§ 33.91. Mine outlets.

 (a)  General requirements. There shall be compliance with the following requirements:

   (1)  The owner, operator or superintendent of each mine, shall not permit any person to work in the mine unless the place where he is working is connected with every seam, bed or vein of material being worked.

   (2)  In every mine except as provided in subsection (b), there shall be at least two outlets to the surface from every seam, bed or vein actually being worked. Both outlets shall be readily accessible from every section of the mine. This provision shall be enforced without exception wherever any shaft, slope, or drift has been advanced 300 feet or more from the mouth. These outlets shall be separated by a stratum of not less than 60 feet in breadth underground and at the surface. It shall not be necessary for these two openings to belong to the same mine if the persons employed therein have safe, ready and available means of ingress by not less than two openings.

 (b)  Exceptions. No second outlet shall be required in any of the following situations:

   (1)  When opening a new mine.

   (2)  When opening a new lift or level in a mine which is being worked for the purpose of connecting two outlets.

   (3)  When in the judgment of the Department the second outlet has been rendered unavailable by the final robbing of pillars or taking back of ribs previous to the abandonment of any mine or part of a mine, if not more than 20 persons are employed at any one time in the new mine, new lift of a mine, or mine or part of a mine that is being finally robbed prior to abandoment. The cage or cages or other means of egress shall at all times be available for the persons employed where there is no second outlet.

 (c)  Construction. Each opening or outlet, escapement, shaft, or slope shall have safe and distinct means of ingress and egress available at all times. These shall provide alternate means of egress or ingress, to persons employed in the mine, in the event of an accident deranging the hoisting machinery at the main outlets. In slopes where the angle of inclination is 15° or less, a separate traveling way shall be provided. For slopes of from 15° to 45° stairways shall be used. If a stairway is used in any opening outlet, escapement, shaft or slope, it shall be of substantial construction set at an angle not greater than 45°. It shall be equipped on at least one side with a standard railing. Landing platforms, 2 feet by 4 feet, shall be provided at easy and convenient distances. For slopes of from 45° to 90° ladders or other means acceptable to the Department shall be used.

 (d)  Maintenance. Each opening or outlet, escapement, shaft or slope shall be kept free from steam, dangerous gases, standing water, ice and all other obstructions.

 (e)  Lining. If in the judgment of the Department the strata are not safe, all shafts, slopes and other mine openings or outlets shall be securely cased, lined, or otherwise made secure.