California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 20 - Tunnel Safety Orders › Article 14 - Fire Prevention and Control › Section 8445 - General

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Combustible
					 structures shall not be erected over shafts or tunnel openings.
EXCEPTION: Head frames, bins, and doors or hatches
						required for closing the opening.
(b) All shafts and tunnel openings used as a
					 normal means of access and egress or as the main intake of fresh air for
					 underground workings shall be constructed of noncombustible material or
					 designed with a fire-resistance rating of 1 ½ hours or more.
(c) Combustible framing sheds, storage
					 buildings or change houses shall not be located within 100 feet of any tunnel
					 opening, shaft house, hoisting engine house or ventilating fan house.
Temporary stockpiles of timber, or buildings that are as
						fire resistant as a change house with concrete floor, wood frame and corrugated
						iron sheathing may be located within the 100-foot limit if they are as far as
						practicable from the tunnel opening. Other combustible material shall not be
						stored or permitted within 100 feet of any tunnel opening.
(d) Fire protection shall be provided in
					 accordance with Title 8, Group 27 of the General Industry Safety Orders
					 commencing with Section
					 6150.
(e) Oils and other dangerous flammable
					 material shall be stored at least 100 feet from any shaft or tunnel opening, or
					 building over a tunnel opening, and at least one hundred feet from any powder
					 magazine. Where oils are stored in buildings, such buildings shall not be used
					 for other purposes. LPG storage tanks shall be located away from tunnel
					 openings to prevent the contents from flowing into the tunnel.
Tanks and drums containing flammable or combustible
						liquids shall be so located that the escaping liquid cannot run over the
						surface from such tank to any powder magazine or to any building, within 100
						feet of any tunnel opening. Under no circumstances shall oxygen or any
						flammable gas be stored in proximity to oil.
(f) Lubricating oils, greases and rope
					 dressings taken underground shall be in closed metal containers that will not
					 permit the contents to leak out or spill. When taken underground, they shall be
					 stored in a fire resistant secluded place at least 100 feet from shafts,
					 winzes, hoists, and tunnel timbers and at least 300 feet from powder magazines
					 and stored in such manner that the oil from a ruptured or overturned container
					 will not flow from its storage place. Quantities of oil and grease underground
					 shall be limited to a one-day supply.
(g) Welding, cutting, and other hot work
					 shall be conducted in accordance with Title 8, Article 4 and Article 32 of the
					 Construction Safety Orders. Where welding, cutting and other hot work
					 operations are employed, and when such operations may cause fires, suitable
					 shields shall be provided to isolate flammable materials. Appropriate fire
					 extinguishers shall be provided and maintained. Thorough inspections for fire
					 hazards shall be made immediately after welding, cutting and other hot work is
					 completed and a fire watch maintained at the location for at least one
					 hour.
(h) No petroleum based
					 product shall be taken underground for illuminating or heating
					 purposes.
(i) The use of volatile
					 solvents (below 100° F. flash point) such as gasoline underground are
					 prohibited.
(j) No more than the
					 amount of acetylene and oxygen cylinders necessary to perform welding, cutting
					 or other hot work during any 24-hour period shall be permitted
					 underground.
(k) Noncombustible
					 barriers shall be installed below welding, cutting, or other hot work being
					 done over a shaft or deep excavation associated with a tunnel.
(l) All oily waste or rags used underground
					 shall be stored in metal receptacles with secure covers. The contents of the
					 receptacles shall be sent to the surface every week or when the receptacle is
					 full.
(m) Waste materials for which
					 no underground storage facilities are provided shall be promptly removed from
					 the tunnel. Leaks and spills of flammable or combustible fluids shall be
					 cleaned up immediately.
(n) Fire
					 resistant hydraulic fluids shall be used in hydraulically-actuated underground
					 machinery and equipment unless such equipment is protected by a fire
					 suppression system or by a multi-purpose fire extinguisher(s) rated at a
					 sufficient capacity for the type and size of hydraulic equipment involved, and
					 rated at least 4A:40B:C.
(o) A fire
					 extinguisher of at least 4A:40B:C rating or other equivalent extinguishing
					 means shall be provided at the head pulley and at the tail pulley of
					 underground belt conveyors and at 300 foot intervals along the belt
					 line.
(p) Fires which may cause
					 serious injury to employees or threatening occupied tunnel workings shall be
					 reported to the Division within 24 hours.
(q) Suitable fire extinguishers or other fire
					 protection equipment shall be provided at appropriate locations. Such equipment
					 shall be inspected monthly and maintained in operating condition.
(r) Straw, hay or similar material shall not
					 be taken underground.
(s) Excelsior
					 when used underground shall be made fire resistant and shall not be used in any
					 place where welding or cutting is anticipated.
(t) Readily visible sign prohibiting smoking
					 and open flames shall be posted in areas having fire or explosive
					 hazards.
1.
						Amendment of section heading and subsection (a), new subsection (b) and
						subsection relettering, amendment of newly designated subsection (c), new
						subsection (d), renumbering and amendment of former section
						8446 as new subsections (e)-(t) and
						new NOTE filed 3-5-96; operative 4-4-96 (Register 96, No.
						10).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						  142.3 and
						  7997, Labor
						  Code. Reference: Sections
						  142.3 and
						  7997, Labor
						  Code.