinguished.

92.

Moving without a light prohibited.

No person shall move about or work in any nonilluminated part of a mine without a light.

PART VIII—WORKERS.

93.

Record of all employees to be kept.


A sufficient record shall be kept in the office at every mine of all persons employed in and about the mine.

94.

Intoxicated and crippled persons and intoxicating liquor not allowed in or about a mine; prohibition on employment of persons with tuberculosis.
(1) No person who is under the influence of alcohol and no person who owing to the loss of a limb or any other physical deformity which may render or is likely to render him or her incapable of taking care of himself or herself or of persons under his or her charge, shall be allowed to enter a mine or to be in proximity to any working place on the surface or near to any machinery in motion within any mining property; and any person who may have entered a mine or who may be found in any working place above or below ground when he or she is under the influence of alcohol shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence against these Regulations.
Such person may be arrested by a manager or a person duly approved by him or her, and on such arrest shall be handed over to the police.

(2) No intoxicating liquor shall be taken by any person into any mine or into any place of work at a mine except with the special permission of the manager, and any worker having any intoxicating liquor in his or her possession while at work or at a place of work shall be deemed guilty of an offence against these Regulations.
(3) No person suffering from any form of pulmonary tuberculosis shall be employed in or on a mine.

95.

Women not to be employed in certain works.

No woman shall be employed in any open-cast working, quarry or in any underground working.

PART IX—EXPLOSIVES.

96.

Storage of explosives underground.


Explosives in quantities not exceeding 100 pounds in weight may only be stored underground provided the following conditions are observed— (a) (b) (c) (d) they shall be kept in boxes which may be subject to the approval of an inspector of mines and shall be situated in dry places at safe distances from any other stores or working places; the boxes in which they are stored shall be locked or shall be kept in a locked store.
The boxes shall be solidly constructed of wood so that no metal is exposed in them, but all nails and iron screws shall be countersunk and covered over, and have lids or tops sloping so that no lamps or materials may stand on them.
The boxes or receptacles shall have the word “Explosives” painted on them in distinct and legible letters, and shall themselves be painted bright red; detonators shall not be kept in the same box with other explosives, but shall be kept in separate locked boxes which shall be not less than 1 foot square in size and which shall not be placed within 6 feet of boxes containing other explosives; every person in charge of explosives shall keep the boxes, places (e) (f) or receptacles containing explosives locked by means of substantial locks and shall not allow the keys to leave his possession; no other materials, implements or tools except fuse, wooden or copper wedges, mallets and crimping pliers shall be placed in boxes in which explosives are stored, and the fuse, wedges, mallets and pliers shall be kept in a separate compartment from explosives; and at any mine where explosives are kept under this regulation a watchman shall be on duty to prevent theft of explosives during times when the person in charge of the explosives is not at work in the mine.
97.

Storage of explosives at quarries and at the surface of mines.

Explosives in quantities not exceeding one hundred pounds in weight only may be stored at quarries and at the surface of mines in places and under conditions approved by an inspector of mines.

98.

Storage of explosives in a licensed magazine obligatory; exemption for temporary storage.
Explosives for use in connection with prospecting or mining operations shall, except in the quantities set forth in regulations 96 and 97 of these Regulations, be stored— in a licensed explosives magazine; or (a) (b) where the quantity stored at any one time does not exceed one thousand pounds in weight and an inspector of explosives considers the storage to be temporary, in a store permitted by him or her by virtue of section 6(1)(c) of the Explosives Act to be a temporary store.

99.
99.

Transporting detonators with dynamite forbidden.

In no case may detonators be transported in the same vehicle or carried in the same case or canister with dynamite or any other nitroglycerine compounds, except as provided in regulation 117 of these Regulations.

100.

Notice to engine drivers.

Proper notice shall be given to the engine driver by the banksman immediately before explosives are conveyed in a shaft by means of machinery.

101.

Conveyance of explosives in shaft.


The engine driver shall gently lower or raise the cage or other conveyance containing explosives, and the explosives may be placed in or taken out of the shaft conveyance only by a person duly authorised in writing by the manager.

102.

Carrying explosives (1) While explosives are being carried no person in the vicinity shall carry any unprotected light.
(2) While explosives are being conveyed underground they shall be preceded by a person carrying a suitable light and it shall be his or her duty to give proper warning of the approach of explosives.

103.

Disposal of explosives of mine closing down.

No explosives shall be stored in any closed down mine without the permission of an inspector of mines.

104.

Removal of explosives.

No person shall take away from a mine any explosive without the written permission of the manager.

105.
105.

Possession of explosives.

No person shall conceal or be in possession of explosives in a mine except as provided for in these Regulations.

PART X—BLASTING, DUTIES OF GANGERS, ETC.

106.

Only holders of blasting certificate may use explosives.

No person shall take charge of explosives, conduct or be allowed to conduct any blasting operations in or about a mine unless he holds a miner’s blasting certificate.

107.

Application for and issuance of blasting certificate.
(1) Application for a blasting certificate shall be in writing in Form I in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(2) A blasting certificate which shall be in Form II in the Schedule to these Regulations may be issued by an inspector of mines, an inspector appointed under the Explosives Act, or by a person approved by the commissioner to any person who has been examined by him or her and whom he or her considers competent to receive the certificate on payment of the sum of ten shillings.
(3) A blasting certificate may be issued subject to such conditions as may appear necessary to the issuing officer.

(4) When a blasting certificate is lost or destroyed a new certificate may be issued to the holder on payment of the prescribed fee, and the certificate lost or destroyed shall be considered to be cancelled.

108.

Cancellation of blasting certificate.
(1) Should any holder of a blasting certificate be convicted of an offence under the Explosives Act or any rules made under that Act, or under these Regulations insofar as they relate to the use or storage of explosives, or should he cause an accident which, in the opinion of an inspector of mines, was due to his carelessness, negligence, incapacity or insobriety, an inspector of mines may cancel the certificate, and he or she may disqualify the holder from obtaining a new certificate for any time the inspector of mines may think proper.
(2) Any person whose certificate is cancelled under subregulation (1) of this regulation may appeal to the commissioner against the cancellation within twenty-one days.

109.

Certificate to be retained by manager.

Every manager or mine captain, upon engaging a miner, shall examine his blasting certificate and retain it until the termination of his engagement.

110.

Miner conducting blasting to hold certificate.


At every working place where blasting is carried on the miner or ganger on each shift shall hold a blasting certificate.

111.

Large gangs must be divided.

In the case of a gang of workmen being so large that one ganger is unable himself to conduct properly the blasting operations, the gang shall be divided into two or more parties, each under the charge of a ganger or miner holding a blasting certificate.

112.

Preparing and firing charges.


In the preparation and firing of charges a certificated miner or ganger may be assisted by reliable persons who do not possess certificates, when acting under his direct supervision, but he shall be personally responsible for any accident occurring through such persons’ ignorance, inexperience or carelessness, and in no case shall any uncertificated person actually charge drill holes.

113.

Unprotected lights prohibited near explosives.


(1) No unprotected light may be placed on top of a box in which there are explosives or detonators.

(2) All unprotected lights shall be removed to a safe distance not less than six feet before any box containing explosives or detonators is opened or when charges are prepared.

114.

Tools for opening cases.


Tools required for opening cases shall be kept in a separate compartment in storage boxes and shall be of wood, copper, phosphor-bronze or other similar material but not of iron or steel, except that a steel screwdriver may be kept for unscrewing cases which are closed by means of screws, and that no case of explosives shall be opened except by means of approved tools used in a proper manner.

115.

Smoking prohibited.


No person shall smoke while handling explosives or detonators.

116.

Only cartridges allowed.

Explosives of every kind shall be used in the form of cartridges only, except where an inspector of mines has given prior permission for them to be used otherwise.

117.

Rules to be observed when blasting with gelignite.
Where blasting with gelignite or other high explosives is carried out the following rules shall be observed— (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) no detonator or instantaneous fuse shall be inserted into the primer cartridge until shortly before use; except where fired electrically no fuse shorter than 3 feet shall be used in any blasting operation; the primers shall be prepared as near as practicable to the face to be blasted, after all work on the face has been completed and all workmen other than those actually required for the blasting operations have been withdrawn; the person responsible for blasting may carry the fuse with attached detonators together with cartridges for priming, but the fuse with detonators attached shall be contained in a suitable container and not carried loose; except that in certain cases an inspector of mines may allow made-up primers to be carried subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by him or her; the fuse with detonator attached shall be securely fastened to the primer cartridge by means of string or in some other suitable way, so that the fuse with detonator attached cannot be inadvertently withdrawn; before charging machine drilled holes they shall be freed of all sludge and grit by using a blowpipe; in charging or on stemming holes for blasting, a person shall not use any iron or steel tool and explosives shall not be forcibly pressed into a hole of insufficient size; only clay free from stones lightly tamped, sifted sand, loosely filled in, or water may be used as tamping material for charges of explosives; before firing charges, due warning shall be given in every direction by shouting “fire”, and all entrances to the place or places where the charges are being fired shall be guarded to prevent inadvertent access to the place or places while firing (l) (j) (k) operations are going on; except in the case of single holes, only standard fuse igniters shall be used for igniting fuses, and in no case shall lamps, candles or matches be used for igniting fuses underground;
 fuses shall be lighted at or near the uncapped end and shall not be lighted at any point less than 2 feet 10 inches from the capped end; all holes which have been charged with explosives in one charging operation shall be fired in one blasting operation; (m) unless otherwise directed in writing by an inspector of mines, the number of shots exploding shall be counted by at least two persons one of whom shall be the ganger or the certificated miner who fired the charges; after blasting no person shall return to the face for 15 minutes after the fuses were lighted and if the persons counting the shots are not both certain that all the charges have exploded, no one shall be allowed to enter the working place for a period of 30 minutes after the fuses were lighted, and in no case shall any person return to the face until the working place and approaches to it are free from smoke and fumes.
(n) 118.

Misfires: preliminary precautions.

(1) A ganger or certificated miner on discovering a misfire shall immediately plug it with a wooden plug, painted red, after tucking the fuse into the hole, and he shall not leave the place until it has been made safe.
(2) No person not necessarily required to be present shall approach or be allowed to approach the scene of a misfire or suspected misfire and the ganger or certificated miner in charge shall not leave it until it has been dealt with or until adequate precautions have been taken, by barricades or otherwise, to prevent any person approaching it.

(3) The ganger or certificated miner in charge shall deal with misfires or suspected misfires with as little delay as possible.
(4) The manager shall be responsible for seeing that an adequate supply of suitable plugs is available for plugging misfired holes in compliance with subregulation (1) of this regulation.

119.

Suspected misfires.
Where a misfire is suspected at change of shift, the ganger or certificated miner who fired the charges shall immediately report it to the mine captain who shall immediately record the suspected misfire in a book kept for the purpose and, if possible, to the ganger or certificated miner of the oncoming shift; except that the responsibility of warning the ganger or certificated miner of the oncoming shift shall rest with the mine captain who shall require the oncoming ganger or certificated miner to place his signature beside the entry in the book recording the misfire.
120.

Misfires.

(1) No person shall extract or attempt to extract explosives otherwise than in accordance with subregulation (2) of this regulation.
(2) Misfires shall be dealt with only by the holder of a miner’s blasting certificate and in the following manner— (a) (b) the tamping shall be withdrawn from the misfired hole by means of a piece of wood, brass or copper scraper or by means of compressed air and water applied through a blowpipe of a design and material approved by an inspector of mines, a fresh primer shall be placed in contact with the misfired charge and the charge shall be retamped and refired without delay; or all the explosive in the hole shall be extracted by means of a water jet or compressed air and water applied through a blowpipe of a design and material approved by an inspector of mines, and the extracted explosives shall be recovered where possible.
(3) No person shall drill or cause or permit to be drilled any hole— in any shaft, drive, adit, crosscut, winze, raise, or other similar (a) confined space, in which there is a misfired hole; or in a stope, underground place other than those included in paragraph (a) of this subregulation, quarry, trench or other open- cast working in which there is a misfired hole at any point less than six feet from the misfired hole, (b) unless the misfired hole has been dealt with in accordance with subregulation (2) of this regulation.
121.

Ganger must be the first to enter the working place.

Before work is commenced on a working place either at the beginning of a shift or after blasting, the ganger or certificated miner of the shift shall be the first person to enter the working place.

122.

Examination of face after blasting.


(1) After blasting, the ganger or certificated miner in charge shall personally examine the scene for misfired or partially misfired holes and dangerous ground, and, until he has done so, shall not allow any other persons to approach the scene except such as are necessary to assist him to make his personal examination.
(2) The ganger or certificated miner shall bar down or personally supervise the barring down of any loose hanging ground and otherwise make the place safe before permitting any other work to be done in the vicinity of the blasting.

(3) If any misfired hole is found or suspected, the debris thereabouts shall be carefully removed by hand and the face cleared up to locate the misfire or suspected misfire.
(4) No drilling shall be carried out within six inches of any hole that has been charged and fired or of any remnant of the hole.

(5) The ganger or certificated miner in charge shall not permit new holes to be drilled until the ground has been thoroughly cleaned and he has examined it.

All sockets shall be thoroughly cleaned out before drilling is commenced by using a copper or brass scraper or a jet of water.

123.
123.

Holder of blasting certificate responsible for direction of holes and for preventing improper removal of explosives.

(1) The ganger or certificated miner in charge shall clearly mark the position and indicate the direction of holes to be drilled and shall not permit holes to be drilled elsewhere or in any other direction.
(2) The ganger or certificated miner in charge shall not permit any person working under his charge to retain explosive in his possession or remove it from the mine, and shall be responsible for seeing that all explosives are at all times securely kept under lock and key.

124.

Charged holes to be guarded.

When a hole has been charged it shall not be left unguarded until it has been fired.

125.

Conditions relating to certain drilling equipment.
Apparatus and equipment used in connection with drilling and auxiliary ventilation shall be subject to the following conditions— (a) (b) no scrapers or spoons of ferrous material shall be permitted on a mine except with the permission of an inspector of mines; no blowpipe shall be allowed on a mine except of a pattern approved by an inspector of mines which shall have a copper or brass tip of at least eighteen inches in length and shall be provided with a means of injecting water; (c) when a machine drill or air hoist is employed and mounted on a column or bar, the column or bar shall be provided with a safety clamp; (d) when air lines are provided in raises, winzes and drives, a stop valve shall be installed near to but clear of the entrance thereto, notwithstanding the provision of a stop valve at the end of the line; an inspector of mines may require water blasts to be used.
(e) 126.

Duties of ganger or certificated miner in connection with water blasts.

When water blasts are required to be used the ganger or certificated miner in charge shall ensure that— (a) (b) (c) they are kept within 50 feet of the face; they are tested before firing commences; and they are operated at least fifteen minutes after firing and 15 minutes before an oncoming shift takes over duties.

127.

Duties of ganger or certificated miner in relation to ventilating equipment.
The ganger or certificated miner in charge shall ensure if possible that all ventilating equipment is placed in a through ventilating current and that the delivery end of the piping is kept at all times when in operation within eight feet of the face or at such distance from the face as will ensure adequate ventilation at the face.

128.

Electric blasting.


(1) In case of electric blasting, to prevent accidental withdrawal of detonators from the primer cartridge the detonator wire shall be formed in a hitch around or threaded through the primer cartridge.

(2) Where electric blasting is in operation a galvanometer and a suitable pot or tube shall be provided for testing conductors and detonators.
(3) For electric blasting other than from lighting and power lines a suitable exploder with a removable operating handle or key shall be used but shall not be connected to the blasting circuit until immediately before use and shall be disconnected immediately after the charges have exploded; all exploders shall be in the charge of a responsible person appointed by the manager for that purpose.
(4) Electricity from lighting or power cables shall not be used for firing charges except where a firing device of a design which has been approved by the commissioner and which automatically opens the circuit by gravity is provided.

The device shall be installed in a fixed locked box and shall be accessible only to a responsible person appointed by the manager to fire charges.
(5) The firing cables leading to the face shall be short circuited while the leads from the blasting caps are being connected to each other and to the firing cables, and the short circuit shall be so located that a premature explosion would be harmless to the blastman opening the short circuit and shall not be opened until the workmen have retreated from the face.
(6) When storms are taking place or are imminent no electric blasting shall be done either from power or lighting circuits or by blasting machines either at the surface or underground.

129.

Waiting places to be specified and used.

(1) Until he considers the working place safe at the beginning of a shift and after blasting, no ganger or certificated miner shall allow any person, other than persons required by him to make the working place safe, to enter.
(2) For the purpose of carrying out subregulation (1) of this regulation, the manager shall specify a “waiting place” for each working place and notify the mine captain, shift bosses and gangers of all such places.

(3) The ganger in charge of each working place shall be responsible for seeing that the workmen do not leave the waiting place and enter the working place at the beginning of a shift or after blasting until he has satisfied himself that it is safe for them to do so.

130.
130.

Time for charging holes.

Holes shall be charged only within a reasonable time of blasting, and the insertion of the primer cartridge shall be delayed until shortly before firing.

131.

Attachment of detonators to fuse.

Detonators shall only be attached to fuses by means of properly designed copper pliers or other approved instruments.

132.

Capping house.


On all mines where one hundred or more detonators are being used each working day, a capping house for the preparation of capped fuses shall be provided to the satisfaction of an inspector of mines.

133.

Transport of carbide.

(1) No person shall carry or cause or permit to be carried any calcium carbide underground except in lamps or in watertight receptacles.

(2) No person shall store or leave calcium carbide underground except in watertight containers.

134.
134.

Duty of person in charge to ensure regulations are observed.

It shall be the duty of the person in charge of blasting operations to ensure that all regulations in respect of blasting and explosives are complied with and that all persons under his charge are aware of the dangers of noncompliance with the regulations.

PART XI—MACHINERY.

135.

Installation of boilers and engines to be reported.
The manager of a mine at least fourteen days prior to the day he or she intends to bring into use any boiler or any steam, oil or gas engine or any plant for the generation of power shall report his or her intention to an inspector and shall state the nature of the plant with the indicated horsepower, and the purpose for which it is to be used.

136.

Competent person may be required to be in charge of certain equipment.
When mechanical or electrical equipment is employed at a mine an inspector may require the equipment to be placed in charge of a competent person.

137.

Fencing, etc.

not to be removed.

No person unless authorised shall remove or interfere with the efficiency of any fencing, means of signalling, signal cabin, flange, brake indicator, ladder, platform, steam gauge, water gauge, safety valve, or anything in any mine provided for the safety of any miner or worker.

138.

Inspection of plant.


(1) An inspector may at any time require a holder or manager to prepare any boiler, engine or other plant for his or her inspection.

(2) Not less than one week’s notice in writing of the date on which he or she intends to hold the inspection shall be given.

139.

Direction of inspector as to plant.


If on examination a boiler or any machinery is found to be in a condition from which immediate danger may arise, an inspector may order the working of the boiler or machinery to be discontinued, and the boiler or machinery shall not be used again before it has been properly repaired and permission obtained for its further use from an inspector.

140.

Boilers, etc.

to be in good condition.


All boilers, engines, brakes, ropes, winding gear and other mechanical appliances shall be kept in good condition and repair to the satisfaction of an inspector.

141.

Exposed machinery to be fenced.

(1) All exposed machinery which, when in motion, may be dangerous to persons shall be securely fenced so that no person can inadvertently come into contact with it.
(2) Efficient guards shall be provided to the satisfaction of an inspector to such parts of machinery as may in his or her opinion be a source of possible danger to persons.

142.

Loose clothing.

Persons engaged near moving machinery shall not wear loose outer clothing.

143.

No repairing, oiling, etc.

to be done under risk.

(1) The repairing, adjusting, cleaning or lubricating of machinery in motion is prohibited where there is risk of personal injury.
(2) Machinery requiring to be oiled while in motion shall wherever practicable be fitted with automatic oiling devices.

144.

Friction clutches or similar contrivances to be provided.

(1) Belt-driven machinery, which it is necessary to start and stop without interfering with the speed of the prime mover, shall be permanently fitted with a satisfactory mechanical appliance for the purpose.
(2) The shipping and unshipping of driving belts while the machinery is in motion is forbidden unless a belt shipper is used, with the exception of the customary shifting of light belts on the coned pulleys of machine tools for the purpose of altering the working speed.

145.

Electrical machinery and conductors to be protected.

(1) Electrical machinery and all electrical conductors shall be placed and protected in such a way that no person can inadvertently come in contact with them.
(2) Efficient guards shall be provided to the satisfaction of an inspector to such parts of electrical machinery and conductors as may, in his or her opinion, be a possible source of danger.
(3) The following rules shall apply to the installation, operation and repair of electrical machinery, conductors and appliances— (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) notices in English and Swahili, warning persons from touching electrical machinery, appliances or conductors of any description without authority, shall be posted up at suitable places; all switchboards erected shall have at the back a clear space of at least 4 feet.
This space shall not be obstructed in any manner, and shall be kept closed except for purposes of alterations and repairs; no examination, repairs or alterations necessitating the handling of mains, wires, machines or other apparatus shall be carried on while the parts are under a pressure of more than 300 volts if the supply is of the continuous current system or of 150 volts if of the alternating current system, unless the work is done by or under the personal supervision of a skilled electrician; India-rubber gloves shall be provided and kept in good repair for the use of persons handling electrical plant; all electric lines, other than those efficiently earthed, placed in or within 7 feet of a building (not being a transformer station) shall be sufficiently insulated; no power line shall be situated at a distance of less than 50 feet from an explosives magazine and where the span between the supports of the line is greater than 100 feet an inspector may require the line to be situated at a greater distance from the magazine; conductors shall be securely attached to the insulators and shall be so guarded that they cannot fall away laterally from the cross arms; the mains and submains shall be efficiently protected by lightning arresters; and (i) where power lines cross railways, roads, or low-pressure conductors, the supporters shall carry cradles of four galvanized steel wires underneath and parallel to the conductors.
The two lower wires of the cradle shall be joined by transverse wires not more than 3 feet apart.

The lowest wires of the guard cradle shall be at least 2 feet above the highest low-pressure conductor.

All the wires of the cradle shall be efficiently earthed at every pole.

Where the power line crosses low-pressure conductors it shall in all cases be carried above them.

146.

Supply stations to be inaccessible to unauthorised persons.
(1) No person other than a person authorised by the manager shall enter an electrical supply station or interfere with the workings of any machinery, transformer, motor, or apparatus connected with it.

(2) When no authorised person is present the door of the station shall be kept securely locked.

147.

Restrictions on use of motors underground.


Except with the written permission of an inspector, who may make such permission subject to such conditions as he or she may deem fit— (a) (b) (c) no motor over 750 volts to ground shall be used underground; the voltage supply for electrical traction underground shall not exceed 300 volts; and no electrical energy higher than 750 volts to ground shall be transmitted underground.

148.

In underground installations switch to be placed at surface.
(1) Where electrical energy is taken underground provision shall be made so that the current can be cut off on the surface close to the point where it is led underground.

(2) The cutoff switch or switches shall be situated in a separate locked building or compartment, and shall be accessible only to authorised persons.

149.

Method of carrying electrical cables and wires.


(1) All cables carrying over 300 volts transmitting power underground shall be armoured or enclosed in standard conduits and shall be substantially supported.

(2) Wires carrying not more than 300 volts to ground for lighting and signal circuits shall either be in standard conduits or casings, or suspended from and securely tied to porcelain or glass insulators, so that they do not touch any timbering or metal.
(3) Staples shall not be used in supporting electrical cables or wires.

(4) The armouring or casing of cables referred to in this regulation shall be bonded together so as to be electrically continuous and shall be connected at some point or points to a satisfactory ground.

150.

Protection of signal and telephone wires.

All electrical signal or telephone wires, whether insulated or not, shall be so placed that they cannot come into contact with other electrical conductors.

151.

Safety valves.


All vessels other than portable gas cylinders for receiving or storing air or gas at a higher pressure than the atmosphere shall be fitted with— (a) (b) a satisfactory apparatus for showing at all times the pressure of the air or gas; and a relief or safety valve or other device capable of preventing any undue accumulation of pressure above the safe working limit of the vessel.

152.

Compressed air receivers to be tested.


The manager shall ensure that all compressed air receivers are tested at intervals not exceeding three years by hydraulic pressure to the extent of 1a times the working pressure; and he or she shall keep a written record of the tests, signed by the person conducting them, and the records shall be open to inspection by an inspector.

153.

User of compressed air apparatus.


(1) All compressed air receivers and intercoolers, and their connections to air cylinders shall be kept clean and free from carbonised oil or other material liable to ignition.

(2) The supply of air for air compressors shall be drawn from as pure and cool a source as possible.

(3) When air compressors are in use an adequate spare supply of suitable lubricant shall be kept readily available.

154.

Dangerous places to be fenced.


All places in and about a mine which from their nature are likely to be dangerous to persons working or travelling about the mine shall be properly fenced and, in particular, all elevated platforms and trapholes shall be so fenced.

155.

No admittance permitted to places where machinery or boilers are housed.
No unauthorised person shall be permitted to enter any place in or about a mine where machinery or boilers are erected, and notices to this effect shall be posted at all entrances to the places where the machinery or boilers are housed.

PART XII—MINE PLANS.

156.

Plans to be kept.
(1) The following plans shall be kept in the office at every mine— a general surface plan corrected at least every year to a scale of (a) either 1/500 or 1/2,500 on tracing cloth of the whole area of the mine, showing the boundaries of the various holdings and their names, the outcrops and dip of the reef or reefs or other mineral or alluvial deposits, all open surface workings, shaft openings, boreholes, buildings, watercourses, reservoirs, tailings sites, dumps, public roads, railways, permanent tramways, electric power lines, public telegraph and telephone lines, cableways, main pipe lines, fences and all surface objects which need protection against undermining; an underground plan corrected at least every 3 months showing to a scale of not less than 1/500 all mine workings, whether abandoned or in use, the boundaries of the ground over which undermining rights are held where the boundaries can be shown on a plan of convenient size, faults, dykes, important changes in the dip of the reef, and the position of all pillars, packs and underground explosives magazines.
Where different reefs or (b) (c) mineral deposits overlie one another, the workings on each reef or mineral deposit shall be shown on a separate plan when so required by an inspector of mines; a section of the underground plan corrected at least every year on tracing cloth to a scale of not less than 1/500 showing the transverse section or sections of the workings drawn through the shaft or shafts and main adits of the property and indicating clearly the surface and the dip of the strata and reef and any dislocation of strata, intrusive rock; (d) where the reef has an average dip of more than 60 degrees, a plan or true copy of the plan on tracing cloth corrected at least every year to a scale of not less than 1/500, showing a projection along the general strike of the reef on to either a vertical plane or a plane as nearly as may be on the general place of the reef.
Where the reef has a width of more than 6 feet the width shall be marked on the plan in an approved manner at vertical and longitudinal intervals corresponding to distances of 40 feet; and a proper assay plan corrected at least every six months upon the vertical, horizontal or other approved projection of the mine workings to a scale of not less than 1/500.

(e) (2) Where convenient the plans referred to in subregulation (1) of this regulation may be prepared on two or more sheets.
(3) True copies upon tracing cloth or blue or white print paper of all plans required to be kept under subregulation (1) of this regulation shall be deposited with the commissioner every year.

These copies shall be certified as correct by the manager and by the surveyor, and shall become the property of the Government.

(4) An inspector of mines may exempt the manager or holder of a mine from all or any of the requirements in relation to plans as provided for in subregulation (1) of this regulation.

157.
157.

Failure to keep plans as required.

If on any mine the plans mentioned in regulation 156 of these Regulations are not made, or not kept as required or not forwarded to the commissioner, the commissioner shall be entitled to have the plans or necessary additions to the plans prepared at the expense of the holder.

158.

Assay plans may be inspected by certain officers.


An inspector of mines or officer of the geological survey may at any time inspect the assay plans of any mine, and may take extracts from them, and may take any samples in or about any mine or works.

159.

Plans confidential.
No copies of the plans mentioned in regulation 156 of these Regulations or any information concerning them shall be given by any Government officer to any unauthorised person; nor shall the plans be open to the inspection of any such person without the permission of the mine manager or holder of any information obtained under regulation 158 of these Regulations; but nothing in this regulation shall prevent the mines department exhibiting or supplying to the public maps showing boundaries of titles and topography.
160.

Measurements.

Except where an inspector of mines otherwise allows, in all mine surveys having for their object the construction of the plans mentioned in the preceding regulations, linear measurements shall be made in English feet and decimals of a foot by means of a steel tape and angular measurements by means of a theodolite.

161.

Provisions as to coordinates and surface datum.


(1) The coordinates of the surface and underground surveys shall be referred to the same axes as the coordinates of the trigonometrical or recognised local cadastral survey of the mining property; but the origin may be changed, provided that the constant difference caused by the change is noted on every plan.

(2) All levels in surface and underground surveys shall be referred to a datum fixed by an inspector of mines.

162.

Limits of error.
The following shall be the limits of error in mine surveys— (a) (b) closing of a traverse: 1/1,000; the error in length between any two points of a traverse shall not exceed 1/1,000 of the true length; (c) (d) (e) the error in the measurement of a line between any two consecutive points of a traverse shall not exceed 1/1,000 of its true length, nor shall the error in the measurement of its direction in reference to the axes of coordinates exceed 4 minutes of arc; the error in level between any two points shall not exceed 1/2,000 of the distance between them; and in special measurements that have for their object the fixing of the position of shafts and the establishment of connections, the allowable error shall not exceed half the limits of error given above.
163.

Check survey.

An inspector of mines, where he or she deems it necessary, may cause a check survey to be made by a qualified surveyor; the cost of the survey shall be borne by the owner of the mine where it is proved that any error in the survey or in plans constructed as the result of the survey exceeds the limits of error in regulation 162 of these Regulations.

164.

Procedure on closing down.


(1) Before a mine or any part of a mine is closed down or abandoned or rendered inaccessible, all underground plans and assay plans shall be brought up-to-date, and copies of these shall be handed to an inspector of mines and shall become the property of the Government.

(2) When a mine is closed down the calculation books and survey notebooks shall be handed to an inspector of mines and shall become the property of the Government.
(3) All the information in the plans and records mentioned in this regulation shall be the property of the Government which shall have the right to publish or otherwise use the information on termination of prospecting or mining rights over the area.

PART XIII—MISCELLANEOUS.

165.

First-aid kit.


At every mine and at every place where mining or prospecting operations are in progress (including operations being carried out under any prospecting right or licence), there shall be immediately available for use such first-aid requisites in good condition as may be required by the commissioner and notified by circular or notice in the Gazette.

166.

Ambulance stations.


(1) Ambulance stations shall be maintained at such mines and at such points in such mines as the commissioner shall direct.

(2) Ambulance stations shall be equipped with the first-aid kit as provided for in regulation 165 of these Regulations and such additional equipment as the commissioner shall direct which may include resuscitation apparatus, asbestos suits and other special equipment.
(3) The commissioner may require the maintenance at any mine of portable oxygen inhalation rescue apparatus to be kept at a place specified by him or her at the mine.

167.

Training of rescue teams and of persons in first aid.

It shall be the duty of the owner, agent and manager of every mine to cause such number of employees as an inspector of mines shall deem necessary to be trained in the use and maintenance of rescue and resuscitation apparatus and first-aid equipment.

168.
168.

Notice for commencing, discontinuing or recommencing work.

Written notice shall be given by the manager (or where no manager has been appointed, the holder) to an inspector of mines when work is to be begun for the purpose of opening a mine, or of reopening an abandoned mine or part of a mine or of discontinuing work temporarily or permanently in a mine or part of a mine.

169.

Abandonment of a mine; responsibility for carrying out regulations.
(1) When a mine is abandoned the holder and the manager at the time of the abandonment shall jointly and severally continue to be responsible for carrying out the regulations laid down regarding the protection of the surface and the furnishing of plans.

(2) Upon an inspector of mines being satisfied that the regulations have been duly complied with, he or she shall issue a certificate to that effect, and the holder and manager shall thereupon be relieved from all responsibility.

170.
170.

Responsibility of manager.

Where in any of these Regulations no person is named as being responsible for complying with them, the responsibility shall rest with the manager.

171.

Responsibility for accident occurring with incompetent worker.
Where an accident has been caused, through the incompetence or inexperience of a worker or workers employed on dangerous work, the manager shall be held responsible unless he or she can prove that he or she has taken proper precautions to prevent such an accident occurring.

172.

Manager shall provide for the safety and discipline of workers.
(1) The manager shall provide for the safety and proper discipline of the workers employed above and below ground, and shall appoint such persons as may be necessary to administer these Regulations, and unless he or she proves that he or she has taken all reasonable measures to enforce them, he or she commits an offence.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) of this regulation, the manager of a mine, quarry or works may make special rules not inconsistent with these Regulations for the maintenance of order, discipline and prevention of accidents at any such mine, works or quarry.
(3) Rules made under this regulation shall be submitted to the Minister for his or her approval through an inspector of mines and the commissioner and shall take effect after such approval fourteen days after having been posted in at least two different conspicuous places at the mine, quarry or works and shall remain so posted until they cease to have effect.
(4) The manager shall supply a printed copy of any rules made under this regulation free of charge on application to any person employed in or about the mine, quarry or works.

(5) The Minister may at any time order that the rules made under this regulation be altered or cease to have effect if he or she considers them unreasonable, unnecessary or otherwise undesirable.
(6) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of the rules made under this regulation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred shillings or in default of payment of the fine to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen days.

173.

Sanitation.
(1) The manager of a mine shall provide or cause to be provided on the surface and in the underground workings suitable latrines in accordance with the following minimum requirements— (a) where the number of persons employed on any shift does not exceed one hundred, there shall be one latrine for every twenty- five persons or fraction of that number; and (b) where the number of persons so employed exceeds one hundred, there shall be one additional latrine for every forty persons or fraction of that number over one hundred.
(2) (a) (b) In any latrine where there is no water flushing system— the soil receptacle shall be kept clean and adequately supplied with fine ash, chloride of lime, sawdust or other absorbent; and shall be removed, cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals.

(3) Any underground latrine shall be located so as to be reasonably accessible having regard to the number of persons employed at different levels in the mine.

(4) No person shall deposit faeces in any place other than in a latrine.

174.
174.

Holder responsible for refusing manager necessary means.

When the manager of a mine can prove that the necessary means for carrying out these Regulations have been refused him or her by the holder or his or her agent, the holder will be held responsible for the consequences.

175.

Working places to be visited.
(1) The manager of every mine or some person above the status of shift boss deputed by the manager in writing for the purpose, shall inspect each place at which workers are working and shall ensure safety in every respect and the inspections shall be made— (a) where the daily average number of workers is less than one hundred persons underground or the number of workers is three hundred persons in all, once a day; and (b) where the daily average number of workers exceeds one hundred persons underground or the number of workers is more than three hundred persons in all on any one shift, once in every seventy- two hours.
(2) The shift boss shall visit every working place at least once in every shift while workers are at work and shall ensure safety in every respect.

(3) The inspections shall be recorded in a logbook as required by an inspector of mines.

176.

Responsibility regarding dangerous conditions.


(1) If any ganger or certificated miner has reason to believe that any part of a mine is in a dangerous condition, he or she shall at once inform the mine captain or the manager who shall take steps to prevent danger from that to persons.

(2) The ganger or certificated miner shall also inform any ganger or certificated miner who may relieve him.

177.

Responsibility of surveyor.
The surveyor shall be responsible for— (a) (b) the due observance of regulation 156 of these Regulations and the duties imposed on him or her by regulation 36 of these Regulations; the accuracy of all such plans within the limits of error laid down in regulation 162 of these Regulations, except that— (c) he or she shall not be responsible for the accuracy of surveys or plans made before he or she assumed his or her duties; and (d) when no surveyor has been appointed, the manager himself or herself shall perform the duties of the surveyor and be responsible for the satisfactory fulfillment by a person engaged by him or her for that purpose.
178.

Offences.

Any employee who contravenes or fails to comply with any direction with respect to working given to him or her by any person duly authorised for that purpose by virtue of these Regulations and any special rules commits an offence.

179.

Employees responsible for reporting danger.

Every employee who shall notice anything in or about a mine which might be dangerous to life or limb or to the working of any machinery shall immediately inform the person in charge of the mine.

180.
180.

Mine not to be worked without manager.

No mine shall be worked for a longer period than one month without a formally appointed manager except with the special permission of an inspector of mines and under such conditions as he or she may deem necessary.

181.

Appointment of manager.
(1) No person shall be appointed manager of a mine where more than one hundred persons are employed underground at any one time unless he or she produces evidence to the satisfaction of the commissioner that— (a) (b) he or she has had practical experience in mines for periods totalling not less than four years and has acted in a responsible or a supervisory capacity for more than half that period; or at some time he or she has taken a regular course of study in mining over a period of three years at a school of mines approved by the commissioner and has been engaged in mining for periods totalling not less than two years.
(2) In the case of mines employing fewer than one hundred persons underground any competent person may, with the written approval of an inspector of mines, be appointed manager for such period or periods as the inspector may allow.

182.

Underground supervision.

(1) No person shall be in charge of underground working where more than one hundred persons are employed at any one time who has not had practical underground experience for at least two years.
(2) In the case of mines employing fewer than one hundred persons underground, any competent person may be permitted by an inspector of mines to take charge of the underground workings.

183.

Surveyor.

(1) No person shall be appointed surveyor of a mine employing more than one hundred persons underground at any time unless he or she has had more than three months’ underground survey experience and his or her qualifications as a surveyor satisfy an inspector of mines.
(2) In the case of mines employing fewer than one hundred persons underground, an inspector of mines may permit the appointment of any surveyor whom he or she may deem competent.

184.

Appointments.

(1) The holder or his or her agent duly appointed under regulation 58 of the Mining Regulations shall appoint the manager of every mine.
(2) All appointments mentioned in regulations 181 to 183 of these Regulations shall be notified by the holder, his or her agent or manager to an inspector of mines within fourteen days of the date of the appointment.

A specimen signature of the newly appointed official should accompany the notification.

(3) An inspector of mines shall keep a register of all such appointments.

_____ Schedule.

Forms.

reg.

107.

Form I.

Application for Miner’s Blasting Certificate.

The Mining Act.
The Mining Act.

The Mining (Safety) Regulations.
To: ________________________________ ________________________________ Name _____________________________________________ (block letters) Nationality _____________________________________ Age _________ Address _____________________________________________________ Previous mining experience ______________________________________ Give particulars of any previous mining blasting certificates held _________ ______________________________________________________________ Have you ever been involved in any mining accident?
__________________ ______________________________________________________________ If so, give fullest particulars _______________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ _________________________________ Signature of Applicant Date _______________________ Form II.

Miner’s Blasting Certificate.

The Mining (Safety) Regulations.


This is to certify that Mr. _________________________________________ of _________________________________________________ is qualified to conduct blasting operations in and about a mine.

__________________________________ Issuing Officer _________________________________ Signature of Holder (made in presence of inspector) Date _______________________ Fee: shs.

500,000 _____ History: S.I.

248-5; S.I.

94/1966; S.I.

8/1999.

Cross References Explosives Act, Cap.

298.


Mining Regulations, S.I.

148-1.

_____