Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.24

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 480-3-3-.24 - Ventilation

(1)Quantity of Air to be Provided - The operator of every mine shall provide and maintain in each mine a good and sufficient amount of ventilation and shall cause air to circulate through any place where men are working. Employees shall not be permitted to work in any place where the air is found to contain less than 19% oxygen more than 1% carbon dioxide, more than 1-1/2% methane, a harmful amount of poisonous gas or harmful concentrations of dust. Sufficient fresh air shall also be conveyed to the working place to keep the temperature and humidity of such working place healthful.

(2)Air Samples and Analysis - Once each month or as often as the Department deems necessary, air samples shall be collected by the Department at the face of each heading and at the face of the deepest closed stope in each heading. Such samples shall be analyzed for oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane content. Analyses of samples shall be recorded and a report filed in office of the Department on forms provided by the Department.

(a) Principal fan or principal fans installed on the surface after these rules become effective shall have air ducts so installed that the ventilating current can be quickly reversed in direction. All surface fans, casings and air ducts connecting with the mine openings and also the fan houses and other buildings in close proximity shall be made of non-combustible material throughout.

(3)Ventilating Fans - All booster fan installations underground, shall comply with the following provisions:

1. The fan must be constructed of non-combustible material and equipped with bearings which leak no oil.

2. The installation must be absolutely fireproof.

3. The stooping between fan intake and fan discharge must be built fireproof and equipped with a large door which swings in the direction of the air current.

4. The fan must be installed in such a manner as to prevent re-circulation of more than 10% of the air.

(a) No surface fan house shall be erected within fifty (50') feet of any flammable structure or flammable material.

(b) The intake, of any fan, including auxiliary blowers, shall be adequately guarded.

(c) All auxiliary blower fan installations underground, shall comply with the following provisions:

1. The installation shall be on the air intake.

2. The volume of the intake air, passing the blower fan, and shall be at least 1-1/2 times the volume of air circulated by the blower fan.

3. If more than one blower fan is located on one heading, then the volume of intake shall be at least 1-1/2 times the total volume of air circulated by all blower fans on that split.

4. All auxiliary blower fans installed underground and operated by electric motors, shall be constructed of non-combustible material and the combustible material in the immediate vicinity shall be fireproofed.

(d) Doors used for deflecting and conducting the ventilation shall be so hung and affixed that they will be self-closing by gravity or by proper mechanism. No person shall prop a door or use any other means to hold a door open that will prevent it from being self-closing.

Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation Examiner.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.24

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-2-13(2).