§ 33.130. Gas.

 (a)  Abandoned or worked out sections. Worked out or abandoned parts of a mine in operation shall be kept free of all dangerous bodies of gases or shall be sealed off. If this cannot be done the Department shall be notified. Accessible parts of the abandoned mine in which explosive gases are liable to be found shall be carefully examined by the mine foreman or his assistant at least once each week. Steps shall be immediately taken to remove any dangerous existing gas condition.

 (b)  Examinations in areas being worked. The mine superintendent or foreman, or some other competent person at each mine having workings in suspected gas areas shall make a gas examination each morning in each suspected working area before permitting any person to work there. This examination shall be made with approved safety lamp not more than 3 hours before the workmen commence work.

 (c)  Report of examinations. A report of all gas examinations shall be kept in a book provided for that purpose. Each report shall be made immediately after the examination is made. Each report shall give the date and hour at which the examination was made and shall be signed by the person who made the examination. A chalk record of the examination including the date, month, and year shall be marked at the face or on the rib of the examined working place.

 (d)  Brushing. No gas in mines shall be removed by brushing.

 (e)  Closing gassy sections. The mine superintendent or foreman shall be responsible for shutting down all workings in which the accumulation of gas cannot be effectively diluted, rendered harmless and swept away by existing ventilating equipment. Except for those who may enter in order to remove the danger of gas accumulation, no person shall be permitted to enter the working. Work shall be discontinued until after a competent person has made an examination of the workings and reported them safe. A report of all facts in such case shall be made to the Department. Signs marked, ‘‘Dangerous—Keep Out’’ shall be placed at all entrances to workings closed on account of gas.

 (f)  Test hole for gas. When workings are carried to a point within 1/2 mile or less of a suspected worked out or abandoned gas area, one drill hole 2 inches or less in diameter shall be maintained. This drill hole shall be positioned at least 20 feet in advance of each working head.

 (g)  Safety lamps. Only approved locked safety lamps shall be permitted in any mine where there is danger from gas explosions. Whenever safety lamps are required in any mine, they shall be the property of the owner or operator of mine. A competent person shall be appointed for the purpose of examining every safety lamp immediately before it is taken into the mine to insure that it is clean, safe and securely locked. No safety lamp that has not been examined and found clean, safe and securely locked shall be used. While in a mine, no person shall have in his possession a key or any other contrivance designed to unlock any safety lamps where locked lamps are used.

 (h)  Matches. If there is danger from gas explosions, no matches of any sort or other apparatus for striking light shall be taken into the mine.