Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 43 - TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION AND COMPRESSED AIR WORK › Subchapter A - TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION AND WORK IN COMPRESSED AIR › TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION › Section 43.38 - Fire protection

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) In
					 timbered tunnels, if there is any danger of fire, all reasonable precaution
					 against fire shall be taken and adequate fire protection shall be provided in
					 such a manner as may be approved by the Department.
(b) Headframes built of combustible material
					 shall be open framework. At or above the surface landing there may be a
					 headhouse, if built of fire-resisting material.
(c) It shall be the duty of the constructor
					 of every tunnel in which oils and other dangerous flammable materials are used,
					 to store the materials, or cause them to be stored, in a covered building kept
					 solely for this storage. The building shall be at least 100 feet from any
					 shaft, tunnel, or approaches, or any building directly connected with a tunnel
					 opening, and at least 300 feet from any powder magazine except that gasoline,
					 naphtha, distillate and fuel oils may be stored in tanks buried in the ground.
					 The tanks shall be provided with proper vents and shall be at least 50 feet
					 from any shaft, tunnel or approaches, or any building directly connected with a
					 tunnel opening, and at least 300 feet from any powder magazine. Lubricating
					 oils may be stored in a well-constructed covered building, which shall be at
					 least 50 feet from any shaft, tunnel or approaches, or any building directly
					 connected with a tunnel opening. No tank shall be installed from which fuel oil
					 is to be conducted by gravity to the point of combustion, unless such tank is
					 located so that escaping oil cannot run over the surface from the tank to any
					 building within 100 feet of any tunnel opening.
(d) The person in charge of the building or
					 tanks referred to in subsection (c) shall be the superintendent or a person
					 expressly designated by him. He shall permit only sufficient oil or other
					 flammable material to be taken from the building or tanks to meet the
					 requirements of subsection (e). If any oil or gasoline storage is situated so
					 that leakage would permit the oil or gasoline to flow within the distances
					 specified in subsection (c), means to prevent the flow shall be
					 provided.
(e) Oil for illumination
					 or power shall not be taken into or kept in the underground workings of any
					 tunnel in quantities greater than necessary to afford one day's
					 supply.
(f) The storage of
					 gasoline, naphtha and other distillates underground is prohibited. However, a
					 supply sufficient for one day's operation of blow torches, fuel burning engines
					 or locomotives may be kept in the tanks attached to the equipment.
(g) Waste or decayed timber shall not be
					 stored in the tunnel, but shall be promptly removed. Empty boxes, wooden chips,
					 paper and combustible rubbish of all kinds shall not be allowed to accumulate
					 underground.
(h) Smoking or the use
					 of unprotected lights shall be prohibited any place where there is danger of
					 igniting explosives, oils, fumes, dust, gases or other combustible material.
					 Notices shall be posted to this effect.
(i) Any person using a candle or other
					 portable light in any part of a shaft or tunnel shall extinguish it before
					 departing from the shaft or tunnel, and bring it to the outer air.
(j) Buckets filled with clean, dry sand,
					 ready for immediate use in extinguishing fires, shall be kept in all
					 underground electrical stations. An approved fire extinguisher may be kept
					 instead of the sand.