W. Va. Code R. § 36-12-4

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 36-12-4 - General Provisions

Operators of coal mines in which electric­ity is used as a means of power shall comply with the following provisions:

4.1. All surface transformers, unless of a construction which will eliminate shock haz­ards, or unless installed at least eight (8) feet above ground, shall be enclosed in a house or surrounded by a fence at least six (6) feet high. If the enclosure is of metal, it shall be ground­ed effectively. The gate or door to the enclo­sure shall be kept locked at all times, unless authorized persons are present.

4.2. Underground transformers shall be air cooled or cooled with noninflammable liquid or inert gas.

4.3. Underground stations containing circuit breakers filled with inflammable liquids shall be put on a separate split of air or venti­lated to the return air, and shall be of fire­proof construc­tion.

4.4. Transformers shall be provided with adequate overload protection.

4.5. "Danger -- High Voltage" signs shall be posted conspicu­ously on all transformer enclosures, high-potential switchboards and other high-potential installations.

4.6. Dry insulating platforms of rubber or other suitable nonconductive material shall be kept in place at each switchboard and at stationary machinery where shock hazards exist.

4.7. Capacitors used for power factor connection shall be noninflammable liquid filled. Suitable drain-off resistors or other means to protect workmen against electric shock following removal of power shall be provided.

4.8. All unattended underground loading points where electric driven hydraulic systems are used shall utilize a fireproof oil or emul­sion.

4.9. Before electrical changes are made to permissible equipment for use in a mine, they shall be approved by the Director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training.

4.10. Reverse current protection shall be provided at storage battery charging stations to prevent the storage batteries from energizing the power circuits in the event of a power failure.

4.11. In all mines all junction or distri­bution boxes used for making multiple power connection inby the last open crosscut shall be permissible.

4.12. All hand-held electric drills, blower and exhaust fans, electric pumps, and such other low horsepower electric face equipment which are taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any coal mine shall be permissible.

4.13. All electric face equipment which is taken into or used inby the last open cross­cut of any coal mine is permissible.

4.14. In mines operated in coal seams which are located at elevations above the water table, the phrase "coal seams above the water table" means coal seams in a mine which are located at the elevation above a river or the tributary of a river into which a local surface water system naturally drains.

4.15. The operator of each coal mine shall maintain in permissible condition all electric face equipment, which is taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any mine.

4.16. Except where permissible power connection units are used, all power-connec­tion points outby the last open crosscut shall be in intake air.

4.17. All power circuits and electric equipment shall be deenergized before work is done on such circuits and equipment, except when necessary for trouble shooting or testing. When testing or troubleshooting an energized electrical circuit, gloves rated for the maxi­mum voltage of the circuit shall be worn at all times by the person performing the work.

4.18. Energized trolley wires may be repaired only by a person trained to perform electrical work and to maintain electrical equipment and the operator of a mine shall require that such persons wear approved and tested insulated shoes and wireman's gloves.

4.19. No electrical work shall be per­formed on low-, medium-, or high-voltage distribution circuits or equipment, except by a qualified person or by a person trained to perform electrical work and to maintain elec­trical equipment under the direct supervision of a qualified person. Disconnect­ing devices shall be locked out and suitably tagged by the persons who perform such work, except that in cases where locking out is not possible, such devices shall be opened and suitably tagged by such person who installed them, or, if such persons are unavailable, by persons authorized by the operator or his agent.

4.20. All electric equipment shall be examined weekly, tested monthly, and proper­ly maintained by a qualified person to assure safe operating conditions. When a potentially dangerous condition is found on electric equipment, such equipment shall be removed from service until such conditions are correct­ed. A record of such examinations shall be kept and made available to an authorized representative of the Director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training and to the miners in such mine.

4.21. All electric conductors shall be sufficient in size and have adequate current-carrying capacity and be of such construction that a rise in temperature resulting from nor­mal operation will not damage the insulating material.

4.22. All electrical connection or splices in conductors shall be mechanically and elec­trically efficient, and suitable connectors shall be used. All electrical connections or splices in insulated wire shall be reinsulated at least to the same degree of protection as the remainder of the wire.

4.23. Cables shall enter metal frames of motors, splice boxes, and electric compartment only through proper fittings. When insulated wire, other than cables pass through metal frames, the holes shall be substantially bushed with insulated bushings.

4.24. All power wire (except trailing cables on mobile equipment, specially designed cables conducting high-voltage power to underground rectifying equipment or trans­formers, or bare insulated ground and return wires) shall be supported on well-installed insulators and shall not contact combustible material, coal roof or ribs.

4.25. Power wires and cables, including but not limited to phone communications and control wires, except trolley wires, trolley feeder wires and bare signal wires, shall be insulated adequately and fully protected.

4.26. Automatic circuit-breaking devices or fuses of the correct type and capacity shall be installed so as to protect all electric equip­ment and circuits against short circuit and over­loads. Three-phase motors an all electric equipment shall be provided with overload protection that will deenergiz­ed all three phases in the event that any phase is overload­ed.

4.27. Incandescent lamps installed along haulageways and at other locations shall not contact combustible material, and if powered from trolley or direct current feeder circuits, need not be provided with separate short circuits or overload protection, if the lamp is not more than eight (8) feet in distance from such circuits.

4.28. In all main power circuits, discon­necting switches shall be installed underground within five hundred (500) feet of the bottoms of shafts and boreholes through which main power circuits enter the underground area of the mine and within five hundred (500) feet of all places where main power circuits enter the underground area of the mine.

4.29. All electric equipment shall be provided with switches or other controls that are safely designed, constructed and installed.

4.30. Each underground, exposed power conductor that leads underground shall be equipp­ed with suitable lightning arresters of approved type within one hundred (100) feet of the point where the circuit enters the mine. Lightning arresters shall be connected to a low-resistance grounding medium on the surface which shall be separate from neutral grounding medium on the surface which shall be separated from neutral ground by a distance of not less than twenty-five (25) feet.

4.31. Except for areas of a coal mine inby the last open crosscut, incandescent lamps may be used to illuminate underground areas. When incandescent lamps are used in a track entry or belt entry or near track entries to illuminate special areas other than structures, the lamps shall be installed in weatherproof sockets located in positions such that the lamps will not come in contact with any combustible material. Lamps used in all other places must be of substantial construction and be fitted with a glass enclo­sure.

4.32. An authorized representative may require in any mine that electric face equip­ment be provided with devices that will permit the equipment to be deenergized quickly in the event of an emergency.

4.33. An authorized representative of the Director shall require manually operated emer­gency stop switches, designed to deenergize the traction motor circuit when the contractors or controller fail to open, to be installed on all battery powered tractors, taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any entry or room.

4.34. Trailing cables used in coal mines shall meet the requirements for flame-resistant cables.

4.35. Short circuit protection for trailing cables shall be provided by an automatic circuit breaker or other no less effective device approved by the Director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training of ade­quate current-interrupting capacity in each underground conductor. Disconnecting devic­es used to disconnect power from trailing cables shall be plainly marked and identified and such devices shall be equipped or designed in such a manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the power is discon­nected.

4.36. When two (2) or more trailing cables junction to the same distribution center, means shall be provided to assure against connecting a trailing cable to the wrong size circuit breaker.

4.37. One (1) temporary splice may be made in any trailing cable. Such trailing cable may only be used for the next twenty-four (24) hour period. No temporary splice shall be made in a trailing cable within twenty-five (25) feet of the machine, except cable reel equipment. Temporary splices in trailing cables shall be made in a workmanlike manner and shall be mechanically strong and well insulated. Trailing cables or hand cables which have exposed wires or which have splices that heat or spark under load shall not be used. As used in this section, the term "splice" means a mechanical joining of one (1) or more conductors that have been severed.

4.38. When (permanent) splices in trailing cables are made, they shall be:

a) Mechanically strong with adequate electrical conductivity and flexibility,

b) Effectively insulated and sealed so as exclude moisture, and c) Vulcanized or otherwise treated with suitable materials to provide flame-resis­tant qualities and good bonding to the outer jacket.

4.39. Trailing cables shall be clamped to machines in a manner to protect the cables from damage and to prevent strain on the electrical connections. No cables will be hung in manner which will damage the insulation or conductors.

4.40. Trailing cables shall be adequately protected to prevent damage by mobile equip­ment.

4.41. Trailing cable and power cable connections to junction boxes and to electrical equipment shall not be made or broken under load.

4.42. All metallic sheaths, armors and conduits enclosing power conductors shall be electrically continuous throughout and shall be grounded by methods approved by an autho­rized representative of the Director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training.

4.43. Except where waived by the Direc­tor, metallic frames, casings and other enclo­sures of electric equipment that can become alive through failure of insulation or by con­tact with energized parts shall be grounded, and on or before the first day of January, 1978, shall have a ground monitoring system.

4.44. In instance where single-phase 110-220 volt circuits are used to feed electrical equipment, the only method of grounding that will be approved is the connection of all me­tallic frames, casing and other enclosures of such equipment to a separate grounding con­ductor which establishes a continuous connec­tion to a grounded center tap of the transform­er. In the case of 120 volt single winding trans­formers used to feed electrical equipment, the only method of grounding that will be ap­proved is the connection of all metallic frames, casings and other enclosures of such equipment to a separate grounding conductor which establishes a continuous connection to a grounded center tap or a grounded leg of the transformer.

4.45. At preparation plants, surface areas of underground mines and shop areas all 120 volt AC 15-20 amp circuits used to power portable hand tools used in wet locations shall be protected with ground fault circuit inter­rupting devices.

4.46. The attachment of grounding wires to a mine tract or other grounded power con­ductor will be approved if separate clamps, suitable for such purpose are used and installed to provide a solid connection.

4.47. The frames of all offtrack direct-current machines and the enclosures of related detached components shall be effectively grounded or otherwise maintained at no less safe voltages.

4.48. Installation of silicon diodes shall be restricted to electric equipment receiving power from a direct current system with one polarity grounded. Where such diodes are used on circuits having a nominal voltage rating of two hundred fifty (250), they must have a forward current rating of four hundred (400) amperes or more, and have a peak inverse voltage rating of four hundred (400) or more. Where such diodes are used on circuits having nominal voltage rating of five hundred and fifty (550), they must have a forward current rating of two hundred and fifty (250) amperes or more, and have a peak inverse voltage rating of eight hundred (800) or more.

4.49. In addition to the grounded diode, a polarizing diode must be installed in the machine control circuit to prevent operation of the machine when the polarity of a trailing cable is reversed.

4.50. When installed on permissible equipment, all grounding diodes, over-current devices, and polarizing diodes must be placed in explosion-proof compartments.

4.51. High-voltage lines, both on the surface and underground, shall be deenergized and ground­ed before work is performed on them, except that repairs may be permitted, in the case of energized surface high-voltage lines, if such repairs are made by a qualified person in accordance with procedures and safeguards, including, but not limited to, a requirement that the operator of such mine provide, test and maintain protective devices in making such repairs.

4.52. When two (2) or more persons are working on an energized high-voltage surface line simultaneously, and any one of them is within reach of another, such persons shall not be allowed to work on different phases on equipment with different potentials.

4.53. All persons performing work on energized high-voltage surface lines shall wear protective rubber gloves, sleeves, and climber guards if climbers are worn. Protective rubber gloves shall not be worn wrong side out or without protective leather gloves. Protective devices worn by a person assigned to preform repairs on high-voltage surface lines shall be worn continuously from the time he leaves the ground until he returns to the ground, and, if such devices are employed for extended peri­ods, such persons shall visually inspect the equipment assigned him for defects before each use, and, in no case, less than twice each day.

4.54. Disconnecting or cutout switches on energized high-voltage surface lines shall be operated only with insulated sticks, fuse tongs or pullers which are adequately insulated and maintained to protect the operator from the voltage to which he is exposed. When such switches are operated from the ground, the person operating such devices shall wear pro­tective rubber gloves.

4.55. Solely for purposes of grounding underground high-voltage power systems, grounded messenger wires used to suspend the cables of such systems may be used as a grounding medium.

4.56. When not in use, power circuits ungrounded shall be deenergized on idle days and idle shifts, except that rectifiers and transformers may remain energized.

4.57. High-voltage circuits entering the underground area of any coal mine shall be protected by suitable circuit breakers of ade­quate interrupting capacity. Such breakers shall be equipped with devices to provide protection against undervoltage, grounded phase, short circuit and overcurrent.

4.58. Circuit breakers protecting high-voltage circuits entering an underground area of any coal mine shall be located on the sur­face and in no case installed either underground or within a drift.

4.59. One circuit breaker may be used to protect two (2) or more branch circuits, if the circuit breaker is adjusted to afford overcurrent protection for the smallest con­ductor.

4.60. The grounding resistor, where required, shall be of the proper ohmic value to limit the voltage drop in the grounding circuit external to the resistor to not more than one hundred (100) volts under fault condition. The grounding resistor shall be rated for maximum fault current continuously and insulated from ground for a voltage equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the system.

4.61. High-voltage circuits extending underground and supplying portable mobile or stationary high-voltage equipment shall con­tain either a direct or derived neutral which shall be grounded through a suitable resistor at the source transformers, and a grounding circuit, originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor, shall extend along with the power conductors and serve as a grounding conductor for the frames of all high-voltage equipment supplied power from the circuit, except that the Director or his authorized representative may permit ungrounded high-voltage circuits to be extended underground to feed stationary electrical equipment if such circuits are either steel armored or installed in ground­ed, rigid steel conduit throughout their entire length, and upon his finding that such exception does not pose a hazard to the miners. Within one hundred (100) feet of the point on the surface where high-voltage circuits enter the underground portion of the mine, discon­necting devices shall be installed and so equipped or designed in such manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the power is disconnected, except that the Director or his authorized representative may permit such devices to be installed at a greater distance from such area of the mine if he determines, based on existing physical condi­tions, that such installation will be more acces­sible at a greater distance and will not pose any hazard to the miners.

4.62. High-voltage resistance grounded systems serving portable or mobile equipment shall include a fail-safe ground check circuit to monitor continuously the grounding circuit to assure continuity, and the fail-safe ground check circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot check wire is broken, or other no less effective device approved by the Di­rector or his authorized representative to assure such continuity.

4.63. Underground high-voltage cables used in resistance grounded systems shall be equipped with metallic shields around each power conductor with one (1) or more ground conductors having a total cross-sectional area of not less than one half the power conductor, and with an insulated internal or external conductor not smaller than No. 10 (A.W.G.) for the ground continuity check circuit.

4.64. All such cables shall be adequate for the intended current and voltage. Splices made in such cables shall provide continuity of all components.

4.65. Single-phase loads, such as trans­former primaries, shall be connected phase-to-phase.

4.66. All underground high-voltage transmission cables shall be installed only in regularly inspected air courses and haulageways, and shall be covered, buried, or placed so as to afford protection against dam­age, guarded where men regularly work or pass under them unless they are six and one-half feet or more above the floor or rail, securely anchored, properly insulated, guard­ed at ends, and covered, insulated, or placed to prevent contact with trolley wires and other low-volt­age circuits.

4.67. Disconnecting devices shall be installed at the beginning of branch lines in underground high-voltage circuits and equipped or designed in such a manner that it can be determined by visual observation that the circuit is deenergized when the switches are open.

4.68. Circuit breakers and disconnecting switches underground shall be marked for identification.

4.69. In case of high-voltage cables used as trailing cables, temporary splices shall not be used and all permanent splices shall be made in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.

4.70. Frames, supporting structures and enclosures of station­ary, portable or mobile underground high-voltage equipment supply­ing power to such equipment receiving power from resistance grounded systems shall be effectively ground­ed to the high-voltage ground.

4.71. Low-and medium-voltage power circuits serving three-phase alternating current equipment serving portable or mobile equip­ment shall be protected by suitable circuit breakers of adequate interrupting capacity which are properly tested and maintained as prescribed by the Director. Such breakers shall be equipped with devices to provide protection against under-voltage, grounded phase, short circuit and overcurrent.

4.72. Power centers and portable trans­formers shall be deenergized before they are moved from one location to another, except that, when equipment powered by sources other than such centers or transformers is not available, the Director may permit such centers and transformers to be moved while energized if he determines that another equivalent or greater hazard may otherwise be created, and if they are moved under the supervision of a qualified person, and if such centers and transformers are examined prior to such move­ment by such person and found to be grounded by methods approved by an authorized repre­sentative of the Director and otherwise pro­tected from hazards to the miner. A record shall be kept of such examinations. High-voltage cables, other than trailing cables, shall not be moved or handled at any time while energized except that when such centers and transformers are moved while energized as permitted under this section, energized high-voltage cables attached to such centers and transformers may be moved only be qualified person and the operator of such mine shall require that such person wear approved and tested insulated wireman's gloves.

4.73. Low-and medium-voltage three-phase alternating-current circuits used under­ground shall contain either a direct or derived neutral which shall be grounded through a suitable resistor at the power center, and a grounding circuit, originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor, shall extend along with the power conductors and serve as a grounding conductor for the frames of all electrical equipment supplied power from the circuit, except that the Director or his autho­rized representative may permit under­ground low-and medium-voltage circuits to be used underground to feed such stationary electrical equipment if such circuits are either steel armored or installed in grounded rigid steel conduit throughout their entire length. The grounding resistor, where required, shall be of the proper ohmic value to limit the ground fault current to twenty-five (25) amperes. The grounding resistor shall be rated for maximum fault current continuously and insulated from ground for a voltage equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the system.

4.74. Low-and medium-voltage resis­tance grounded systems serving portable or mobile equipment shall include a fail-safe ground check circuit to monitor continuously the grounding circuit to assure continuity which ground check circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot check wire is broken, or other not less effective device approved by the Director or his authorized representative to assure such continu­ity, except that an extension of time, not in excess of twelve months, may be per­mitted by the Director on a mine-to-mine basis if he determines that such equipment is not available. Cable couplers shall be con­structed so that the ground continuity conduc­tor shall be broken first and the ground con­ductors shall be broken last when the coupler is being uncoupled.

4.75. Disconnecting devices shall be installed in conjunction with circuit breakers portable or mobile to provide visual evidence that the power is connected.

4.76. Circuit breakers shall be marked for identification.

4.77. Single-phase loads shall be connect­ed phase-to-phase.

4.78. Trailing cables for medium-voltage circuits shall include grounding conductors, a ground check conductor, and grounded metal­lic shields around each power conductor or a ground metallic shield over the assembly, except that on equipment employing cable reels, cables without shields may be used if the insulation is rated two thousand (2000) volts or more.

4.79. Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires shall be provided with cutout switches at intervals of not more than two thousand (2000) feet and near the beginning of all branches.

4.80. Trolley wire and trolley feeder wires shall be provided with overcurrent protection.

4.81. Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires, high-voltage cables, and transformers shall not be located within fifteen (15) feet of the last open crosscut and shall be kept at least one hundred and fifty (150) feet from pillar workings.

4.82. Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires, and bare signal wires shall be insulated adequately where they pass through doors and stoppings and where they cross over power wires and cables. Trolley wires and trolley feeder wires shall be guarded adequately:

a) At all points where men are re­quired to work or pass regularly under the wires.

b) On both sides of all doors and stop­pings.

c) At man-trip stations.

4.83. Temporary guards shall be provided where trackmen and other persons work in proximity to trolley wires and trolley feeder wires.

4.84. Adequate precaution shall be taken to ensure that equipment being moved along haulage­ways will not come in contact with trolley wires or trolley feeder wires.

4.85. Trolley and feeder wires shall be installed as follows: Where installed on perma­nent haulage, they shall be:

a) At least six (6) inches outside the track gauge line.

b) Kept taut and not permitted to touch the roof, rib or crossbars. Particular care shall be taken where they pass through door openings to preclude bare wires from coming in contact with combustible material.

c) Installations of trolley wire hangers shall be provided within three (3) feet of each splice in a trolley wire.

W. Va. Code R. § 36-12-4