Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane; percentage in air;
withdrawal of employees
Sec. 5. (a) All active underground working places in a mine shall
be ventilated by a current of air containing not less than nineteen and
one-half percent (19.5%) of oxygen, not more than one-half percent
(0.5%) of carbon dioxide, and no harmful quantities of other noxious
or poisonous gases.
(b) If the air at an underground working face in a mine, when
tested at a point not less than twelve (12) inches from the roof, face,
or rib, contains more than one percent (1%) of methane, as
determined by a methane detector approved by the United States
Mine Safety and Health Administration, a permissible flame safety
lamp, air analysis, or other recognized means of accurately detecting
such gas, changes or adjustments shall be made at once in the
ventilation in such mine so that such air shall not contain more than
one percent (1%) of methane.
(c) If a split of air returning from active underground working
places in a mine contains more than one percent (1%) of methane, as
determined by a methane detector approved by the United States
Mine Safety and Health Administration, a permissible flame safety
lamp, air analysis, or other recognized means of accurately detecting
such gas, changes or adjustments shall be made at once in the
ventilation in such mine so that such returning air shall not contain
more than one percent (1%) of methane.
(d) If a split of air returning from active underground working
places in a mine contains one and one-half percent (1.5%) of
methane, as determined by a methane detector approved by the
United States Mine Safety and Health Administration, a permissible
flame safety lamp, air analysis, or other recognized means of
accurately detecting such gas, the employees shall be withdrawn
from the portion of the mine endangered thereby, and all power shall
be cut off from such portion of the mine until the quantity of methane
in such split shall be less than one and one-half percent (1.5%).
(Formerly: Acts 1955, c.168, s.53.) As amended by P.L.243-1987,
SEC.6.
Last modified: May 27, 2006