Section 690-274 - Mine openings or outlets(a) Openings or outlets to the surface.--It shall be unlawful for the operator, superintendent or mine foreman to employ an individual to work in the mine unless there are no fewer than two intake openings or outlets to the surface from every seam of coal being worked. The openings or outlets shall have a distinct means of egress available for use by the employees. The two intake openings or outlets to the surface required by this section shall not be at a common shaft, slope or drift opening. Mines in operation prior to the effective date of this act are not subject to the requirements under this subsection.(b) Exception.--The requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply to the openings or outlets of a new mine being worked for the purpose of making connections between the openings or outlets, so long as no more than 20 individuals are employed in making the connections.(c) Shaft, slope and drift distances.--The distance between shafts shall be not less than 200 feet. The distance between the openings to the surface of slopes and the distance between drifts shall be not less than 50 feet. Exceptions to the distance requirements specified in this subsection may be granted with the written consent of the department. The passageways between openings or outlets shall be maintained in a safe and available condition for the employees to travel. The pillars in entries between the openings or outlets shall not be removed.(d) Number of entries.--Every mine shall have no fewer than five main entries connected to the openings or outlets to the surface.(e) Intake and return entries.--The intake and return entries shall be kept reasonably drained and reasonably free from refuse and obstructions of all kinds, so that individuals may safely travel throughout their whole length and have a safe means of egress from workings in case of emergency. The entries shall be separated by pillars of coal of sufficient strength. When the coal seam height is less than four and one-half feet, employees shall be provided a means of transportation in and out of the mine.(f) Passageway between workings.--In every slope with workings on both sides, an overpass or underpass not less than five feet wide and five feet high shall be provided as a passageway for the use of employees to cross from one side of the slope to the other. The overpass or underpass shall connect with available passageways leading to the workings on both sides of the slope. The intervening strata between the slope and the overpass or underpass shall be of sufficient strength at all points to insure safety to the employees, provided, however, that, if it is impracticable to drive an overpass or an underpass in the solid, an overpass or underpass, if substantially built with masonry or other incombustible material, will be deemed sufficient.(g) Shafts less than 100 feet deep.--If the opening or outlet other than the main opening is a shaft not more than 100 feet in depth and is used by employees for the purpose of ingress to or egress from the mine, it shall be kept available and in safe condition, free from dangerous gases and all obstruction, and shall be fitted with safe and convenient stairways with steps of an average tread of ten inches and a rise of nine inches, not less than two feet in width and not to exceed an angle of 45 degrees, and with landings not less than 24 inches in width and four feet in length, at easy and convenient distances. Stairways shall be made safe by having handrails of suitable material placed on one side, or on both sides when requested by the department, and shall be inspected every 24 hours by a certified mine official employed for that purpose. Water that may come from the surface or from the strata in the shaft shall be conducted away so it will not fall on the stairways or on individuals while descending or ascending them.(h) Shafts more than 100 feet deep.--When a mine is operated by a shaft more than 100 feet in depth, the individuals employed in the shaft shall be lowered and hoisted by means of machinery unless the second opening is a drift or a slope. When the employees are lowered into or hoisted from the mine at the main shaft opening, the second opening, if a shaft, shall be supplied with a stairway, constructed in the manner designated in this section or with suitable machinery for safely lowering and hoisting individuals in case of an emergency. The emergency hoisting capability may be accomplished by the use of an escapeway capsule with a minimum capacity of two persons.(i) Slope openings.--At any mine where one of the openings required is a slope and is used as a means of ingress and egress by the employees and where the angle of descent of the slope exceeds 15 degrees and its length from the mouth of the opening exceeds 1,000 feet, the employees shall be lowered into and hoisted from the mine at a speed not to exceed six miles per hour. At any mine where the angle of descent of the slope averages from five to 15 degrees and its length exceeds 3,000 feet, the employees shall be lowered into and hoisted from the mine at a speed not to exceed six miles per hour, provided, however, that, when a separate travelingway is provided at any such slope, the owner or operator may, at the owner's or operator's option, be exempt from the requirements of this section if the angle of the travelingway does not exceed 20 degrees.2008, July 7, P.L. 654, No. 55, §274, effective in 180 days [ 1/5/2009].