Coal Mines Regulation (Ventilation) Act 1910 (NSW)

A c t No . 40, 1910.

An A c t t o a m e n d t h e Coal M i n e s R e g u l a t i o n

Ac t , 1902 ; a n d for o t h e r p u r p o s e s . [28/7/

December, 1910.]

BE it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled, and by the

the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative

authority of the same, as follows :—

1. This Act may be cited as the "Coal Mines Regulation

(Ventilation) Act, 1910.'"
2. General rule one of section forty-seven of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1902, is hereby repealed, and the following rule is substituted therefor :—

Hide 1. (a) In every mine which is in operation, unless a certificate of exemption from compliance with this rule has been granted by the Minister, whether any person employed therein shall he below ground or not, an amount of ventila­ tion by air drawn from a pure source, by means of a furnace or mechanical contrivance, shall be continuously produced (except where the furnace or mechanism supplying the producing-power is wholly or partially suspended for necessary repair or alteration) adequate to dilute and render harmless

harmless noxious gases to such an extent that the working- places of the shafts, levels, stables, and workings of the mine and the travelling-read to and from those working-places shall he in a fit state for working and passing therein : Provided that when any mine has ceased to be worked the Minister shall grant such certificate of exemption if on the report of the Chief Inspector of Coal Mines the Minister is satisfied that the granting of such exemption will not endanger human life, hut in such case the ventilating apparatus shall be kept in operation for at least twenty-four hours before the miners or other workmen are allowed to re-enter the mine.

(b) When any person or animal employed or used in the mine is below ground for any lawful purpose, the ventilation so to be produced shall be the supply of pure air in quantity not less than one hundred cubic feet per minute for each person or animal so below ground as aforesaid, which air in that proportion, but with as much more as the inspector shall direct, shall sweep along the air-ways and be forced as far as the face of and into each and every working-place where any person or animal is engaged or passing, main return air-ways only excepted.

(c) The provisions contained in part (b) of this rule as to a minimum supply shall in no way operate to reduce the obligations imposed by part (a) thereof.

(d) Every mine, except such as are worked on the long- wall system, shall be divided into districts or splits of not more than seventy men in each; and each district shall be supplied with a separate current of fresh air. The intake air shall travel free from all stagnant water, stables, and old workings.

In the case of mines required by the Principal Act to

be under the control of a certificated manager, the quantity

of air in the respective splits or currents shall, at least once

in every month, be measured, and entered in a book to be
kept for the purpose at the mine.

Act