Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 24, June 14, 2024
Section 56-20-6 - Ground Control6.1. Loose material removal. Loose hazardous material shall be stripped for a safe distance, except where vegetation is required to support the slope from the top of pit or high walls, and the loose unconsolidated material shall be sloped to the angle of repose, or barriers, baffle boards, screen, or other approved devices that afford equivalent protection.6.2. Benches. When a bench is required to insure safe operations, the width and height of the bench shall be governed by the type of equipment to be used and the operations to be performed, type of material and height of wall.6.3. Highwall and burden bank work areas. 6.3.a. The highwall shall be sloped or benched to prevent or minimize the danger of a slide. All overhanging ledges and loose material shall be scaled from the highwall. When scaling of a highwall is necessary to correct conditions, a safe means shall be provided to perform such work.6.3.b. When the highwall is cracked and shows evidence of movement, or of weakening, the area shall be made safe or abandoned and dangered off. Any highwall failure that affects the safe working conditions of the quarry shall be reported to the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training within twenty-four (24) hours of the time of discovery of the failure.6.3.c. Trees endangering workmen along highwalls shall be removed. Trees that cannot be safely removed shall be barricaded and no work shall be done in the area. Such work shall be completed during daylight hours.6.3.d. Burden banks shall be placed an adequate distance from the pit to prevent any material from rolling back and endangering the works. Burden shall be kept free of bodies of water which would be hazardous in active work areas. Burden material shall be sloped to the angle of repose or other measures taken to prevent the material from slothing, sliding, or rolling into the pit.6.3.e. Persons, other than those designated to correct unsafe conditions, shall not work near or under highwalls or banks.6.3.f. During bench loading, adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent equipment from going over a highwall or bench.6.4. Scaling and Support. Ground conditions that create a hazard to persons shall be taken down or supported before other work or travel is permitted in the affected area. Until corrective work is completed, the area shall be posted with a warning against entry and, when left unattended, a barrier shall be installed to impede unauthorized entry.6.5. Scaling tools. Where manual scaling is performed, a scaling bar shall be provided. This bar shall be of a length and design that will allow the removal of loose material without exposing the person performing the work to injury.6.6. Rock fixtures. 6.6.a. When rock bolts and accessories addressed in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F432-83, "Standard Specification for Roof and Rock Bolts and Accessories," are used for ground support, the mine operator shall: 6.6.a.1. Obtain a manufacturer's certification that the material was manufactured and tested in accordance with the specifications of ASTM F432-83; and6.6.a.2. Make this certification available to an authorized representative of the Director.6.6.b. Fixtures and accessories not addressed in ASTM F432-83 may be used for ground support provided they: 6.6.b.1. Have been successful in supporting the ground in an area with similar strata, opening dimensions and ground stresses in any mine; or6.6.b.2. Have been tested and shown to be effective in supporting ground in an area of the affected mine which has similar strata, opening dimensions, and ground stresses as the area where the fixtures are expected to be used. During the test process, access to the test area shall be limited to persons necessary to conduct the test.6.6.c. Bearing plates shall be used with fixtures when necessary for effective ground support.6.6.d. The diameter of finishing bits shall be within a tolerance of plus or minus 0.030 inch of the manufacturer's recommended hole diameter for the anchor used. When separate finishing bits are used, they shall be distinguishable from other bits.6.6.e. Damaged or deteriorated cartridges of grouting material shall not be used.6.6.f. When rock bolts tensioned by torqueing are used as a means of ground support, selected tension level shall be: 6.6.f.1. At least fifty percent (50%) of either the yield point of the bolt or anchorage capacity of the rock, whichever is less; and6.6.f.2. No greater than the yield point of the bolt or anchorage capacity of the rock.6.6.f.3. The torque of the first bolt, every tenth bolt, and the last bolt installed in each work area during the shift shall be accurately determined immediately after installation. If the torque of any fixture tested does not fall within the installation torque range, corrective action shall be taken.6.6.g. When grouted fixtures can be tested by applying torque, the first fixture installed in each work place shall be tested to withstand one hundred fifty (150) foot-pounds of torque. Should it rotate in the hole, a second fixture shall be tested in the same manner. If the second fixture also turns, corrective action shall be taken.6.6.h. When other tensioned and non-tensioned fixtures are used, test methods shall be established and used to verify their effectiveness.6.6.i. The mine operator shall certify that tests were conducted and make the certification available to an authorized representative of the Director.6.7. Ground support use. Ground support shall be used where ground conditions, or mining experience in similar ground conditions in the mine, indicate that it is necessary. When ground support is necessary, the support system shall be designed, installed, and maintained to control the ground in places where persons work or travel in performing their assigned tasks. Damaged, loosened, or dislodged timber used for ground support which creates a hazard to persons shall be repaired or replaced prior to any work or travel in the affected area.6.8. Examinations. Should a slide occur, a foreperson shall examine the area of the slope for danger of additional slides. No person shall work in the area until the examination is complete and the area declared safe.6.9. Repairs in excavation areas. 6.9.a. Special safety precautions shall be taken when persons are required to perform repair work between immobilized equipment and within a safe distance from the highwall or burden bank where such equipment may hinder escape from falls or slides. A competent person shall be designated to observe the highwall or burden bank. When equipment is mobile, it shall be moved to a safe location away from dangerous banks or highwalls.6.9.b. Persons shall not perform maintenance work between machinery, equipment, and the face or ribs unless the area has been tested and, when necessary, secured. When equipment is mobile, it shall be moved to a safe location.6.10. Tree removal. When miners are in the area, suitable warning shall be given before equipment shoves over or uproots trees, and workers shall be removed from the immediate vicinity.6.11. Night work. When quarrying is performed at night, the pits, highwalls, and dump areas in the vicinity of the work shall be adequately illuminated.6.12. Dump areas. 6.12.a. Safety berms shall be provided at the edge of all fill areas to prevent over-travel or overturning. The berm will consist of material end dumped and/or pushed by the fill dozer to create an adequate berm. The minimum height of the berm will be axle height of the largest rubber tire equipment working on the fill. Safety berms shall not be damaged by, or used as a stop block, by haulage equipment.6.12.b. Should the outer slope of the fill become steeper than the safe angle of repose, short-dumping procedures shall be initiated. Equipment operators and truck drivers operating on the fill will be informed of the steep slope condition and will be required to dump a minimum of one (1) truck length from the edge of the fill. Short dumping shall continue until a safe angle of repose is established.6.12.c. In the event tension cracks appear near the outer edge of the fill, short dumping will be initiated. Equipment operators and truck drivers working on the fill will be informed of the tension cracks and will be required to dump a minimum of one (1) truck length from the tension cracks.6.12.d. In the event of tension cracks developing in a fill, the following procedures shall be initiated:6.12.d.1. The dozer shall begin a cut a safe distance back from tension crack. The cut will extend forward to the edge of the fill.6.12.d.2. The dozer operator will take special precautions to prevent over-travel at the edge of the fill. This procedure will be utilized until the tension crack is removed.6.12.d.3. Material will be dumped at the back edge of the cut and pushed in place by the dozer to reestablish the safe working elevation. Should additional tension cracks occur, these procedures will be repeated.6.12.e. The surface of the fill shall be graded/sloped to prevent water from impounding near the edge of the fill. 6.13. Ground Control Plan. A copy of the current adopted Ground Control Plan shall be posted at the mine and a copy given to the State Mine Inspector.