Mines (General) Regulations, 1975.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: These Regulations may be cited as the Mines (General) Regulations, 1975.
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paragraphs: These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of February, 1976.
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paragraphs: (1) In these Regulations,
"the Act" means the Mines and Quarries Act, 1965 ;
"the approved code of signals" has the meaning assigned to it by Regulation 18 (2) of these Regulations;
"auxiliary fan" means a fan used or intended to be used below ground in a mine wholly or mainly for ventilating a heading, drift or blind end;
"banksman (deckman)" has the meaning assigned to it in Regulation 18 (5) of these Regulations;
"capping" means the complete attachment fitted at the end of a rope by means of which the rope is attached to a shaft conveyance;
"deputy" means a person appointed as a deputy (shift boss) for the purposes of Regulation 13 of the Mines (managers and Officials) Regulations, 1970 ( S.I. No. 74 of 1970 );
"engineman (hoistman)" means the person operating winding (hoisting) apparatus in a mine;
"inspector" means an inspector appointed under section 130 of the Act;
"lifting appliance" means a crab, winch, pulley block or gin wheel used for raising or lowering, and also a crane, sheer legs, excavator, dragline, piling frame, aerial cableway, aerial ropeway or overhead runway but does not include a winding engine (hoist) or a utility hoist;
"lifting gear" means a chain sling, rope sling or similar gear, and a ring, hook, plate clamp, shackle, swivel, link or eye-bolt, but includes neither a rope used in a shaft, staplepit, winze or unwalkable outlet nor any apparatus used for attaching to a rope a shaft conveyance in a shaft, staplepit, winze or unwalkable outlet;
"main intake airway" means either a length of intake airway which begins at a shaft or at an outlet and ends at a working face or a length of airway in which, at the inner end, the current of air in the airway is split and which as regards two or more working faces is an intake airway;
"main return airway" means either a length of return airway which begins at a working face and ends at a shaft or at an outlet, or a length of airway in which, at the inner end, there is a junction of two or more currents of air and which as regards two or more working faces is a return airway;
"manager" means a person appointed under section 13 of the Act;
"Minister" means the Minister for Labour;
"onsetter (cage tender)" has the meaning assigned to it by Regulation 18 (5) of these Regulations;
"owner" has the meaning assigned to it by section 4 of the Act;
"travelling onsetter (travelling cage tender)" has the meaning assigned to it by Regulation 18 (5) of these Regulations.
(2) Where a shaft or winze in a mine is divided throughout by a substantial partition so as to form compartments having separate winding installations, each compartment shall for the purposes of these Regulations be regarded as being a separate shaft, or a separate winze, as may be appropriate.
(3) In Regulations 58, 62, 71 and 72 of these Regulations, a "designated area" has the meaning assigned to it by Regulation 58 (1).
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paragraphs: Subject to Regulation 5 hereof, these Regulations shall apply to every mine.
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paragraphs: Subject to Regulation 85 of these Regulations, the Minister or an inspector may by notice served on the owner, exempt any mine from the application of any provision of these Regulations if he is satisfied that the safety of persons employed at the mine will not be prejudiced in consequence of the granting of the exemption.
PART II.Safety (General Provisions).
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paragraphs: (1) Where a vertical or inclined shaft has been sunk or an adit has been driven and stoping commenced in a mine other than a mine of coal or other stratified mineral, a second outlet (in this regulation referred to as the escape outlet) to allow free means of egress in case of emergency, shall be provided.
The escape outlet shall not be at any place less than 13.72 metres (45 feet) from the main shaft or main outlet and the escape outlet shall be connected by at least one escape travelway from that place to the lowest level on which the stoping operations are being carried on. An escape travelway provided pursuant to this regulation shall be of sufficient height and width to afford an easy passageway, and where necessary shall be provided with good substantial ladders from the deepest workings to the surface.
(2) In every mine sufficient and suitable signs shall be posted in prominent positions below ground showing the way to the escape outlet and all workmen shall be instructed as to the whereabouts of such escape outlet and of the escape travelway, and in case there is more than one escape travelway, the escape travelway nearest to their workplace.
(3) In case the Minister or an inspector exempts a mine from the provisions of this regulation the following provisions shall apply—
( a ) the notice shall, in lieu of being served on the owner, be served on the manager,
( b ) the exemption shall only apply for such period as is specified in the notice,
( c ) the exemption shall be subject to the following conditions, which shall be specified in the notice, namely—
(i) a ladder ordinarily used by persons in an escape travelway shall not be inclined at more than 80 degrees from the horizontal,
(ii) in case the means of ingress and egress available to the persons employed in the mine consists only of a single shaft, a condition that such shaft shall be divided throughout its length by a substantial partition so as to provide a section separate from that part of the shaft in which persons are ordinarily lowered and raised, and that section shall be provided with ladders or another satisfactory means of egress independent of the main winding apparatus, and
(iii) such other conditions, if any, as the Minister or the inspector in the particular circumstances of the case considers appropriate.
(4) Where, in the opinion of the manager, danger exists in relation to the entrance to any place below ground in a mine which is not in actual use or in the course of being worked or extended, the entrance shall be kept fenced across the whole of its width so as to prevent persons entering the place inadvertently.
(5) Where, in the opinion of the manager, danger exists in relation to a permanent roadway, tramroad or path across or through any open gunniss, bottoms, sinks, or stopes, the top of all adjacent winzes and the edges of all adjacent chambers shall, as far as is reasonably practicable, be kept securely fenced.
(6) No loose stone or other material shall be allowed to remain on any ledge, landing or elsewhere in a mine from whence it might fall into a shaft or other opening and endanger a person.
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paragraphs: The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that—
( a ) in case during sinking operations at a mine the permanent ladder is not maintained to the bottom of the shaft being sunk, an auxiliary ladder which will reach from the permanent ladder or, in the case of sinking scaffold is being used, from that scaffold, to the bottom of the shaft is provided so that it may be promptly lowered to the bottom of the shaft, and
( b ) wherever it is necessary for persons to examine or inspect at a mine appliances installed in or about shafts or winzes or in headframes used in conjunction therewith, suitable ladderways or stairways and platforms are provided and maintained to permit such examination or inspection to be carried out in a safe manner.
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paragraphs: (1) The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that in every ladderway in a shaft or winze inclined at over seventy degrees from the horizontal or in a headframe used in conjunction with such a shaft or winze substantial platforms are built in the ladderway at intervals not exceeding 9.14 metres (30 feet), that the platforms are floored or otherwise suitably sheeted except for an opening large enough only to permit the passage of a man's body while wearing rescue apparatus, and that a ladder in the ladderway is placed so as to cover such opening in the platform.
(2) The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that, in every ladderway in a shaft or winze inclined at less than seventy degrees from the horizontal or in a headframe used in conjunction with such a shaft or winze and in which continuous ladders could be used, substantial platforms are built in the ladderway at intervals not exceeding 9.14 metres (30 feet) and that the platforms are entirely floored or otherwise suitably sheeted except for an opening large enough only to permit the passage of a man's body while wearing rescue apparatus.
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paragraphs: Stairways may be used in a shaft or winze which is inclined at less than fifty degrees from the horizontal and in case a stairway is so used the manager of the mine shall take all practicable steps to ensure that a substantial handrail together with a lower rail or other effective means of protection are provided on each open side of the stairway.
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paragraphs: Unless ladders are erected at an inclination of less than twenty degrees to the horizontal, the manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that a platform shall be installed at all points in a mine where ladders are off-set.
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paragraphs: The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that all ladderways in raises, stopes and other manways at a mine shall be installed and maintained in such manner as to reduce to a minimum the risk of any person falling therefrom.
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paragraphs: The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that—
( a ) every ladder in a mine shall project at least 0.91 metres (3 feet) above its platform except where strong hand-rails are provided,
( b ) every ladder used at a mine shall be of strong construction, securely placed and maintained in good repair,
( c ) the distance between centres of rungs of ladders used at a mine shall be 0.30 metres (12 inches) and the spacing of such rungs shall not vary more than 12.7 millimetres (0.5 inch) in any particular ladderway,
( d ) in order to give a proper foothold, such rungs shall in no case be closer than 101.6 millimetres (4 inches) to the wall of a shaft, winze, or raise, or any timber underneath the ladder, and
( e ) no wire rope ladder shall be used in a mine or be allowed to be so used if in its construction there are any broken wires.
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paragraphs: (1) The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that guides are provided at a mine in every working shaft over 45.72 metres (150 feet) in depth and in every shaft in the course of being sunk which is over 91.44 metres (300 feet) in depth.
(2) The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that—
( a ) either,
(i) keps for supporting the cage when at rest are provided at the highest landing and that such keps are not provided at any intermediate landing in the shaft, and the keps provided at the highest landing and the keps (if any) provided at the bottom of the shaft are used whenever persons are entering or leaving the cage, or
(ii) chairs are provided for the purpose of landing a cage or other conveyance at any point in the shaft, and the chairs are arranged so that they automatically fall clear and remain clear of the hoisting compartment when the cage or other conveyance is lifted off.
Also the said chairs are not operated by a lever or chains installed inside the cage and are not used when persons are travelling in the cage, and
( b ) keps or chairs provided in pursuance of this paragraph are of a type approved by an inspector.
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paragraphs: The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that no cage or skip in a mine shall be used for the raising or lowering of persons unless it is constructed so as to prevent any portion of the body of a person riding therein accidentally coming into contact with the shaft furnishings or the side of the shaft or winze.
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paragraphs: The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that all cages or skips in a mine for lowering or raising persons are constructed in accordance with the following requirements—
( a ) the hood shall be made of steel plate not less than 4.76 millimetres (0.187 of an inch) in thickness or of a material of equivalent strength,
( b ) the cage or skip shall be provided with sheet-iron or steel side casing not less than 3.18 millimetres (0.125 of an inch) in thickness or of a material of equivalent strength, and such casing shall extend to a height not less than 1.52 metres (5 feet) above the floor of the cage, and
( c ) the cage or skip shall be equipped with doors made of suitable material, which shall extend to a height not less than 1.52 metres (5 feet) above the floor and be arranged so that it will be impossible for the doors to open outward from the cage.
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paragraphs: (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this regulation, the manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that—
( a ) except during sinking operations, whenever a mine shaft or winze used as a means of ingress or egress for persons employed in the mine exceeds 45.72 metres (150 feet) in vertical depth a suitable cage or skip, equipped as required by Regulation 15 of these Regulations, shall be provided for lowering or raising persons in the shaft or winze,
( b ) no person travels or is permitted to travel in a cage in a mine other than during a shaft inspection unless the door or doors of the cage are kept securely closed,
( c ) except during trips of inspection, the door or doors of such a cage are opened only after a full stop has been made at the point or station signalled for, and
( d ) every cage or skip in a mine which is used for lowering or raising tubs, mine cars or other wheeled vehicles, is provided with catches or other suitable contrivances to prevent such tubs, mine cars or other wheeled vehicles being lowered or raised from falling out.
(2) Whenever there is an emergency stop at any point other than a station in a shaft or winze, the door or doors of a cage may be opened and the persons travelling therein may leave the cage when, but only when, instructed to do so by a properly authorised person.
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paragraphs: (1) Whenever a shaft or winze is being sunk at a mine, the manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that—
( a ) every bucket or skip therein shall be filled so that no piece of loose rock projects above the level of the brim,
( b ) whilst any person is being raised or lowered in the shaft or winze by means of a bucket or skip such person travels inside the bucket or skip,
( c ) a bucket or skip which is being used for returning men to the working place following any blasting operation shall not be lowered on the initial trip thereafter beyond the point where, because of the blast, it may be unsafe to go without a careful examination, and that in no case shall that point to which the men are lowered on such a trip be less than 15.24 metres (50 feet) above the blasting set or bulkhead,
( d ) the bucket or skip shall be lowered from the point mentioned in subparagraph (c) of this paragraph only on a signal from the men accompanying the bucket or skip and at such speed as to be fully under control by signal from such men, and
( e ) only so many men shall be carried on such an initial trip as are required to properly conduct a careful examination of the shaft or winze.
(2) Paragraph (1) (b) of this regulation shall not apply where persons are employed in shaft or winze examination, maintenance or repair.
(3) A bucket or skip shall not be lowered directly to the bottom of a shaft or winze which is being sunk but shall be held at least 4.75 metres (15 feet) above the bottom and shall remain there until after a separate signal to further lower the bucket or skip has been received from a properly authorised person.
(4) A door or doors covering the sinking compartments shall be maintained at the collar of every shaft or winze while sinking is in progress. Such door or doors shall be kept closed at all times during which tools or materials are being loaded into or unloaded from the bucket or skip at the collar of the shaft, unless the bucket or skip is unloaded by dumping arrangements specified in paragraphs (5) and (6) of this regulation.
(5) In every shaft or winze which is being sunk adequate dumping arrangements shall be provided and maintained, either to ensure the impossibility of the contents or part thereof of a bucket or skip being dumped while the dumping doors are open, or otherwise to prevent spillage falling into the shaft or winze.
(6) The design of any device to be used for the purpose of complying with the requirements of paragraph (5) of this regulation shall be submitted for the approval of an inspector before the device is installed in a shaft or winze.
(7) In every sinking shaft or sinking winze, and in any other shaft or winze where persons may be at a lower level than the bucket or skip, or if it otherwise appears requisite, the bucket or skip shall be kept steady and no stones or loose material shall be allowed to adhere to the bottom of the bucket or skip before it is raised or lowered. Materials, tools or other gear shall be safely slung or be safely loaded into an empty bucket or skip and, if they project above its rim, they shall be securely fastened to the bow or to chains supporting the bucket or skip.
(8) A suitable crosshead (rider) shall be used in any shaft in the course of being sunk and which has reached more than 91.44 metres (300 feet) in depth. The crosshead (rider) shall—
( a ) be of a design approved by an inspector, and
( b ) be fitted with a safety appliance of a design approved by an inspector, for attaching the bucket or skip to the crosshead (rider)
and in addition such safety appliance shall be constructed so that the crosshead (rider) cannot stick in the shaft without also stopping the bucket or skip.
(9) The manager shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the requirements of this regulation are complied with.
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paragraphs: (1) Every shaft or winze in a mine (whether working or in the course of being sunk) shall, if exceeding 15.24 metres (50 feet) in depth, be provided with a proper means of communicating clear audible signals between all of the following places, namely:
( a ) the engineroom (hoistroom),
( b ) the top of the shaft,
( c ) either
(i) the bottom of the shaft, or
(ii) where appropriate, the lowest point therein to which men may be lowered,
and
( d ) every entrance for the time being in use between the surface and the bottom of the shaft.