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It shall be the duty of shot firers and miners,
who are permitted by this act to fire their own
shots, to visit and examine the places where
shots have been fired before leaving the mine to
see that there is no fire or any other danger
existing.
In all mines in which coal is blasted from the
solid, all holes shall be fired when all the workmen
are out of the mine, except the shot firers
and other persons delegated by the mine foreman
to safeguard property.
No shot firer, or any other person, shall fire
a shot in any working place or in any mine, if
his safety lamp can detect explosive gas at the
roof. In gaseous, dusty mines, in which locked
safety lamps are used, he shall fire no holes
unless the entries and rooms, which are dry and
dusty, are so thoroughly wetted as to prevent
the existence of any dry dust for a distance of
not less than 80 feet from the hole to be fired;
Provided, however, that, in all mines wherein
the coal is being blasted from the solid, the mine
foreman shall direct and see that the provisions
of this section are fully complied with.
Section 15. When operations are temporarily
suspended in a mine, the superintendent and the
mine foreman shall see that danger signals are
placed across the mine entrances, which signals
shall be sufficient warning for persons not to
enter the mine. If the circulation of air through
the mine be stopped, each entrance to said mine
shall be fenced off in such a manner as will ordinarily
prevent persons from entering said mine,
and a danger signal shall be displayed upon said
fence at each entrance. The mine foreman shall
see that all danger signals used in the mine are
in good condition and if any become defective he
shall notify the superintendent.
Section 16. The mine foreman shall see that
the water is drained out of the working places
before the men enter and that the working places
are kept as free from water as practicable during
working hours.
Section 17. In any working place that is being
driven within supposedly dangerous proximity to
an abandoned mine, or portion of an abandoned
mine, suspected of containing explosive gas or
that may contain a dangerous accumulation of
water, the mine foreman shall see that at least
two bore holes shall be maintained not less than
12 feet in advance of the face, and, on each side
of such working place, bore holes of the same
depth shall be drilled diagonally not more than
eight feet apart, and any place driven to tap
water or gas shall not be more than eight feet
wide. No water or gas from an abandoned mine,
or portions of an abandoned mine, and no bore
hole from the surface, shall be tapped until the
employes, except those engaged at such work, are
out of the mine, and such work shall be done
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 61
under the immediate instruction and direction of
the mine foreman, with the use of locked safety
lamps.
Section IS. The mine foreman shall, each day,
enter plainly and sign with ink, in a book provided
for that purpose, a report of the condition
of the mine, which report shall clearly state any
danger that may have come under his observation
during the day or any danger reported to
him by his assistants or the fire bosses. The
report shall also state whether or not there is a
proper supply of material on hand for the safe
working of the mine and whether or not the
requirements of the law are complied with. He
shall also, once each week, enter plainly with ink
in said book, a true report of all air measurements
required by this act, designating the place,
the area of each cut-through and entry, separately
the velocity of the air in each cut-through and
entry, and the number of men employed in each
separate split of air, with the date when measurements
were taken. Said book shall at all
times be kept in the mine office, at the mine, for
examination by the inspector and by any person
working in the mine, in the presence of the mine
foreman.
The mine foreman shall also, each day, read
carefully, and countersign with ink, all reports
entered in the record book of the fire bosses.
Section 19. The mine foreman shall, once each
week, on blank forms provided i yr that purpose,
report to the inspector all fatal and serious accidents
that have occurred in or about the mines,
giving the age, nationality, and occupation of the
injured persons, together with facts as to the
families or dependents affected.
Section 20. The mine foreman shall employ a
sufficient number of fire bosses in order that each
mine can be examined in accordance with the
provisions of sections 1, 2 and 3 of article 5 of
this act. The mine foreman, or the assistant mine
foreman, shall see, as often as practicable, that
the fire boss has left his mark in places examined
or reported as examined.
Section 21. The mine foreman shall direct and
see that safety blocks, or some other device, are
constructed for the purpose of preventing cars
from falling into the shaft or slope or running
away on slopes and incline planes and safety
switches, drop logs, or other devices shall be used
on all slopes and incline planes, and the mine
foreman shall see that said safety blocks, safety
switches or other devices are maintained in good
working order.
Section 22. It shall be the duty of the mine
foreman to see that locked safety lamps are used
when and where required by this act.
The transportation of tools, in and out of the
mine, shall be under the direction of the mine
foreman or his assistant.