Volume and velocity of air current; inspection
Sec. 3. (A) The volume and the velocity of the current of air shall
be sufficient to dilute so as to render harmless, and to carry away,
flammable or harmful gases.
(B) The operator, superintendent or foreman of every mine
worked by shaft, slope, or drift shall provide and maintain for every
mine, adequate ventilation. In all mines the quantity of air passing
through the last open crosscut between the intake and return in any
pair or sets of entries shall be not less than nine thousand (9,000)
cubic feet of air per minute and more if necessary to dilute and
render harmless and carry away flammable and harmful gases.
(1) All working faces from which coal is being cut, mined or
loaded in a working section between the intake and return
airways entries shall be ventilated with a minimum quantity of
three thousand (3,000) cubic feet of air per minute and more if
necessary to dilute and render harmless and carry away
flammable and harmful gases.
(2) The quantity of air reaching the last crosscut in pillar
sections may be less than nine thousand (9,000) cubic feet of air
per minute if at least nine thousand (9,000) cubic feet of air per
minute is being delivered to the intake of the pillar line.
(C) At least once each week, a properly certified person shall
measure the volume of air entering the main intakes and leaving the
main returns, the volume passing through the last open breakthrough
in each active entry, the volume being delivered to the intake end of
each pillar line, and the volume at the intake and return of each split.
A record of such measurements shall be kept in a book on the
surface, and the record shall be open for inspection by interested
persons. The mine foreman shall, immediately after the end of each
month, mail to the director a true copy of such air measurements and
shall indicate the number of persons in each split. Blanks for this
purpose shall be provided by the director.
(Formerly: Acts 1955, c.168, s.51.) As amended by Acts 1979,
P.L.231, SEC.9.
Last modified: May 27, 2006