Parts: I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII - VIII - IX - X - XI - XII - XIII - XIV - XV - XVI - XVII - XVIII - XIX - XX - XXI - XXII - XXIII - XXIV - XXV - XXVI - (XXVII)  

PART VII OUTLETS, TRAVELLING WAYS AND LADDERWAYS
Outlets for purposes of travelling to and from surface

7.1 (1) (a) The mine manager shall cause, for purposes of affording any person employed underground at the mine to travel to and from the surface, at least two separate and independent outlets to be made available to any such person.

(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) shall not apply in respect of a shaft in the course of being sunk.

(2) Any outlet referred to in sub-regulation (1) shall be -

(a) provided with proper facilities which shall be available for use at all times so as to enable any person to travel to and from the surface at any time;

(b) maintained in a safe condition and be of sufficient cross-sectional area throughout to allow for free passage of persons; and

(c) connected to each other by a practical and accessible route.

(3) Where a winder is installed at each outlet, any such winder shall operate independent of the other winder or any of the other winders and any precaution shall be taken to ensure that any of such winders do not fail simultaneously.

Underground connections to outlets

7.2 (1) The mine manager shall, as far as is practicable, cause at least two separate and independent means of entrance and exit to be provided at any workplace where persons are employed underground in such a manner that any such persons shall have available to him or her at least two ways of exit from his or her workplace of which at least one shall be to each outlet.

(2) The means of entrance and exit referred to in sub-regulation (1) shall be -

(a) provided with proper facilities, which shall be available for exit;

(b) maintained in a safe condition and be of sufficient cross-sectional area throughout to allow for free passage of persons.

(3) No person shall enter or leave any underground workings, except by means of entrances and exits specially provided or set apart for such purpose, unless such person is authorized by the mine manager to enter or leave such workings by other means.

Ladders and ladderways

7.3 The mine manager shall cause any ladder used in any ladderway in or at a mine -

(a) to be securely fastened in position;

(b) to be of good construction, free from any defects and of adequate strength for the purpose for which it is used;

(c) to be maintained in good repair;

(d) not to be fixed in an overhanging position;

(e) if in the opinion of the mine manager there exists a danger that a person may fall from any height, to be securely fenced or otherwise adequately protected to prevent accidents to persons;

(f) to have a level and firm footing;

(g) to project at least one meter above the mouth of an excavation and each landing place in which it is installed, except when a strong hand rail is fixed at such mouth or landing place;

(h) not to exceed a vertical reach of 9 meters in length without a break and provided with a suitable platform at each break.

Loose objects carried in ladderways

7.4 No person shall carry any loose tool or other object in any ladderway which may interfere with his or her safe passage, except in so far as it may be necessary for carrying out repairs to such ladderway.

Scheme for the examination and maintenance of outlets

7.5 The manager shall formulate a scheme for the systematic examination and maintenance of outlets in a safe condition, including travellingways and ladderways in use.