The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-31

The Birmingham Coal and Iron com
 pany in an effort to minimize the chance of another explosion has adopt ed A new set of rules covering work at Mulga and Short Creek. The rules have been put in force and the cop- pany believes the new system will as- sist materially in keeping down risks at the mines.
 They have been approved by the state mine inspector and have been pronounced strict but absolutely neces- sary. The new set of rules follow:
 Shot Firer-Shot firer's duty during the day will be to go over the en- tire mine, inspecting the wiring and
 making such repairs and extensions as
 may be necessary. In the afternoon
 when the holes are drilled up and
 ready for shooting the shot firer shall distribute the necessary explosives and exploders to each man, keeping a rec
 ord thereof, so that when he goes to
 the mans working place to shoot the holes he will know whether or not the proper number of holes have been drilled so as to use, without overload
 ing the holes, the explosives which have been issued to him. The miner is to load and tamp the holes with wet clay. sand or other non n-combustible material, leaving the wires disconnect- ed but in shape so that the shot irer can quickly make the connection. Shot frer or his assistant shall, after dis tributing the explosives, giving the men sufficient time to load the holes. pro- ceed through the entire mine, examine each hole and make the connection with the shooting wire after this ex-
 animation has been made. As the shot firer passes out of an entry after ex- amining the holes and making this con- nection he is to throw in the switch at the mouth of the entry and relock the box, a key to which switch box shall be held only by the shot flrer, his assistant or assistants. the super intendent and the night fire boss. After completing this work throughout the mine shot firer is to proceed to the tain if all of the men are out of the mine. If he finds from the check man that all of the men are not out or the mine he Is to walt a reasonable length of time and If the check board l Is not clear he should ascertain the
 names and working places of the men whose checks are still on the board anG either go or send into the mine for
 them, or locate them on the outside remove their checks. After all of this has been attended to and not until
 then he should proceed to fire the shots. Before he shoots the shots by cutting in tho switch he Is to see that no one is standing, near the
 mouths of the shafts and is also to
 give warning by ahouting Fire" and after the shots have been fired Is to
 give notice of the fact by shouting, All over."
 Fire Boss-Within a few minutes aft l CT the shots are fired, and he has been so notified by the shot firer, the fire boss will start In to make his rounds, ex-
 amining all places as required by the
 rules of the company, and make his
 written report before allowing the next shift to go into the mine. He shall be very particular to remove all gas found
 before allowing the men to go into the place where f0unu. II IS aiso roQuiIeu that the fire boss shall mark up each
 place, putting his mark, If possible. on
 a prop and marking plainly the date,
 and miners are hereby warned and re- quested to look for fire boss date, and if not found, they must not go into the place until the superintendent. foreman | or fire boss has been notified In addi-
 ton to examining the working places.
 as above described, the fire boss should. | as he proceeds on his rounds. unlock
 the switch boxes, open all inside switches | In the mine and relock the boxes. The fire boss, after making his examination
 shall go to the check-house and remain there while the men are going into the mine, and inform each man personally of l the condition of his working place; and
 particularly those in whose places he
 had found gas. @f2 e3ss
 Rules to Shot Firers and Miners; In
 Reference to Shooting and Drilling l1-All undercutting must extend at
 least six Inches beyond the back of holeE | In all cases, and twelve inches to the right or left of tho rib holes
 | 2--No holes less than two and
 one-half feet deep muet be shot.
 l a-Ail dust must be removed from | a hole before 1t 10 loaAed end all bug dust loaded out before shSts arc hred