§ 33.23. Life lines and belts.

 (a)  In pit quarries. The owner, operator or superintendent of each pit or quarry shall provide and maintain sufficient lifebelts and lifelines for all persons requiring them. In deep pit quarries all persons employed on ledge operations shall use lifelines and lifebelts on the first cut, or when cleaning ledges, or when working within l5 feet or less of the edge on ledges inclining toward the pit on any cut, or when within three feet of the edge on ledges pitching away from the pit, or at any other time when life or limb is in danger. This requirement does not prohibit the use of the lifeline as a belt. If snub tenders are employed, all lifelines watched by them shall be snubbed at all times.

 (b)  In side hill quarries. In every side hill quarry where persons work on side hill operations, including drilling, blasting and cleaning face, the owner, operator or superintendent shall provide lifebelts and lifelines for all persons so employed. Whenever life or limb is in danger, persons so employed shall use such lifebelts and lifelines in the performance of such operations. Failure or refusal by an employe to comply with this requirement shall be deemed a violation of this subchapter.

 (c)  On crushers and elsewhere. All crushers, working platforms or bins on or in which persons descend into the feeding hoppers thereof shall be equipped with lifebelts and lifelines for the persons. Lifelines shall be of sufficient length to prevent the persons using them from being drawn into the jaws of the crusher or from being sucked under by a sudden rush of material. Lifelines shall be securely fastened and shall be easily accessible from any point of such platform. The lifelines and lifebelts shall be used only when necessary for the person or persons to descend into the feeding hopper or bin, or when material is barred from the car or skip. When crushing or loading machinery is stopped for making repairs, the person making the repairs shall hold the key or plug to the electric circuit to prevent any person from putting the machinery in operation while repairs are being made.

 (d)  Protection of lifelines. All fraying or shearing hazards shall be properly insulated or rounded off to prevent parting of the lifelines.