1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. MINING LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA. cxiiiKule 31. A chaige of powder or any other explosive in slate orrock which has missed fire shall not be withdrawn or the hole reopened.Rule 32. A miner or other person who is about to explode a blastby the use of patent or other squibs or matches, shall not shortenthe match, nor saturate it with mineral oil, nor turn it down whenplaced in the hole, nor ignite it except at its extreme end, nor doanything tending to shorten the time the match will burn.Rule 33. When a workman is about to fire a blast he shall be carefulto notify all persons who may be in danger therefrom, and shallgive sufficient alarm before and afterigniting the match so that anjperson or persons who may be approaching shall Ibe warned of thedanger.Kule 34. Before commencing work and also after the firing ofevery blast, the miner working a breast or any other place in a mine,shall enter such breast or place to examine and ascertain its condition,and his laborer or assistant shall not go to the face or suchbK^ast or place until the miner has examined the same and found itto be safe.Kule 35. No person shall be employed to blast coal or rock unlessthe mine foreman is satisfied that such person is qualified, by experienceand judgment, to perform the work with ordinary safety.Rule 36. A person who is not a practical miner shall not charge orfire a blast in the absence of an experienced miner, unless he hasgiA'en satisfactory evidence of his ability to do so with safety, andhas obtained permission from the mine foreman or person in charge.Rule 37. An accumulation of gas in mines shall not be removedby brushing where it is practicable to remove it by brattice.Rule 38. When gases ignited by blast or otherwise, the personigniting the same shall immediately extinguish it, if possible, andnotify the mine foreman or his assistant of the fact, and workmenmust see that no gas blowers are left burning upon leaving theirworking places.Rule 39. Every fireman in charge of a boiler or boilers for thegeneration of steam, shall keep a constant watch of the same. Heshall see that the steam pressure does not at any time exceed the limitallowed by the outside foreman or superintendent. He shall frequentlytry the safety valve, and shall not increase the weight on thesame. He shall maintain a proper depth of water in each boiler, andif anything should happen to prevent this, he shall report the samewithout delay tothe foreman, for the time being in charge, and takesuch other action as may under the particular circumstances be necessaryfor the protection of life and preservation of property.Rule 40. At every shaft or slope in which provision is made in thisact for lowering and hoisting persons, a headman and footmanI.—11—OS