The Mines Miscellaneous Health and Safety Provisions Regulations 1995

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE 1 ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

PART I REQUIREMENTS ON EMPLOYERS

The additional health and safety requirements on an employer of persons at work at a mine are as follows:—

Work permits

1.—(1) Where it is shown by the health and safety document that such a measure is necessary, a system of work permits shall be introduced for carrying out hazardous operations and usually straightforward operations which may interact with other activities to cause serious hazards.

(2) Work permits shall specify the conditions to be fulfilled and the precautions to be taken before, during and after, the work concerned and shall be issued by the employer or person at work in charge of those operations.

PART II REQUIREMENTS ON OWNERS

The additional health and safety requirements on every owner of a mine are as follows:—

Lighting

1.  Every place above ground at a mine where a person is likely to be exposed to risks in the event of the failure of artificial lighting shall be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity and where that is impractical persons at work in that place shall be provided with a personal lamp.

Control of explosive atmospheres above ground

2.  Where there is a risk of an unintended explosion at any place above ground at a mine, all necessary measures shall be taken with a view to—

(a) preventing the occurrence and accumulation of explosive atmospheres; and

(b) preventing the ignition of explosive atmospheres.

Smoking and use of open flame

3.  At every place, at a mine, where there is a particular risk of fire or explosion

(a) smoking shall be forbidden; and

(b) no open flame shall be used nor any work carried out which may give rise to an ignition hazard unless safety precautions are first taken to prevent the occurrence of any fire or explosion.

Fire-fighting equipment

4.  The location of fire-fighting equipment shall be indicated by signs which are placed at appropriate points at the mine.

Written instructions

5.  Written instructions shall be drawn up for every mine which shall set out comprehensible

(a) rules and safety instructions to be observed to ensure the health and safety of persons at work and the safe use of equipment; and

(b) information on the use of emergency equipment and action to be taken in the event of an emergency at or near any place of work at the mine.

Flammable materials taken below ground

6.  Flammable materials taken below ground at a mine shall be limited to the quantity which is strictly necessary.