The Mines Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Working plans, sections, ventilation plans and geological map

59.—(1) The mine operator shall ensure that—

(a) there are—

(i) plans of all the workings in a mine from which any mineral is being extracted and of the mine’s boundaries and, so far as is practicable, of any other workings which may affect the safety of the mine (whether or not the workings are discontinued or abandoned); and

(ii) accurate sections of the seams or vein-systems currently being worked in the mine and of the surrounding strata;

(b) the plans required by sub-paragraph (a) include a plan of the system of ventilation at the mine (in this regulation referred to as the “ventilation plan”);

(c) the plans and sections required by sub-paragraph (a) are—

(i) kept for as long as necessary at the mine or (if that is not practicable) at some other convenient place;

(ii) prepared and revised at suitable intervals by the surveyor of the mine or a suitably qualified and competent person working under the surveyor’s supervision;

(iii) prepared in such form and in such quantity as is necessary to enable the mine to be worked safely;

(iv) prepared on such a scale and marked with such features as are necessary for—

(aa) the provision of accurate information relevant to the safe working of the mine; and

(bb) the provision of accurate information on the position and conditions of existing workings and, so far as practicable, workings that have been discontinued or abandoned;

(v) marked with the date on which the plan or section was commenced, prepared or revised;

(vi) permanently and clearly drawn or printed on suitable and durable material; and

(vii) maintained in good condition.

(2) The mine operator shall retain all relevant information relating to the plans and sections referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) The mine operator shall ensure that the ventilation plan shows in particular the general direction of the flow of ventilation, the points at which the quantity of air passing is assessed and the location of the principal devices for regulating the flow of ventilation.

(4) The mine operator shall ensure that—

(a) a suitable geological map of the district in which the mine is situated is kept at the mine; and

(b) the geological map shows the boundaries of superficial and drift deposits.

(5) If a person ceases to be surveyor of the mine, the mine operator shall ensure that—

(a) any plans, sections and relevant information relating to the plans and sections referred to in this regulation that are held by the surveyor are delivered to the mine operator as soon as is reasonably practicable; and

(b) where practicable, the person ceasing to be the surveyor prepares a report in writing of the condition of those plans and sections and sends it to the mine operator.