352.030 Number of persons permitted to work in same air current or split-
608 words·~3 min read·
/ky/352-030A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
ventilation -- Repair.
(1)As many as sixty
(60)persons may work in the same air current or split, and with
the approval of the mine inspector and the commissioner, as many as eighty
persons may work in the same air current. Each active section in a mine shall be
ventilated by a separate split of intake air. Every mine, and all portions thereof, shall
be ventilated by one
(1)or more currents of air, which shall contain not less than
nineteen and one-half percent (19.5%) of oxygen, nor any dangerous quantities of
flammable gas, nor any harmful amount of poisonous gases or dust, when the
current of air enters into each split. The ventilation shall be sufficient to prevent
methane accumulations, so far as practicable, and to keep the methane percentage in
the return of any split to not more than two percent (2%).
(2)The ventilating current shall be circulated through the haulageways, travelways, and
airways to reach all portions of the mine, except sealed sections; and it shall be
circulated through the entries and rooms around the ends of line brattice and along
pillar lines. It shall be conducted to the last breakthrough, or to the working faces if
required, by means of stoppings, check doors, curtains, and brattice that may be
necessary or required, in order to dilute, render harmless, and carry away the
noxious and dangerous gases, smoke, and dust liberated therein, and to supply a
sufficient quantity of ventilation for all emergencies. The ventilating current in the
area of a mine's belt entries shall be directed to an air return before the ventilating
current reaches the face area, unless the department, under certain conditions issues
a permit for belt air to be used at the coal face. The department shall render a final
written decision within sixty
(60)calendar days of receipt of the permit application.
(3)When mine ventilation, formerly satisfactory and adequate, becomes deficient in
quality or quantity, the department shall have authority to order improvement of the
ventilation.
(4)No licensee, superintendent, or mine foreman shall permit any person to work at a
place where sufficient ventilation cannot be maintained, except persons employed to
make the places of employment safe in compliance with the requirements of this
chapter, and while repair work necessary to comply with the requirements is in
progress no person shall be permitted to enter that part of the mine affected except
those actually employed in doing the repair work. The repair work shall be done
under the constant supervision of a certified official designated by the mine
foreman.
(5)Each licensee shall adopt a plan which shall provide that when any mine fan stops,
immediate action shall be taken by the licensee or his agent:
(a)To withdraw all persons from the working sections;
(b)To cut off the power in the mine in a timely manner;
(c)To provide for restoration of power and resumption of work if ventilation is
restored within a reasonable period, of not more than fifteen
(15)minutes, as
set forth in the plan after the working places and other active workings where
methane is likely to accumulate are reexamined by a certified person to
determine if methane in amounts of one percent (1%) or more exists therein;
and
(d)To provide for withdrawal of all persons from the mine if ventilation cannot
be restored within a reasonable time, of not more than fifteen
(15)minutes. The plan and revisions thereof approved by the commissioner or his authorized representative shall be set out in printed form and a copy shall be furnished to the commissioner or his authorized representative.