Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.06

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 480-3-3-.06 - Shafts And Hoisting

(1)Construction of Shaft Landings, Surface and Underground. All vertical and inclined shafts over 35^ shall be enclosed on the surface. Gates at ground landings shall be not less than five (5) feet in height, of substantial construction, and except when the case is at the landing, shall be kept closed at all times. When the shafts are enclosed by a fence it shall be not less than five (5) feet in height and of substantial construction. As an additional precaution to prevent the cage being moved from the ground landing while the gate is open, a red warning light should be installed in view of the hoistman or hoisting engineer and so connected as to burn while the gate is open. Hinged or sliding gates at least five (5) feet in height shall be installed at the shaft on each underground level and shall be kept closed at all times except during periods of continuous hoisting when an attendant or cager is constantly on hand.

(2)Station Deflecting Screens - At the bottom of every shaft and at every station in the case of mines operating from more than one level, there shall be heavy deflecting screens hung by hinges at the top and extending down to within about six and one-half (6 1/2) feet of the floor to protect workmen near the shaft from falling objects. These protecting screens may be pulled up out of the way when unloading long material such as rails and timbers.

(3)Shaft Equipment - When a bucket is used for hoisting, means shall be provided that will prevent material from falling into the shaft while the bucket is being dumped.

(a) All stations, levels, or skip and cage landing stations shall have a passageway around the working shaft so that crossing through the hoisting compartment may be avoided.

(4)Shaft Repairs - Entering or crossing the hoisting compartment of a shaft except to ascend or descend, or for the purpose of inspecting or effecting repairs is prohibited.

(a) Before repairs in the shaft are commenced, the person in charge of or directing the repairs shall inform the hoisting engineer of the nature thereof.

(b) All planks and timbers used for temporary staging or scaffolding in shafts shall be secured in place before operations are commenced.

(5)Crossheads for Buckets - Buckets used for hoisting or lowering men in vertical shafts more than two hundred (200) feet deep shall have under bonnet, a crosshead traveling upon guides. The height of the crosshead shall be no less than two-thirds (2/3) of its width.

(6)Maintenance of Safety Catches - The safety catches of cages, skips or buckets shall be kept well oiled and in good working order; they shall be tested at least once each month by tying up the cage bucket or skip with hemp rope, lowering a few feet of hoisting rope on top of cage, skip or bucket, then cutting the hemp rope; provided, that any other method of testing which is equally effective may be used after securing the approval, in writing, of the Department.

(7)Shaft Sinking - During sinking operations in shafts or slopes steeper than 20 degrees from the horizontal, no other work in any other place in the shaft or slope shall be executed, not shall any material or tools be hoisted or lowered from or to any other place in the shaft or slope while men are at work in the bottom of the shaft or slope, unless the men so at work are protected from the danger of falling material by a securely constructed covering, sufficient closable openings being left for the passage of men and the bucket or other conveyance used in the sinking operations.

(8)Hoisting at Sinking Operations - In no case shall a cage, skip, bucket, or other vehicle be lowered directly to the bottom of the shaft or slope when men are working there, but such cage, skip, bucket, or other vehicle shall be stopped at least fifteen (15) feet above the bottom of such shaft, or slope until the signal to lower farther is given to the hoisting engineer, by one of the men at the bottom of the shaft or slope.

(a) On slopes and haulage ways driven after these rules become effective, there shall be a clearance of at least two and one-half (2 1/2) feet from the side of the cars on one side and not less than one (1) foot from the side of the cars on the opposite side. The wide clearance shall be carried continuously on the same side of the slope.

(b) The operator shall determine the number of men that can be safely permitted to ride on the cage at one time and this number shall be posted at the shaft and shall not be exceeded.

(9)Construction of Cage and Safety Devices - Cages on which men are hoisted or lowered shall have overhead or side bars or chains so arranged that every man on the cage may have an easy and secure hand hold.

(a) Cages or skips used for hoisting or lowering men in vertical or steeply inclined shafts shall be provided with safety catches designed to prevent falling of the cage or skip if the hoisting rope or other connections break. Skips, cars or trips of cars used for hoisting or lowering men in slopes shall have a safety rope extending from the rear of the skips, cars or trips of cars through or around the skips, cars or trips of cars to an attachment on the hoist rope, except more positive safety catches approved by the Department shall be permitted. Cars or trips of cars used for hoisting men shall have a drag or drags on the rear of car, side of car or trip of cars, or equally effective device, which will arrest, stop or derail such car or trip of cars in case of rope or hoist failure. It is recommended that these drags be raised and equipped for manual release as a protection in the lowering of men.

(10)Cage Chair - In vertical shafts where men are hoisted or lowered, cage rests or chairs shall be provided at each station unless their omission is authorized in writing by the Department.

(a) The surface landings at all shafts where men are hoisted or lowered between sunset and sunrise, shall be illuminated by permanently installed electric lights. At the upcast shafts where the vision may be obscured in the winter because of fog, the lights shall be of sufficient intensity and so placed that the cage and cage platform may be readily seen.

(11)Shaft Station Illumination, Surface and Underground - Each underground shaft station or landing regularly used by men being hoisted or lowered shall be so illuminated by permanently installed electric lights, as to give at least three (3) foot candles of light intensity on the station sill and in the station for a distance of fifteen (15) feet back from the shaft. The lights and lighting shall be so chosen, protected, enclosed, installed, or located, as to be free from shadows and of such intensity that the landings will be clearly and distinctly visible. The illumination shall be maintained at all times when men are in the mine, except during power interruption.

(a) The track at the top landing of a shaft or slope shall have a derailing or other protective device which shall always be kept in derailing or blocking position except when a car is being placed on or being taken off the cage at said landing, or when cars are entering the slope under control.

(12)Hoisting Speed - The speed at which men are hoisted or lowered in shafts or slopes shall not exceed the following: 500 feet in depth or less-500 feet per minute 500 feet to 1,000 ft. in depth-800 feet per minute over 1,000 feet in depth-1/2 regular hoisting speed.

(13)Interrupted Hoisting - After any stoppage of hoisting for repairs or for any other purpose exceeding two (2) hours in duration, the cage or other conveyance shall be run up or down the shaft or slope at least once before hoisting or lowering men.

(14)Sinking Bucket Hooks, Shaft Covering - The hooks used with sinking buckets or cans shall be of the self-locking type and, in addition, the bucket shall be secured to the rope by a safety chain. If the shaft is more than two hundred (200) feet in depth, guides and a crosshead shall be used. The crosshead shall be so designed that when it is traveling with the bucket, it will be securely locked to the rope. The top of the shaft shall be covered over with a strong platform or cover, equipped with door for the passage of the bucket. These doors shall be kept closed at all times except when the bucket is passing through them.

(15)Inspection of Hoisting Equipment - Daily inspection or more often, if necessary, shall be made of all hoisting equipment used in hoisting and lowering men and at least once each week a thorough inspection shall be made of the hoisting shaft, the cages, rope connections, ropes, sheaves, hoisting engine and appurtenances used in connection with the hoisting and lowering of men. Once each month, or more often if necessary, the safety catches, overwind and overspeed devices, and any other automatic devices used for hoisting from vertical shafts or steeply inclined shafts or slopes shall be tested. A signed report shall be entered in a book provided for that purpose, giving in detail the results of the monthly tests and inspection, and what repairs or adjustments were made as a result of these tests and inspections.

(16)Transporting Materials - No person other than the cage tender or men in charge of transported material shall ride or be permitted to ride on any cage on which tools, explosives, or supplies, are being hoisted or lowered. No person shall ride or be permitted to ride on a cage on which there is a loaded or empty car. No ore or other material shall be hoisted or lowered in any shaft while men are being hoisted or lowered by the same hoist. No tools shall be permitted in cars, cages or skips in which men are riding except scientific instruments, or tools carried on the employee's person, unless a fixed closed compartment is provided for such tools or equipment. No explosives shall be transported in the mantrip.

(17)Duties of Cager or Triprider - The cager, cage tender, or in the case of slopes, the triprider, chainer or designated signal man shall be in charge of the hoisting and lowering of men and no one else shall give any hoisting signals while these men are on duty. It will be the duty of these men to enforce all regulations or rules with regard to the hoisting or lowering of men and not to signal for the movement of the cage, skip or mantrap until these rules have been complied with. Men riding in open mantrips, hauled by trolley locomotives, shall sit on the side of the car away from the trolley wire. No man or men except trip-riders, shall ride, or be allowed to ride, on loaded skips of ore being hoisted or lowered.

Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation Examiner.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.06

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-2-13(2).