Alabama Administrative Code › Title 480 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR › Chapter 480-3-3 - MINE SAFETY › Section 480-3-3-.23 - Lighting And Electric Installation

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1)
Inspection
			 Reports
- At each mine where electricity is used underground, a
			 systematic inspection of all wiring and equipment shall be made at regular
			 intervals, at least once every month. A written or verbal report of each
			 inspection shall be made by the mine electrician or inspector to the mine
			 foreman. Equipment and circuits found to be defective shall be immediately
			 removed from service until repaired.
(2)
Marking
			 Switches
_- All electrical control switches shall be plainly
			 marked, with the name of the machine which each controls.
(3)
Insulated
			 Platforms
- At any place in the mine where it is necessary to
			 manipulate or adjust "live" equipment operating at more than three hundred
			 (300) volts, including switches, motor starters, or other controlling
			 appliances, insulated platforms shall be provided and used.
(4)
Installation and Grounding
			 Electrical Equipment
- The frames and bed plates of generators,
			 transformers, compensators, rheostats, motors and switches shall be effectively
			 grounded. All metallic covering and conduit shall also be grounded. Such
			 grounded shall be to water pipe systems, bonded rail or artificial ground, with
			 preference in the order named. Where trailing cables are used, it is
			 recommended that such cables contain a separate wire to be used as a ground
			 wire.
(a) The ground connection to metallic
			 piping systems shall be made by means of an approved clamp firmly belted to the
			 pipe after all rust and scale have been removed, or by means of a brass plug
			 which has been tightly screwed into a pipe fitting or where the pipe is of
			 sufficient thickness, screwed into a hole in the pipe itself, or by other
			 equivalent means. The grounding conductor shall be attached to the clamp or to
			 the plug by means of solder or by an approved solderless connector.
(b) If conduit, couplings, or fittings having
			 protective coating of non-conducting material, such as enamel, are used, such
			 coating shall be thoroughly removed from couplings, conduits and such surfaces
			 of fittings where the conduit or ground clamp is secured, in order to obtain a
			 good connection.
(c) All electrical
			 switches located in wet places shall be mounted in weatherproof switch boxes or
			 cabinets in accordance with standards approved by the Department, and shall be
			 grounded.
(d) All permanent
			 installations of underground lighting or power circuits shall be installed and
			 maintained in accordance with standards approved by the Department. All wiring
			 shall be strung on standard insulated supports, six and one-half feet (6-1/2)
			 or more above the floor or travelways, or in the event this height is not
			 available, the wiring shall be in conduit or properly guarded; provided that
			 armored cable may be buried at least six (6") inches deep and markers installed
			 not less than two hundred (200') feet apart, and closer where necessary to show
			 changes in direction.
(e)
			 Switchboards shall consist of a substantial framework of iron pipe or
			 structural steel, on which shall be mounted a panel or panels of incombustible
			 non-absorbent insulating material, or other material according to the standards
			 of the Department, that is mechanically strong and has insulation qualities
			 suitable for the voltages at which it is used. All switchboard mountings,
			 instrument transformers and meter casings shall be grounded.
(f) Portable extension lamps shall be guarded
			 by a heavy wire cage which completely incloses both lamp and socket, and shall
			 be provided with a handle of insulating material to which both cage and socket
			 are firmly attached and through which the wire supplying the current is
			 carried. The socket shall be keyless and the lamp circuit shall be protected by
			 a fuse. Extension lamps shall be wired with heavy flexible rubber insulated
			 cord. It is recommended that low-voltage be used for portable extension
			 lamps.