SECTION 45.1-161.210. Weekly examinations  

A. At least every seven days, a mine foreman shall examine unsealed worked-out areas where no pillars have been recovered.

B. At least every seven days, a mine foreman shall evaluate the effectiveness of bleeder systems used under § 45.1-161.220 .

C. At least every seven days, a mine foreman shall examine the following locations for hazardous conditions:

1. In at least one entry of each intake air course, in its entirety, so that the entire air course is traveled.

2. In at least one entry of each return air course, in its entirety, so that the entire air course is traveled.

3. In each longwall or shortwall travel way in its entirety, so that the entire travel way is traveled.

4. At each seal along return and bleeder air courses and at each seal along intake air courses not examined under § 45.1-161.220 .

5. In each escapeway so that the entire escapeway is traveled.

6. On each working section not examined under § 45.1-161.220 during the previous seven days.

D. At least every seven days, a certified person shall:

1. Determine the volume of air entering the main intakes and in each intake split;

2. Determine the volume of air and test for methane in the last open crosscut in any pair or set of developing entries or rooms, in the return of each split of air immediately before it enters the main returns and where the air leaves the main returns; and

3. Test for methane in the return entry nearest each set of seals immediately after the air passes the seals.

E. Hazardous conditions shall be corrected immediately. If the condition creates an imminent danger, everyone except those persons necessary to correct the hazardous conditions shall be withdrawn from the area affected to a safe area until the hazardous condition is corrected.

F. Weekly examination is not required during any seven-day period in which no person enters any underground area of the mine. When a mine is idled or in a nonproducing status with entry only for maintenance of the mine, weekly examinations may be conducted in accordance with a plan approved by the Chief.

G. Except for certified persons required to make examinations, no person shall enter any underground area of a coal mine if the weekly examination has not been completed within the preceding seven days. The weekly examination may be conducted at the same time as the pre-shift examination.

H. The person making the weekly examinations shall certify by initials, date, and the time that the examination was made. Certifications and time shall appear at enough locations to show that the entire area has been examined.

I. Examinations of surface areas of underground coal mines shall be made in accordance with the requirements for weekly examinations at surface coal mines as provided in § 45.1-161.220 .

Code 1950, §§ 45-32, 45-33, 45-35, 45-40, 45-60.4, 45-68.1, 45-69.7; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, §§ 45.1-17, 45.1-56, 45.1-65; 1968, c. 310; 1978, cc. 120, 729; 1993, cc. 170, 442; 1994, c. 45.1-161.220 ; 1996, c. 45.1-161.220 ; 1999, c. 45.1-161.220 ; 2005, c. 45.1-161.220 .