SECTION 45.1-161.156. Slope and shaft conditions  

A. All shafts shall be equipped with safety gates at the top and at each landing. Safety gates shall be kept closed except when the cage is being loaded or unloaded.

B. Positive-acting stopblocks or derails shall be installed near the top and at intermediate landings of slopes and surface inclines and at the approaches to all shaft landings.

C. Positive-acting stopblocks or derails shall be installed on the haulage track in the slope near the top of the slope. The stopblocks or derails shall be in a position to hold or stop any load, including heavy mining equipment, to be lowered into the mine until such time as the equipment is to be lowered into the mine by the hoist.

D. At the bottom of each hoisting shaft and at intermediate landings, a runaround shall be provided for safe passage from one side of the shaft to the other. This passageway shall be not less than five feet in height and three feet in width.

E. Ice shall not be permitted to accumulate excessively in any shaft where miners are hoisted or lowered.

Code 1950, § 45-68.4; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, §§ 45.1-69, 45.1-89.1; 1978, c. 729; 1983, c. 111; 1994, c. 28 ; 1996, c. 28 ; 2005, c. 28 .