Report of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Internal Affairs of ...

Ixxxii MINING LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA. Off. Doc.
provided a traveling way having an average pitch of fifteen (15) degrees
or less and not more than one thousand (1,000) feet in length.
This, however, shall not prohibit the hoisting or lowering of twenty
(20) persons at one time on slopes where two (2)^ or more loaded ears
are regularly hoisted: Provided, That not less than thirty (30) workmen
working therein, make such request in writing, to the inspector
of the district, and if. in his judgment, the hoisting appliances in
every respect are of sufficient
strength, he may comply with the request
of the workmen.
Provided, That in any coal mine or colliery where the hoisting appliances
are not of sufficient strength to hoist or lower the number
of persons named, he shall have the power to reduce the number
of persons to be hoisted or lowered.
Rule 18. An engineer placed in charge of an engine whereby persons
are hoisted or lowered in any mine, shall be a sober and competent
person of not less than twenty-one (21) j^ears of age.
Rule 19. Every engineer shall work his engine slowly and with
great care when any person is being lowered or hoisted in a shaft or
slope and no one shall interfere with or intimidate him while in the
discharge of his duties.
Rule 20. An engineer who has charge of the hoisting machinery
by which persons are lowered or hoisted in a mine, shall be in constant
attendance for that purpose during the whole time any person
or persons are below ground, and he shall
not allow any person or
persons, except such as may be deputed by the owner, operator or
superintendent, to handle or meddle with the engine under his charge
or any part of its machinery.
Rule 21. When any person is about to descend or ascend a shaft
or slope, the headman or footman, as the case may be, shall inform
the engineer by signal or otherwise of the fact, and the engineer
shall return a signal before moving or starting the engine. In the
absence of a headman or footman the person or persons about to
descend or ascend shall give and receive the signals in the same
manner.
Rule 22. The owner, operator or superintendent of a colliery shall
place a competent person to be called "outside foreman," in charge
of the breaker and the outside work of such colliery and who shall
direct, and as far as practicable, see that the provisions of this act
are complied with in respect to the breaker, outside machinery, ropes,
cages and all other things pertaining to the outside work, unless
otherwise pro-vided for in this act.
Rule 23. In all coal breakers where the coal dust is so dense as to
be injurious to the health of persons employed therein, the owner,
operator or superintendent of said breaker shall, upon the request of
the inspectoi', inimedintely adopt measures for the removal of the
dust, as far as practicable.