Subchapter D. CONSTRUCTION OF MINED UNDERGROUND STORAGE CAVERNS

§ 33.181. Definitions.

 (a)  This subchapter sets forth rules to safeguard the lives, limbs and health of workers engaged in the construction of underground storage caverns.

 The contractor, operator or superintendent of each cavern affected by this Subchapter shall notify the Department or its authorized representative, in each of the following cases:

   (1)  When any working is commenced for the purpose of opening a new shaft, slope or drift.

   (2)  When any caverns are completed, abandoned or discontinued.

   (3)  When the working of any cavern is recommenced after any abandonment or discontinuance over a period exceeding 3 months.

   (4)  The Department shall be notified of any lost time accidents.

 Any person who violates this subchapter or any regulations of the Department or who interferes with the Department or its authorized representative in the enforcement of the provisions or regulations shall be subject to summary proceedings before an alderman, magistrate or district justice and upon conviction shall be penalized under section 15 of act of May 18, 1937 (P. L. 654, No. 174) (43 P. S. §  25-15).

EXPLOSIVES

§ 33.191. General requirements.

 (a)  The manner of storage and use of explosives shall be in accordance with Chapter 5, Subchapter D (relating to explosives).

 (a)  General requirement. The manner of storing and handling dynamite, electric blasting caps or detonators, or other explosives at or in a cavern shall be in accordance with the specifications contained in Chapter 5, Subchapter D (relating to explosives).

 (b)  Location of magazines. No dynamite, blasting caps, electric blasting caps or detonators, or other explosives shall be stored or kept inside a cavern except as provided for in this subchapter concerning Class B magazines. All other supplies of dynamite, electric blasting caps or detonators or other explosives shall be stored outside the cavern in Class A magazines constructed, located, and operated in accordance with the specifications of Chapter 5, Subchapter D. These magazines shall be so located that gases or fumes resulting from magazine explosions are not in any manner drawn into the air inlets of the cavern when the air current is reversed.

 (c)  Distributing magazines. Where Class B or distributing magazines are used, not more than a 24-hour supply of dynamite, electric blasting caps or detonators, or other explosives may be brought to or stored in such magazines. Class B magazines shall be located in the cavern and shall be constructed and operated in accordance with the specifications of Chapter 5, Subchapter D. When located in the cavern, they shall be placed in remote and unused sections of the cavern in the outlet airway.

 (d)  Transportation. No person may ride on any bucket or cage used for transporting explosives. No person other than the driver of a wagon, cart or motor truck may ride on the vehicle when the vehicle is being used to haul dynamite, electric blasting caps or detonators, or other explosives from Class A to Class B magazines. No person may carry his daily supply of explosives down any shaft. No person may ride down any shaft carrying his daily supply of explosives with him on the same trip. No person using dynamite in a cavern may put into open containers or transport it in any manner except in the original container unless such transportation is effected in a closed container.

 (e)  Class B magazines. When dynamite, detonators, or other explosives are removed from Class A or Class B magazines, they shall not be stored or kept at or near the mouth of any entry nor along the sides of any entry. When dynamite, electric blasting caps or detonators, or other explosives are removed from Class A magazines, they shall be immediately distributed to Class B magazines. Class B magazines shall be located not less than ten feet from any track or electric conductor. Not more than one Class B magazine shall be kept at any one place. Class B magazines shall not be located at any place within a cavern where accidental discharge of the explosive contained in such cavern would cut off the escape of persons. Nothing shall be stored in the same magazine with explosives. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prohibit the opening of containers at Class B magazines for the purpose of distributing a day’s supply to any person whose day’s supply is less than 50 pounds of dynamite and 50 electric blasting caps or detonators. No person shall keep more than one day’s supply of explosives in a cavern at any one time.

 (f)  Electric blasting caps and detonators. Electric blasting caps or detonators which are used in a day’s work in a cavern shall be transported in the container in which originally packed by the manufacturer, except that a quantity less than one full container may be carried into a cavern in a suitable container. Each person using electric blasting caps or detonators in a cavern shall keep his daily supply in a safe and dry place, but it shall not be placed in any Class B magazine containing explosives.

 (a)  Open flame or fire. Each person in or about a cavern, before he opens or approaches after opening a magazine or box of dynamite or other explosive shall first place any lamp with open flame, or any lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette, or any other thing containing open fire, not less than 10 feet from this magazine or box and in the position that the air current cannot convey sparks to it.

 (b)  Opening containers of explosives. The provisions of §  33.15 (relating to use) applies to opening containers of explosives in mined underground storage caverns.

 (c)  Blasting. No blasting is permitted while men are underground in a cavern. No person may blast in a cavern unless he has a Commonwealth blaster’s license.

 (d)  Charging holes. In charging holes for blasting, only nonsparking tamping sticks shall be used. Holes shall be charged only in cartridge form. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prohibit slitting dynamite cartridges nor dividing them into two or more pieces.

 (e)  Firing of charges. When dynamite is used in primary shooting, it shall be fired by means of electric current from a battery or switchboard. Electric blasting caps or detonators shall be used to explode dynamite. Each blaster or shooter using an electric battery or switchboard, before connecting the charge to the leading wires, shall first insure that these wires have been disconnected from the switchboard or battery. The practice of connecting a charge with the leading wires before placing the charge is prohibited. A safety break in the firing cable shall be installed. While shafts, slopes, winzes, drifts or other cavern outlets are being sunk or driven, all blasts shall be exploded by means of electric current.

 (f)  Safety precautions after firing. After the firing of each blast and before commencing work on the face or immediately adjacent to the face, the foreman shall examine daily the face of each working place, as well as the sides and roof of each place that has been shot, to ascertain its condition. No one except the person making the examination shall enter any working face until this examination has been made and a daily record has been filed.

 (g)  Misfired holes. A hole which has missed fire shall not have the charge withdrawn. In the event that an electric current from a battery or switchboard was used to explode a hole which missed fire, the waiting period shall be not less than 15 minutes, if the wires have been disconnected from the battery or switchboard. The handling of misfired holes shall be in accordance with the specifications of this subsection under the personal supervision of the cavern foreman. If the misfired hole has 18 inches or less of tamping, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the recharging of the missed hole on top of the old tamping. If the unfilled portion of the missed hole is insufficient to accommodate the new charge and tamping, or if the missed hole has been tamped the full depth, a new hole shall be drilled, or water may be used to clean out the tamping in the old hole. The second hole shall be not less than 2 feet away from the missed hole.

OTHER DANGEROUS MATERIALS

§ 33.201. Gasoline and similar materials.

 No more than two barrels of any one kind of lubricating oil or of diesel fuel shall be kept on any one level of the cavern at any one time. An adequate retaining wall shall be placed around barrels of lubricating oil and diesel fuel.

MAPS AND PLANS

§ 33.211. Requirement and specifications.

 (a)  The owner, contractor or superintendent of each cavern shall make, or cause to be made, an accurate map or plan of the workings or excavations of the cavern on a scale of not less than 100 feet to the inch.

 (b)  This map or plan shall exhibit the workings or excavations in the material being worked and the tunnels and passages connecting with these workings or excavations. It shall state in degrees or in percentage of grade or elevation the general inclination of the strata in the workings or excavations along with any material deflection in such strata. It shall also state the approximate tidal elevations of the bottom of each shaft, slope, tunnel, and entry, and of any other point in the cavern or on the surface where such elevation shall be deemed necessary by the Department or its authorized representative. The map or plan shall show the number of the last survey station and the date of each survey on the entries or the most advanced workings. It shall also accurately show the boundary lines of the lands of the cavern and the proximity of the workings to it.

 (a)  Every three months during construction the owner, contractor or superintendent of each cavern shall place or cause to be placed on the map or plan of the cavern deposited with the Department the plan of the extensions made in the cavern during the preceding year. These extensions shall be placed on the map or plan and a blueprint or copy of the map or plan returned to the Department within 2 months from the date of the last survey.

 If the owner, contractor, or superintendent of any cavern knowingly or designedly causes or allows a map or plan, or any changes or additions to the map or plan, to be incorrect or false when furnished, he shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this subchapter and prosecuted accordingly.

SHAFTS, SLOPES, OPENINGS AND OUTLETS

§ 33.221. Cavern outlets.

 (a)  Only one opening shall be required for ingress and egress if the walls of the shaft are smooth and unbroken, or if the shaft is lined with suitable material so as to leave smooth walls. The cage, bucket or other means of egress shall, at all times, be available for employes.

 (b)  In caverns having only one shaft, an auxiliary standby gasoline or diesel-powered hoist shall be installed and kept in operating condition. This hoist shall be used only to remove men in the event of an accident which deranges the hoisting machinery at the main outlet.

 (a)  The top of each shaft and also of each slope, if dangerous, and every intermediate level or lift of such shaft or slope, shall be securely fenced off by railings and toeboards.

 (b)  Each abandoned slope, shaft, air hole, drift or other cavern opening at the surface shall be properly fenced around or across its entrance. This fence shall be not less than 4 feet in height. Signs marked, ‘‘Dangerous—Keep Out’’ shall be placed on the fence.

 (a)  After each blast in a shaft, the person in charge of the blast shall insure that all loose material is swept down from the timbers before the workmen descend.

 (b)  After a suspension of work and after the firing of each blast in a shaft, the cavern foreman shall have the bottom of the shaft examined and tested for gas before the workmen descend and shall keep a record of all findings.

 (c)  Not more than four persons shall be hoisted or lowered at the same time on a bucket or cage in any shaft. No person shall ride on a loaded bucket at any time. A covered man bucket or cage shall be used for hoisting and lowering men.

 (d)  Whenever persons are employed on platforms in shafts, the cavern foreman or other person in charge of this work shall insure that all platforms are properly and safety constructed.

 (a)  Over all shafts, as they are being sunk, a safe and substantial structure shall be erected to sustain the sheaves and pulleys. This structure shall be not less than 10 feet above the tipping place. Arrangements shall be made at the top of each shaft so that no material falls into the shaft while the bucket is being emptied. This structure shall be erected as soon as a substantial foundation is obtained and in no case shall a shaft be sunk to a depth of more than 50 feet without such a structure.

 (b)  If the bucket in which material is being hoisted is landed on the truck, the truck shall be constructed so that material does not fall into the shaft.

 (c)  All material elevated from shafts which are being sunk shall be raised only in a bucket. These buckets shall be connected to the cable or chain by a safety hook, clevis, or other approved attachment.

 (d)  Nothing in this subchapter shall prevent the use of buckets without guides and guide attachments in shafts being sunk for storage caverns or during actual cavern construction.

HOISTING

§ 33.231. General safety requirements.

 (a)  An engineer who has charge of the hoisting engines by which persons are hoisted or lowered in a cavern shall be in constant attendance for that purpose during the whole time any person or persons are below ground. He shall not allow any person, except those authorized by the contractor or superintendent, to handle or interfere with the engine under his charge or any part of the machinery connected with it.

 (b)  Each engineer shall work his engine slowly and with great care when any person is being hoisted or lowered in a shaft or slope. No one shall interfere with or intimidate him while he is in the discharge of his duties.

 (c)  At every cavern employing ten or more persons, during the hours when men are hoisted or lowered in any shaft or slope, the cavern foreman shall designate a footman or bottom man. This man shall be at his proper place from the time that persons begin to ascend or descend until all persons are in or out of the cavern. He shall personally attend to the signals and see that all hoisting and lowering regulations are complied with.

 (d)  When any person is about to ascend or descend a shaft or slope in a car, cage or bucket, the bottom man shall inform the engineer by signal. In the absence of a bottom man, the person or persons about to descend or ascend shall give the signal. The engineer shall acknowledge the signal.

 (e)  If any persons enter a car, cage or bucket in excess of the permitted number, the footman shall notify him of the fact and request him to get off, which request shall be immediately complied with.

 (f)  No person shall ride upon or against any loaded car, cage or bucket in any shaft, slope or haulage way in or about a mine.

 (g)  At the beginning of each shift before men are lowered into the cavern, at least one empty trip shall be made to ascertain the condition of the hoisting equipment.

 (a)  Each hoisting engine operating in a slope or shaft shall have an efficient signal system. No hoisting engine shall be operated when the signal system is out of order. Calling or rapping shall not be used as a method of signaling except in case of accident or emergency.

 (b)  The signal code in use in a cavern shall be prominently posted in the engine room within easy sight of the hoisting engineer. It shall also be posted at all places from which signals are given. These signal codes shall be printed in heavy plain type.

 (a)  The headframe or hoistroom structure used for supporting the cage, bucket or skip shall be designed so that it will withstand a greater load than the calculated breaking strength of the hoisting ropes or rope attachments. There shall be a platform, with standard railing and toeboard, at the head sheave and a safe railed stairway or standard ladder leading to it.

 (a)  An efficient brake and an overhoist shall be attached to every drum that is used for hoisting or lowering persons or materials in caverns. Hoists shall be provided with a positive acting dead man control, and shall be provided with fail safe devices to prevent runaway of the bucket or cage in case of brake failure.

 (a)  The design and construction of each cage or bucket shall safely support five times the maximum dead load it will be required to carry and ten times the live load.

 (b)  Nothing in this subchapter shall prevent the use of buckets for raising and lowering men, materials and supplies separately, during actual cavern construction. Each bucket shall be connected to the hoist cable by a safety hook, clevis or other adequate safety device.

 Diesel internal combustion motors are permitted in any part of any cavern only if these motors are equipped with exhaust gas conditioners which reduce carbon monoxide content to a minimum, and if they are approved by the Board.

VENTILATION

§ 33.241. Requirement and specifications.

 (a)  The owner, contractor or superintendent of each cavern shall provide and maintain a constant and adequate supply of pure air for each cavern as provided in this subchapter. When it becomes necessary to install means for mechanical ventilation, prior to being placed in operation, the means for providing pure air shall be approved by the Department or its authorized representative.

 (b)  The ventilating current shall be circulated throughout the entire cavern in sufficient quantities to dilute, render harmless and sweep away all smoke or noxious or dangerous gases to the extent that all working places and traveling roads shall be in a safe and fit state in which to work and travel. The minimum quantity of air thus provided shall not be less than 100 cubic feet per minute for each employe in the cavern. The Department or its authorized representative may in addition require as much more as individual cavern conditions would seem to require. If at any time it is found that the amount of air required by this section is creating a dangerous roof condition, the Department or its authorized representatives may reduce the amount of air required, but never to less than 100 cubic feet of air per minute.

 (c)  If diesel equipment is used, sufficient additional ventilation shall be used to reduce carbon monoxide content in the atmosphere to less than 0.0075% by volume. A daily record of findings shall be kept.

 (a)  Each day the cavern superintendent or foreman shall measure the quantity of air in circulation in the cavern by an anemometer or other efficient instrument. This measurement shall be made at the inlet and outlet airways. The results of these measurements shall be entered in the cavern ventilation report book.

 (b)  The contractor, operator or superintendent of each cavern shall insure that a mine ventilation report book is provided and that the measurements of air as required in subsection (a) are taken each week and recorded in the report book.

 (c)  The mine ventilation report book shall always be kept available for inspection by the Department or its authorized representative.

OPERATING CONDITIONS

§ 33.251. Safety check on employes.

 (a)  It is prohibited to allow one man to load, cut load, or timber alone in a cavern. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prohibit a workman from working alone in a room at these tasks, if other workmen are present in adjoining working places. The cavern superintendent or foreman shall insure that this subsection is complied with.

 (a)  The cavern foreman of each cavern or some other qualified competent person or persons designated by him shall examine at least once each day all main roads, shafts, slopes, escapements, travelways and signal apparatus to see that they are in safe and efficient operating condition, and a daily record of these examinations shall be kept. The cavern superintendent shall insure that such inspection is made.

 (b)  The cavern superintendent or the foreman of each cavern or some other person or persons designated by him shall visit and examine each working place in the cavern while the men are or should be at work at least once every day and more often should individual cavern conditions require. He shall insure that each working place is properly secured by props or timbers and that safety in all respects is maintained. He shall further insure that no person is permitted to work in a place known to be unsafe except for the purpose of making that place secure.

 (a)  Any person having charge of a working place in any cavern shall keep the roof and sides of the working place properly secured by timber or other material so as to prevent the roof and sides from falling. He shall not permit any work to be done under loose or dangerous materials except for the purposes of securing them. He shall also be instructed in the proper methods of testing the roof and sides. The cavern superintendent and cavern foreman shall be jointly responsible for insuring that this subsection is complied with.

 Upon petition from 20% of the employes of any cavern, the owner, operator, or superintendent of each cavern shall supply adequate washing and toilet facilities for the use of all employes. These facilities shall be installed on the surface and shall conform to the provisions of Chapter 41, Subchapter A (relating to industrial sanitation).

FIRST AID

§ 33.261. Equipment.

 (a)  Each cavern shall maintain at a convenient place on the surface a first aid station where medical treatment may be given sick or injured employes. The first aid station shall be not less than 8 feet by 12 feet and shall be heated, well lighted, clean and ventilated. It shall be furnished to accommodate not less than two sick or injured persons. The erection of a new first aid station is not necessary if there is an office at the cavern arranged and maintained to meet these requirements for first aid stations.

 (b)  Each cavern shall maintain on the surface one or more first aid cabinets, conveniently located, for all persons employed in the cavern. These cabinets shall be equipped to administer first aid treatment to slight injuries which need immediate attention. Each first aid station or cabinet shall be equipped with standard first aid supplies.

 (a)  Any person injured or becoming ill in or about a cavern so to render him unable to walk to his home or to the hospital shall be transported to his home or to the hospital.

 (b)  In the event that any sick or injured person can be more quickly and conveniently transported to his home or to a hospital by railroad or electric railway, such mode of conveyance shall be effected under cover and the comfort of the sick or injured person shall be provided for. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the removal of a sick or injured employe to his home or to a hospital in an automobile in case of sickness or slight injury not requiring the use of a stretcher.