### Mines (Safety) Regulations 《礦場(安全)規例》

50. Prohibition against entering winding compartment
Except to ascend or descend and for purposes of repairs, entering or crossing a winding compartment of a shaft is prohibited:
Provided that this regulation shall not apply to persons employed in timbering or lining vertical shafts whilst sinking operations are being carried out.

51. Sinking shafts
(1) In sinking shafts the bucket, cage or skip shall not be filled above the level of the brim.
(2) Before the bucket, cage or skip leaves the top or bottom of the shaft it shall be steadied under the supervision of the gang foreman in charge.
(3) In no event shall any bucket, cage or skip be directly lowered to the bottom of a shaft when men are working there, but shall be stopped at least 4.5 metres above the bottom until the signal to lower it further has been given by the signalman thereat:
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to shafts in which the miners are not more than 15 metres from the winch or windlass controller. (L.N. 87 of 1986)

52. Duty to provide ladder ways in sinking shafts
Ladder ways shall be provided in all shafts in the course of sinking to within such distance of the bottom as will secure them from damage in blasting, and from the ends of such ladder ways chain ladders shall be extended to the bottom of the shaft:
Provided that chains may be substituted for chain ladders in an inclined shaft.

53. Protection of persons in sinking shafts
(1) When a shaft has no separate ladder way 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) When a working shaft is being sunk deeper while ordinary winding is going on the men employed at the bottom of such shaft shall be securely protected by overhead cover.

54. Precautions to be taken in using windlasses, etc.
All hoisting appliances in use at shafts and winzes shall be provided with a stopper, pawl or some other reliable holder, and care must be taken that the hooking on and off of buckets or other receptacles is done without danger to the workmen.

### Mines (Safety) Regulations 《礦場(安全)規例》

55. Necessity to provide signalling apparatus in shafts
(1) Every winding shaft which exceeds 15 metres in depth shall be provided with efficient means of interchanging distinct and definitive signals between— (L.N. 87 of 1986)
(a) the winding engine;
(b) the top of the shaft;
(c) the lowest point from which winding is carried on; and
(d) the various intermediate stations for the time being in use,
but this paragraph shall not apply to signalling apparatus used during sinking operations.
(2) A mines officer may in writing exempt any shaft from the whole or part of the requirements of paragraph (1) and any exemption may be varied or revoked by a mines officer at 7 days’ notice. An appeal shall lie from any such variation or revocation to the Superintendent of Mines. (E.R. 1 of 2021)
(3) Where more than 1 winding engine is in use at a shaft, a separate set of signals, as required in paragraph (1) shall be provided for each winding engine in use.

56. Exemption in respect of prospecting shafts
Prospecting shafts where winding is done by manual or animal power may be exempted by a mines officer from the provisions of regulations 48, 52, 53 and 55.

57. Duty to fence underground entrances
All underground entrances to shafts or other dangerous places which are temporarily or permanently abandoned shall be securely fenced across the whole width of the entrances so that no person can unintentionally enter them.

58. Duty to provide protection against falling materials. Duty to report danger
(1) Where the underground entrances referred to in regulation 57 or steeply inclined stopes lead directly into a main drive, it and any working situate on its lower or “dip” side, shall be securely fenced off in order to ensure that persons working therein shall not receive injury from falling materials.
(2) Any gang foreman who has reason to believe that any part of the hanging wall or any other part of a mine is in a dangerous condition shall inform—
(a) his superior forthwith who shall take all necessary steps to remove the danger; and
(b) the foreman of any gang which may relieve his gang.

### Mines (Safety) Regulations 《礦場(安全)規例》

59. Duty to secure unsafe workings, and to keep reserve of timber
(1) Where the ground is not naturally safe, every working or pumping shaft, travelling road, airway, working, adit, level, cross-cut, stope and underground passage, shall be securely timbered, walled up, or otherwise made secure, and kept in a safe condition as long as they are in actual use. No person, unless appointed for the purpose of making explorations or repairs, shall travel or work therein until they are properly secured.
(2) Where the ground is not naturally safe in any working, there shall, in addition to the requirements in paragraph (1), be a sufficient reserve of suitable timber conveniently placed for the immediate use of the workmen employed therein.

60. Duty to provide safety pillars. Power of Superintendent in respect of pillars
(1) On the inside of the boundary lines of every mine there shall be safety pillars of the width, measured at right angles from the boundary lines, of—
(a) in stratified deposits, not less than 15 metres; and
(b) in non-stratified deposits, not less than 10 metres. (L.N. 87 of 1986)
(2) On the joint application of the licensees or lessees of adjoining mines, the Superintendent of Mines may give written permission to either party to weaken, cut through or work their respective pillars between the mines. In the absence of a joint application he may give written permission for the partial working, weakening or cutting through of the pillars.

61. Duty to examine disused workings before reopening
Underground workings, in particular shafts, sumps and winzes, which have been in disuse, shall be examined before being again used for the purpose of ascertaining whether foul air or other dangerous gases have accumulated therein. Only such workmen as may be necessary to make the examination shall be allowed to proceed therein until they are fit for use.

62. Ventilation requirement
All parts of every underground working shall be properly and sufficiently ventilated to the satisfaction of a mines officer.

63. Duty to take air measurement
In every mine the quantity of air in circulation shall be measured, at least once per month, and entered in a book kept for the purpose at the mine.

64. Ventilation doors
All ventilation doors shall be self-closing.

65. Percussive drills
Unless written exemption has been obtained from the Superintendent of Mines, percussive drills shall have a central water feed.

66. Duty to provide stationary lights
Adequate stationary lights shall be provided—
(a) during working hours—
(i) at all stations in vertical and inclined shafts; and
(ii) at all stopping places in levels where winding or hauling is effected by means of machinery; and
(b) at night, at all workings on the surface.