Section 220.100 Ground Control

Section 220

Section 220.100  Ground

Control

a)         Highwalls, pits and spoil banks; plans; filing of plan.

1)         Each operator shall establish and follow a ground control plan

for the safe control of all highwalls, pits and spoil banks which shall be

consistent with prudent engineering design and will insure safe working

conditions.  The mining methods employed by the operator shall be selected to

insure highwall and spoil bank stability.

2)         The operator shall file a copy of such plan, and revisions

thereof, with the Department, shall identify the name and location of the mine,

and the name and address of the mine operator.

b)         Stripping; loose material.

Loose hazardous material shall be stripped for a safe

distance from the top of pit or highwalls, and the loose unconsolidated

material shall be sloped to the angle of repose, or barriers, baffle boards,

screens, or other devices be provided that afford equivalent protection; or a

combination of the preceding be used to assure the safety of the workmen.

c)         Box cuts; spoil material placement.

When box cuts are made, necessary precautions shall be taken

to minimize the possibility of spoil material rolling into the pit.

d)         Benches.

To insure safe operation, the width and height of benches

shall be governed by the type of equipment to be used and the operation to be

performed.

e)         Ground control; inspection and maintenance; general.

1)         Highwalls, banks, benches, and terrain sloping into the

working areas shall be examined by a certified person at least once each

working shift, and additionally after every rain, freeze, or thaw before men

work in such areas.  The examination of highwalls shall include the checking

for cracks which may develop into slides.  Such examinations shall be made and

recorded in a book supplied by the operator and signed by the person making the

examination in ink or indelible pencil

ed by a certified person at least once each

working shift, and additionally after every rain, freeze, or thaw before men

work in such areas.  The examination of highwalls shall include the checking

for cracks which may develop into slides.  Such examinations shall be made and

recorded in a book supplied by the operator and signed by the person making the

examination in ink or indelible pencil.  Such books shall be kept in a secure

place and shall remain at the mine for a period of three (3) years.

2)         Overhanging highwalls and banks shall be taken down and other

observed unsafe ground conditions shall be corrected promptly and no persons

shall enter the hazardous area except those engaged in making the corrections.

Adequate barricades or posting shall be used to keep all other persons out.

3)         Men shall examine their working places before starting work

and frequently thereafter and any unsafe condition shall be reported

immediately to the supervisor.

f)         Scaling highwalls; general.

Hazardous areas shall be scaled before any other work is performed

in the hazardous area.  When scaling of highwalls is necessary to correct

conditions that are hazardous to persons in the area, a safe means shall be

provided for performing such work.

g)         Highwalls; men working.

1)         Men, other than those necessary to correct unsafe conditions,

shall not work near or under dangerous highwalls or banks.

2)         Except as provided in subparagraph (g)(3) of this Section,

persons shall not work between equipment and the highwall or spoil bank where

the equipment may hinder escape from falls or slides.

3)         Special safety precautions shall be taken when persons are

required to perform repair work between immobilized equipment and the highwall

or spoil bank and such equipment may hinder escape from falls or slides

ded in subparagraph (g)(3) of this Section,

persons shall not work between equipment and the highwall or spoil bank where

the equipment may hinder escape from falls or slides.

3)         Special safety precautions shall be taken when persons are

required to perform repair work between immobilized equipment and the highwall

or spoil bank and such equipment may hinder escape from falls or slides.

4)         Should a slide occur, a certified person with knowledge of

highwalls, will examine the area of the slide for danger of more slides, and no

person will work in the area until the examination is complete and declared

safe by the certified person conducting the examination.  Areas on top of

highwalls where persons are required to work shall be sufficiently cleared to

assure safe working conditions and adequate visibility.

h)         Drilling; general.

1)         Equipment that is to be used during a shift shall be inspected

each shift by a competent person.  Equipment defects affecting safety shall be

reported.

2)         Equipment defects affecting safety shall be corrected before

the equipment is used.

i)          Relocation of drills; safeguards.

1)         When a drill is being moved from one drilling area to another,

drill steel, tools, and other equipment shall be secured and the mast placed in

a safe position.

2)         When a drill helper is used, his location shall be made known

to the operator at all times when the drill is being moved.

j)          Drill; operation.

1)         While in operation, drills shall be attended at all times.

2)         Persons shall not drill from positions that hinder their

access to the control levers, or from insecure footing or staging or from atop

equipment not designed for this purpose.

3)         Persons shall not be on a mast while the drill bit is in

operation unless a safe platform is provided and safety belts are used.

4)         Drill crews and others shall stay clear of augers or drill

stems that are in motion

ot drill from positions that hinder their

access to the control levers, or from insecure footing or staging or from atop

equipment not designed for this purpose.

3)         Persons shall not be on a mast while the drill bit is in

operation unless a safe platform is provided and safety belts are used.

4)         Drill crews and others shall stay clear of augers or drill

stems that are in motion.  Persons shall not pass under or step over a moving

stem or auger.

5)         When churn drills or vertical rotary drills are used, drillers

shall not be permitted to work under suspended tools, and when collaring holes,

inspecting, or during any operation in which tools are removed from the hole,

all tools shall be lowered to the ground or platform.

6)         Where horizontal holes are drilled in the overburden, a certified

person shall make a careful inspection of the face of the highwall before

drilling operations begin, and all loose hazardous material shall be removed

before other work is done, or the area shall be vacated and posted.

7)         In the event of power failure, drill controls shall be placed

in the neutral position until the power is restored.

8)         Receptacles or racks shall be provided for drill steel stored

on drills.

9)         Tools and other objects shall not be left loose on the mast or

mast platform.

10)       Bit wrenches or bit knockers shall be used to remove detachable

bits from drill steel.

k)         Collaring holes.

1)         Starter steels shall be used when collaring holes with hand

held drills.

2)         Men shall not hold the drill steel while collaring holes or

rest their hands on the chuck or centralizer while drilling.

l)          Drill holes; guarding.

Drill holes large enough to constitute a hazard shall be

covered or guarded.

m)        Jackhammers; operation; safeguards

Collaring holes.

1)         Starter steels shall be used when collaring holes with hand

held drills.

2)         Men shall not hold the drill steel while collaring holes or

rest their hands on the chuck or centralizer while drilling.

l)          Drill holes; guarding.

Drill holes large enough to constitute a hazard shall be

covered or guarded.

m)        Jackhammers; operation; safeguards.

Men operating or working near jackhammers or jackleg drills,

or other drilling machines shall position themselves so that they will not be

struck or lose their balance if the drill steel breaks or sticks.

n)         Air drills; safeguards.

Air shall be turned off and bled from the air hoses before

hand-held air drills are moved from one working area to another.