Section 690-211 - Ventilation responsibilities of mine foremanThe following shall apply:
(1) A mine foreman shall devote the whole of his time to his duties in the mine when the mine is in operation, shall keep careful watch over the ventilating apparatus, the ventilation, airways and travelways and shall see that all stoppings along airways are properly built.(2) A mine foreman shall ensure that proper cut-throughs are made in the pillars of all rooms and entries, and that they are closed when necessary or when required by the department, so that the ventilating current can be conducted in sufficient quantity through the last cut-through to the face of each room and entry. A mine foreman shall not permit any room or entry to be turned in advance of the ventilating current or in advance of the last cut-through in the entry.(3) A mine foreman or an assistant mine foreman shall measure the air current at or near the main inlet and outlet airway at least once each week and also in the last cut-through in the last room and in the entry beyond the last room turned in each entry. A record shall be made of daily measurements in the assistant mine foreman's daily report book. The measurements shall be taken on days when individuals are at work, and, for making the measurements, an anemometer shall be provided and kept in good condition by the superintendent of the mine.(4) The following pertain to fan stoppage: (i) If a main mine fan stops and the ventilating quantity provided by the fan is not maintained by a backup fan system, the following actions shall be taken: (A) The power inby the loading point shall be immediately disconnected, and all men shall be withdrawn from the face areas of the mine to a point out by the loading point on the main travelway with established communications.(B) As soon as it is known that the ventilation has been interrupted, all permissible battery-powered equipment shall be removed from the immediate face area and moved to a safe location out by the last open crosscut. All other battery-powered mobile equipment, except transportation equipment necessary for evacuation if located in a safe area, shall not be used after a ventilation interruption occurs. If possible, battery terminal leads shall be disconnected. If leads are not disconnected, all switches shall be turned off.(C) If the interruption is less than 15 minutes, the working places, adjacent places and all other active working areas where methane may accumulate will be examined by a certified mine foreman, assistant mine foreman or mine examiner to determine if methane in the amount of 1.0 volume percent or more exists before power is restored and the men are permitted to resume mining operations.(ii) If the ventilation is not restored within 15 minutes, the following precautions shall be taken: (A) The power to all underground areas shall be disconnected.(B) All individuals shall be withdrawn from the mine on foot under proper supervision.(C) If ventilation is restored before the evacuation is completed, the certified mine foreman, assistant mine foreman or mine examiner may start the reexamination of the mine, but all other individuals must continue to evacuate.(D) In order to provide for worker safety, power for communications may be left on.(iii) As an alternative to evacuating the men on foot, a mine operator may propose to utilize mechanical equipment during the evacuation. To justify this proposal, the operator must perform a survey that shows explosive gas will not migrate to or accumulate in the designated haulageways that will be used to evacuate the mine. The duration of the survey shall be at least twice the travel time from the farthest face to the surface. The operator shall provide the representative of the miners, if applicable, an opportunity to participate in the survey. The department will approve the survey criteria. Trolley equipment will not be used during a fan stoppage. If the survey provides affirmative results, which shall be provided to the department, the department shall approve a plan that provides: (A) That permissible transportation equipment shall be used, if available.(B) That evacuations shall begin within 15 minutes after a ventilation interruption and shall proceed in an orderly and expedient manner.(C) That the minimum number of vehicles will be used for the evacuation.(D) That, during transportation, a certified individual qualified to perform methane examinations riding in each vehicle shall continuously monitor for methane using a handheld detector and at specific locations designated by the operator based on the survey results. The speed of the vehicles shall not be so fast as to negate the detector's ability to accurately measure methane levels.(E) That, if at any time during the evacuation methane is detected in an amount of .25% or more, the transportation vehicles will be deenergized and the evacuation completed on foot.(F) That the operator, the department and the representative of the miners, if applicable, shall review the plan annually or more frequently if conditions warrant.(iv) If ventilation is restored to normal water gauge before the evacuation is completed, a certified mine foreman, assistant mine foreman or mine examiner may start the reexamination of the mine, but all other individuals must continue to evacuate.(v) The reexamination shall be made of the mine in the same manner as a preshift examination for a coal-producing shift before any power underground is energized, including battery-powered or diesel-powered equipment, or before individuals are permitted to enter the mine. The examination shall be made on foot, except an operator may use permissible transportation equipment on intake travelways only for reexamination after a fan stoppage if the examination is started within the time period established by the survey. The examination shall be recorded in the official mine record books used for examinations under section 218. (5) The mine foreman shall notify the superintendent in writing whenever, in his opinion, the mine is becoming dangerous through the lack of ample ventilation at the face of entries, rooms and other portions of the mine, caused by the undue length of entries and airways or from any other cause, resulting in the accumulation of gas or coal dust, or both, in various portions of the mine. The superintendent shall thoroughly investigate the mine foreman's report and, if substantiated, order necessary work done to put the affected area in safe operating condition. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to immediately notify the department of the condition.(6) The mine foreman shall see that every mine releasing explosive gas is kept free of standing methane, but any accumulation of explosive or noxious gases in the worked-out or abandoned portions of any mine shall be removed as soon as possible after its discovery, if it is practicable to remove it. No individual endangered by the presence of explosive or noxious gases shall be allowed in that portion of the mine until the gases have been removed. The mine foreman shall direct and see that all dangerous places and the entrance or entrances to worked-out and abandoned places in all mines are properly fenced off across the openings so that no individual can enter and that danger signs are posted upon said fencing to warn individuals of the existing danger.(7) When operations are temporarily suspended in a mine, the mine foreman shall see that danger signs are placed across the mine entrance, which signals shall be sufficient warning for unauthorized individuals not to enter the mine. If the circulation of air through the mine be stopped, each entrance to the mine shall be fenced off in such a manner as will ordinarily prevent individuals from entering the mine, and a danger sign shall be displayed upon the fence at each entrance and maintained in good condition. The mine foreman shall see that all danger signs used in the mine are in good condition and, if any become defective, he shall notify the superintendent.2008, July 7, P.L. 654, No. 55, §211, effective in 180 days [ 1/5/2009].