The Coal and Other Mines (Locomotives) Order 1956

PART IV Ventilation

Determinations of firedamp content

11.  Without prejudice to the provisions of the Coal and Other Mines (Ventilation) Regulations, 1956(1), where a locomotive runs in any length of road in which the use of lamps or lights, other than permitted lights, is unlawful, the manager shall make and secure the efficient carrying out of arrangements whereby determinations of the percentage of inflammable gas present in the general body of the air (in these regulations referred to as “the firedamp content”) are made in that length of road in accordance with the provisions of the three next following regulations: Provided that an inspector, if he is satisfied that the normal firedamp content in any length of road is not such as to make regular determinations necessary, may by notice served on the manager exempt that length from the application of any provision in this Part of these regulations.

Methods for determinations

12.  Determinations of the firedamp content shall be made—

(a) by means of apparatus of a type approved for the purpose by the Minister, by a competent person appointed for that purpose by the manager of the mine; or

(b) by means of samples of air taken by a competent person so appointed and analysed within four days. (without taking into account any Saturday, Sunday or day of general holiday) of the taking thereof.

Places for determinations

13.—(1) Determinations of the firedamp content shall be made—

(a) at a point at each end of every length of road in which any locomotive runs;

(b) at such other suitable points as may be fixed by the manager:

Provided that paragraph (a) shall not require any determination to be made in a length of intake airway which begins at a shaft or outlet at any place more than nine hundred feet from any working face ventilated by that airway.

(2) An inspector may, if he is of opinion that any point fixed in pursuance of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) of this regulation is unsuitable, serve on the manager a notice requiring him to fix some other point in substitution therefor and may serve on the manager a notice requiring determinations to be made at any other point specified in the notice in addition to those required by the preceding paragraph.

Times for determinations

14.—(1) Determinations of the firedamp content shall be made at every point required by or under the last preceding regulation once in every week at the time when the firedamp content is likely to be greatest:

Provided that—

(a) if any determination at any such point shows a firedamp content exceeding 0.8 per cent. by volume determinations shall be made at that point at intervals not exceeding twenty-four hours so long as the content is shown to exceed or to have exceeded that percentage and for the seven next following working days;

(b) if every determination made during a period of thirty days at any such point showed a firedamp content not exceeding—

(i) in the case of a point in a length of road not ventilated by air which has ventilated a working face, 0.2 per cent. by volume;

(ii) in the case of a point in any other length of road, 0.6 per cent. by volume;

it shall be sufficient to make determinations at that point at intervals not exceeding thirty days for so long as the firedamp content shown thereby does not exceed that percentage.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in the last preceding paragraph, whenever any alteration is made in the arrangements for ventilating a mine which affects or may affect substantially any length of road in which determinations of the firedamp content are required by or under this Part of these regulations to be made, a determination of the firedamp content at each point in that length shall be made as soon as any substantial effect of the alteration would be apparent.

(3) Where a determination of the firedamp content made for the purposes of these regulations is made by means of a sample of air, it shall be deemed to be made at the time and place at which the sample is taken.

Records of determinations

15.  Particulars of every determination of firedamp content made in accordance with this Part of these regulations shall be recorded forthwith in a book provided for that purpose by the owner of the mine.

16.—(1) If any determination of firedamp content made in any length of road (not being a determination made by analysis of a sample of air) shows a firedamp content exceeding one and one quarter per cent. by volume or any indication of inflammable gas is seen on the lowered flame of a safety-lamp in the general body of the air, the person making that determination or the person using the lamp (as the case may be) shall forthwith inform the person in charge of the part of the mine which includes that length of road and that latter person shall after forthwith verifying the accuracy of the information so given to him forthwith discontinue the running of any locomotive in that length of road.

(2) After such discontinuance no locomotive shall be run in that length of road until the manager of the mine, being satisfied that the firedamp content therein does not exceed one and one quarter per cent. by volume, so directs.

(3) If any determination of firedamp content made in any length of road by analysis of a sample of air shows a firedamp content exceeding one and one quarter per cent. by volume, the manager of the mine shall forthwith upon receipt of that information ensure that no locomotive runs in that length of road until he is satisfied that the firedamp content therein does not exceed one and one quarter per cent. by volume.

(4) The manager shall forthwith give to the inspector for the district notice of any discontinuance of the running of a locomotive in pursuance of this regulation.

(1)

(p. 1295 above).