45.1-161.210 - Weekly examinations.
§ 45.1-161.210. Weekly examinations.
A. At least every seven days, a mine foreman shall examine unsealedworked-out areas where no pillars have been recovered.
B. At least every seven days, a mine foreman shall evaluate the effectivenessof bleeder systems used under § 45.1-161.220.
C. At least every seven days, a mine foreman shall examine the followinglocations for hazardous conditions:
1. In at least one entry of each intake air course, in its entirety, so thatthe entire air course is traveled.
2. In at least one entry of each return air course, in its entirety, so thatthe entire air course is traveled.
3. In each longwall or shortwall travel way in its entirety, so that theentire travel way is traveled.
4. At each seal along return and bleeder air courses and at each seal alongintake air courses not examined under § 45.1-161.208.
5. In each escapeway so that the entire escapeway is traveled.
6. On each working section not examined under § 45.1-161.208 during theprevious seven days.
D. At least every seven days, a certified person shall:
1. Determine the volume of air entering the main intakes and in each intakesplit;
2. Determine the volume of air and test for methane in the last open crosscutin any pair or set of developing entries or rooms, in the return of eachsplit of air immediately before it enters the main returns and where the airleaves the main returns; and
3. Test for methane in the return entry nearest each set of seals immediatelyafter the air passes the seals.
E. Hazardous conditions shall be corrected immediately. If the conditioncreates an imminent danger, everyone except those persons necessary tocorrect the hazardous conditions shall be withdrawn from the area affected toa safe area until the hazardous condition is corrected.
F. Weekly examination is not required during any seven-day period in which noperson enters any underground area of the mine. When a mine is idled or in anonproducing status with entry only for maintenance of the mine, weeklyexaminations may be conducted in accordance with a plan approved by the Chief.
G. Except for certified persons required to make examinations, no personshall enter any underground area of a coal mine if the weekly examination hasnot been completed within the preceding seven days. The weekly examinationmay be conducted at the same time as the pre-shift examination.
H. The person making the weekly examinations shall certify by initials, date,and the time that the examination was made. Certifications and time shallappear at enough locations to show that the entire area has been examined.
I. Examinations of surface areas of underground coal mines shall be made inaccordance with the requirements for weekly examinations at surface coalmines as provided in § 45.1-161.256.
(Code 1950, §§ 45-32, 45-33, 45-35, 45-40, 45-60.4, 45-68.1, 45-69.7; 1954,c. 191; 1966, c. 594, §§ 45.1-17, 45.1-56, 45.1-65; 1968, c. 310; 1978, cc.120, 729; 1993, cc. 170, 442; 1994, c. 28; 1996, c. 774; 1999, c. 256; 2005,c. 3.)