W. Va. Code R. § 56-20-18
Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 56-20-18 - Fire Protection18.1. Fire extinguishers. 18.1.a. A portable fire extinguisher containing a nominal weight of at least five (5) pounds shall be kept on each piece of mobile equipment. This requirement is also applicable to mobile equipment equipped with fire suppression systems.18.1.b. All portable fire extinguishers on equipment shall be properly secured.18.2. Flammable liquids. 18.2.a. Flammable liquids, such as oil, grease, gasoline and such other like materials, shall be stored in buildings, compartments or closed containers used for this purpose only.18.2.b. The storage of gasoline, oil, or other fuels, other than that which is in the fuel tank, shall be prohibited on any piece of equipment except for diesel equipment using gasoline starting engines; in this instance, one (1) extra gallon of gasoline in an approved safety can (flash arresting screen with self-closing lid) maybe stored on the equipment securely fastened in a location on the equipment out of the way of moving objects.18.2.c. Flammable liquids shall not be used to clean machinery.18.2.d. Combustible materials, grease, lubricants, paints, flammable liquids, shall not be permitted to accumulate where fire hazards exist.18.2.e. Waste or rags containing flammable or combustible liquids that could create a fire hazard shall be placed in the following containers until disposed of properly:18.2.e.1.Surface-cowered metal containers or equivalent containers with flame containment characteristics.18.2.e.2.Underground-covered metal containers.18.2.f. Solvents shall not be used near an open flame or other ignition source, near any source of heat, or in an atmosphere that can elevate the temperature of the solvent above the flash point.18.2.g. Small quantities of flammable liquids drawn from storage shall be kept in safety cans labeled to indicate the contents.18.3. Fueling and storage. 18.3.a. Internal combustion engines, except diesels, shall be shut off and stopped before being fueled.18.3.b. Areas surrounding flammable liquid storage tanks, electric substations and transformers shall be kept free from grass, dry weeds, underbrush, and other combustible materials, for at least twenty-five (25) feet in all directions.18.3.c. Fuel lines on fuel storage tanks shall be equipped with valves to cut off fuel at the source and shall be located and maintained to minimize fire hazard.18.3.d. Smoking and use of open lights are prohibited in all places in which flammable materials are stored and in other places where there is a fire hazard.18.4. Maintenance of firefighting equipment. Firefighting equipment shall be continuously maintained in a usable and operative condition. Fire extinguishers shall be examined at least once every month. The date of such examination shall be recorded on a permanent tag attached to the extinguisher.18.5. Warnings. Warning signs prohibiting smoking and open flames shall be posted where they can be readily observed in areas or locations where fire or explosion hazards exist.18.6. Drills. Fire drills with various types of available fire-fighting equipment shall be held for employees at least once every six (6) months. A record of such fire drills shall be recorded and kept for a period of one (1) year.18.7. Surface fan installations and mine openings. 18.7.a. On the surface, no more than one day's supply of combustible materials shall be stored within one hundred (100) feet of mine openings or within one hundred (100) feet of fan installations used for underground ventilation.18.7.b. The one-day supply shall be kept at least twenty-five (25) feet away from any mine opening except during transit into the mine.18.7.c. Dry vegetation shall not be permitted within twenty-five (25) feet of mine openings.18.8. Use of fire underground. Fires shall not be lit underground, except for open-flame torches. Torches shall be attended at all times while lit.18.9. Underground belt conveyors. Fire protection shall be provided at the head, tail, drive, and take-up pulleys of underground belt conveyors. Provisions shall be made for extinguishing fires along the beltline. Fire protection shall be of a type, size, and quantity that can extinguish fires of any class in their early stages which could occur as a result of the fire hazards present. 18.10. Firefighting, evacuation, and rescue procedures.18.10.a. Firefighting procedures/alarms/drills. 18.10.a.1. Underground alarm systems. 18.10.a.1.A. Fire alarm systems capable of promptly warning every person underground, except as provided in subparagraph 18.10.a.1.B, shall be provided and maintained in operating condition.18.10.a.1.B. If persons are assigned to work areas beyond the warning capabilities of the system, provisions shall be made to alert them in a manner to provide for their safe evacuation in the event of a fire.18.10.a.2. Underground evacuation drills. 18.10.a.2.A. At least once every six (6) months, mine evacuation drills shall be held to assess the ability of all persons underground to reach the surface or other designated points of safety within the time limits of the self-rescue devices that would be used during an actual emergency. 18.10.a.2.A.1. The evacuation drills shall:18.10.a.2.A.1.(a). Be held for each shift at sometime other than a shift change and involve all persons underground; 18.10.a.2.A.1.(b). Involve activation of the fire alarm system (if installed); and18.10.a.2.A.1.(c). Include evacuation of all persons from their work areas to the surface or to designated central evacuation points. 18.10.b. At the completion of each drill, the mine operator shall record the date and the time the evacuation began and ended. Records shall be retained for at least one (1) year after each drill and made available to an authorized representative of the Director.18.11. Underground rescue and firefighting operations. Following evacuation of a mine in a fire emergency, only persons wearing and trained in the use of mine rescue apparatus shall participate in rescue and firefighting operations in advance of the fresh air base.18.12. Underground evacuation instruction.18.12.a. At least once every twelve (12) months, all persons who work underground shall be instructed in the escape and evacuation plans and procedures and fire warning signals in effect at the mine.18.12.b. Whenever a change is made in escape and evacuation plans and procedures for any area of the mine, all persons affected shall be instructed in the new plans or procedures.18.12.c. Whenever persons are assigned to work in areas other than their regularly assigned areas, they shall be instructed about the escape way for that area at the time of such assignment. However, persons who normally work in more than one (1) area of the mine shall be instructed at least once every twelve (12) months about the location of escape ways for all areas of the mine in which they normally work or travel. 18.12.d. At the completion of any instruction given under this rule, the mine operator shall record the date that the instruction was given. Records shall be retained for at least one (1) year and made available to an authorized representative of the Director.18.13. Battery-charging stations. 18.13.a. Battery-charging stations shall be ventilated with a sufficient volume of air to prevent the accumulation of hydrogen gas.18.13.b. Smoking, vise of open flames, or other activities that could create an ignition source shall be prohibited at the battery charging station.18.13.c. Readily visible signs prohibiting smoking or open flames shall be posted at battery-charging stations. 18.14. Conveyor belt slippage. 18.14.a. Surface belt conveyors within confined areas where evacuation would be restricted in the event of a fire resulting from belt-slippage shall be equipped with a detection system capable of automatically stopping the drive pulley.18.14.b. Underground belt conveyors shall be equipped with a detection system capable of automatically stopping the drive pulley if slippage could cause ignition of the belt.18.14.c. A person shall attend the belt at the drive pulley when it is necessary to operate the conveyor while temporarily bypassing the automatic function.18.15. Mine opening vicinity. 18.15.a. Surface buildings or other similar structures within one hundred (100) feet of mine openings used for intake air or within one hundred (100) feet of mine openings that are designated escape ways in exhaust air shall be:18.15.a.1. Constructed of noncombustible materials; or 18.15.a.2. Constructed to meet a fire resistance rating of no less than one (1) hour; or18.15.a.3. Provided with an automatic fire suppression system; or18.15.a.4. Covered on all combustible interior and exterior structural surfaces with noncombustible material or limited combustible material, such as five-eighth (5/8) inch, type "X", gypsum wallboard. 18.16. Stationary diesel equipment underground. Stationary diesel equipment underground shall be: 18.16.a. Supported on a noncombustible base; and18.16.b. Provided with a thermal sensor that automatically stops the engine if overheating occurs.18.17. Preparation of pipelines or containers. Before welding, cutting, or applying heat with an open flame to pipelines or containers that have contained flammable or combustible liquids, flammable gases, or explosive solids, the pipelines or containers shall be: 18.17.a. Drained, ventilated, and thoroughly cleaned of any residue;18.17.b. Vented to prevent pressure build-up during the application of heat; and18.17.c. Filled with an inert gas or water, where compatible; or18.17.d. Determined to be free of flammable gases by a flammable gas detection device prior to and at frequent intervals during the application of heat.18.18. Underground shops. 18.18.a. To confine or prevent the spread of toxic gases from a fire originating in an underground shop where maintenance work is routinely done on mobile equipment, one of the following measures shall be taken: use of control doors or bulkheads, routing of the mine shop air directly to an exhaust system, reversal of mechanical ventilation, or use of an automatic fire suppression system in conjunction with an alternate escape route. The alternative used shall at all times provide at least the same degree of safety as control doors or bulkheads. 18.18.a.1. Control doors or bulkheads. If used as an alternative, control doors or bulkheads shall meet the following requirements: 18.18.a.1.A. Each control door or bulkhead shall be constructed to serve as a barrier to fire, the effects of fire, and air leakage at each opening to the shop.18.18.a.1.B. Each control door shall be: 18.18.a.1.B.1. Constructed so that, once closed, it will not reopen as a result of a differential in air pressure; 18.18.a.1.B.2. Constructed so that it can be opened from either side by one person or be provided with a personnel door that can be opened from either side;18.18.a.1.B.3. Clear of obstructions; and18.18.a.1.B.4. Provided with a means of remote or automatic closure unless a person specifically designated to close the door in the event of a fire can reach the door within three (3) minutes.18.18.a.1.C. If located twenty (20) feet or more from exposed timber or other combustible material, the control doors or bulkheads shall provide protection at least equivalent to a door constructed of no less than one-quarter (1/4) inch of plate steel with channel or angle-iron reinforcement to minimize warpage. The framework assembly of the door and the surrounding bulkhead, if any, shall be at least equivalent to the door in fire and air-leakage resistance and in physical strength.18.18.a.1.D. If located less than twenty (20) feet from exposed timber or other combustibles, the control door or bulkhead shall provide protection at least equivalent to a door constructed of two (2) layers of wood, each a minimum of three-quarters (3/4) inch in thickness. The wood-grain of one (1) layer shall be perpendicular to the wood-grain of the other layer. The wood construction shall be covered on all sides and edges with no less than 24-gauge sheet steel. The framework assembly of the door and the surrounding bulkhead, if any, shall be at least equivalent to the door in fire and air-leakage resistance and in physical strength. Roll-down steel doors with a fire-resistance rating of one and one-half (1-1/2) hours or greater, but without an insulation core, are acceptable: Provided, That an automatic sprinkler or deluge system is installed that provides even coverage of the door on both sides. 18.18.b.1. Routing air to exhaust system. If used as an alternative, routing the mine shop exhaust air directly to an exhaust system shall be done so that no person would be exposed to toxic gases in the event of a shop fire.18.18.c.1. Mechanical ventilation reversal. If used as an alternative, reversal of mechanical ventilation shall: 18.18.c.1.A. Be accomplished by a main fan. If the main fan is located underground: 18.18.c.1.A.1. The cable or conductors supplying power to the fan shall be routed through areas free of fire hazards; or 18.18.c.1.A.2. The main fan shall be equipped with a second, independent power cable or set of conductors from the surface. The power cable or conductors shall be located so that an underground fire disrupting power in one (1) cable or set of conductors will not affect the other; or18.18.c.1.A.3. A second fan capable of accomplishing ventilation reversal shall be available for use in the event of failure of the main fan.18.18.c.1.B. Provide rapid air reversal that allows persons underground time to exit in fresh air by the second escapeway or find a place of refuge; and18.18.c.1.C. Be done according to predetermined conditions and procedures.18.18.d.1. Automatic fire suppression system and escape route. If used as an alternative, the automatic fire suppression system and alternate escape route shall meet the following requirements: 18.18.d.1.A. The suppression system shall be: 18.18.d.1.A.1. Located in the shop area; 18.18.d.1.A.2. The appropriate size and type for the particular fire hazards involved; and18.18.d.1.A.3. Inspected at weekly intervals and properly maintained.18.18.d.1.B. The escape route shall bypass the shop area so that the route will not be affected by a fire in the shop area.18.19. Installations. 18.19.a. Fire protection. 18.19.a.1. Where cutting or welding is performed at any location, means of prompt extinguishment of any fire accidentally started shall be provided. 18.19.a.2. Adequate fire-fighting equipment, required by the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, shall be provided where fire hazard exists. At least two (2) exits shall be provided for every enclosed floor of plants constructed after the effective date of these rules. 18.19.a.3. Signs warning against smoking and open flames shall be posted so they can be readily seen in areas or places where fire or explosion hazards exist.18.19.a.4. Smoking or open flame in or about surface structures shall be restricted to locations where it will not cause fire or an explosion.18.19.a.5. In structures where compressed gases are piped through permanently installed fixtures, such fixtures shall be examined daily for leaks and damage. If leaks or damage to the fixtures are discovered, repairs shall be made immediately.18.19.a.6. Open flame in or about surface structures shall be restricted to locations where it will not cause fire or an explosion.W. Va. Code R. § 56-20-18