Indiana Code - Labor and Safety - Title 22, Section 22-10-7-9

Idle or abandoned sections of mines; protection; inspection; sealing

Sec. 9. (A) All idle or abandoned sections of mines shall be
protected by such safeguards as will prevent the accumulation or
overflow of gas. All avenues leading thereto, shall be arranged and
conducted to give warning to all persons of the danger of entering
and notice shall be posted warning all unauthorized persons not to
enter such parts of the mine.
(B) In all mines, air which has passed by an opening of any
unsealed, abandoned area shall not be used to ventilate any active
face area if such air contains one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) or
more of methane. For the purposes of this subsection an area within
a panel shall not be deemed to be abandoned until such panel is
abandoned.
(C) In all mines, air that has passed through an abandoned panel
which is inaccessible for inspection, or air that has passed through a
similar abandoned area which is inaccessible for inspection, or air
which has been used to ventilate a pillar line, or air which has been
used to ventilate an area from which the pillars have been removed,
shall not be used to ventilate any active face area in such mine.
(D) In all mines, all workings which are abandoned after March
8, 1955, shall be sealed or ventilated to the extent that explosive
gases will be dispersed into a direct return. If such workings are
sealed, the sealing shall be done in a substantial manner, as
prescribed by the director. One (1) or more of the seals of every
sealed area shall be fitted with a pipe and cap or valve to permit the
sampling of gases and the measuring of hydrostatic pressure behind
such seals. For the purpose of this subsection, workings within a
panel shall not be deemed to be abandoned until such panel is
abandoned.
(Formerly: Acts 1955, c.168, s.57.) As amended by Acts 1979,
P.L.231, SEC.13.

Last modified: May 27, 2006