A. Before hoisting or lowering any miner in a shaft, the hoisting engineer shall operate an empty cage up and down each shaft for at least one round trip, both at the beginning of each shift and after the hoist has been idle for one hour or more.
B. Before hoisting or lowering any miner by slope or surface incline hoisting, the hoisting engineer shall operate an empty cage for at least one round trip, both at the beginning of each shift and after the hoist has been idle for one hour or more.
C. The hoisting engineer, at the time the inspections required by subsection A or B are performed, shall (i) inspect all cable or rope fastenings on every cage, bucket, or slope car; (ii) inspect hammer locks and pins, thimbles, and clamps; (iii) inspect safety chains on every cage, bucket, or slope car; (iv) inspect each braking system for malfunctions; (v) clean all excess oil and extraneous materials from the hoist housing construction; (vi) inspect the overwind, overtravel, and lilly switch or control from stopping at the collar and within 100 feet of the work deck; and (vii) check communications between the top house, work deck, and work deck tugger house.
D. The hoisting engineer shall inspect the hoisting rope on every cage or trip at the beginning of each shift.
E. A test of safety catches on every cage shall be made by an authorized person designated by the operator at least once each month. A written record shall be kept of such tests, and such record shall be available for inspection by interested persons.
F. An authorized person designated by the operator shall inspect daily the hoisting equipment, including the headgear, cages, ropes, connections, links and chains, shaft guides, shaft walls, and other facilities. Such person shall also inspect every bull wheel and lighting system on the head frame. Such person shall report immediately to the operator or his agent any defect found, and all such defects shall be corrected promptly. The person making such examination shall make a daily permanent record of such inspection, which shall be available for inspection by interested persons. If a hoist is used only during a weekly examination of an escapeway, then the inspection required by this subsection shall only be required to be completed weekly before the examination occurs.
G. Subsections A, B, C, and D shall not apply to automatically operated elevators.
Code 1950, § 45-68.4; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, §§ 45.1-68, 45.1-69; 1972, c. 784; 1978, c. 729; 1994, c. 28, § 45.1-161.158; 1999, c. 256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 45.2 - Mines, Minerals, and Energy
Chapter 7 - Requirements Applicable to Underground Coal Mines; Mine Construction
§ 45.2-701. Regulations governing conditions and practices at underground coal mines
§ 45.2-702. Standards for regulations
§ 45.2-703. Duties of mine foreman
§ 45.2-704. Employment and duties of top persons; plan for excavation of shaft or slope
§ 45.2-705. Employment of inexperienced underground miners
§ 45.2-706. Employment of authorized persons
§ 45.2-707. Mining in proximity to gas or oil wells
§ 45.2-708. Mining in proximity to an abandoned area
§ 45.2-709. Roof, face, and ribs to be secure
§ 45.2-710. Roof control plans
§ 45.2-711. Instruction of miners
§ 45.2-713. Automated temporary roof support systems
§ 45.2-714. Supplies of materials for supports
§ 45.2-715. Examination and testing of roof, face, and ribs
§ 45.2-716. Mapping of roof falls
§ 45.2-718. Removal of supports
§ 45.2-719. Surface storage of explosives and detonators
§ 45.2-720. Underground transportation of explosives and detonators
§ 45.2-721. Underground storage of explosives and detonators
§ 45.2-722. Blasting practices; penalty
§ 45.2-725. Explosives and blasting practices in shaft and slope operations
§ 45.2-727. Separation of openings
§ 45.2-728. Number of miners in openings
§ 45.2-729. Maintenance of mine openings
§ 45.2-730. Signs, life lines, and equipment
§ 45.2-731. Examination of escapeways
§ 45.2-732. Longwall escape routes and plan
§ 45.2-735. Hoisting equipment
§ 45.2-738. Shaft and slope conditions
§ 45.2-739. Signaling; signal code
§ 45.2-740. Inspections of hoisting equipment
§ 45.2-741. Hoisting engineers
§ 45.2-742. Operations of hoisting equipment
§ 45.2-743. Maintenance of hoisting equipment
§ 45.2-745. Track switches and rails
§ 45.2-746. Clearance on haulage roads
§ 45.2-747. Conveyor crossings
§ 45.2-749. Refuge from moving traffic
§ 45.2-750. Inspection of underground equipment
§ 45.2-751. Maintenance of equipment
§ 45.2-752. Self-propelled equipment
§ 45.2-754. Transportation of material
§ 45.2-758. Operation of equipment
§ 45.2-760. Availability of mantrips
§ 45.2-762. Mantrip loading and unloading areas
§ 45.2-763. Transporting miners by conveyor belt
§ 45.2-764. Housekeeping; noxious fumes
§ 45.2-766. Flammable or combustible materials
§ 45.2-767. Hazardous crane operations
§ 45.2-768. Controlling dust at the surface
§ 45.2-769. Scaffolding and overhead protection
§ 45.2-770. Welding and cutting
§ 45.2-771. Fire prevention and fire control