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 XVI HAULAGE AND TRANSPORT
The mine manager shall :-

Scheme to regulate the safe movement of vehicles

16.1 (1) - formulate a scheme to regulate the safe movement of any vehicle in use on any road in or at the mine.

(2) The scheme referred to in sub-regulation (1) shall include provisions regarding the :-

(a) maximum speed at which any vehicle may run;

(b) maximum load to be conveyed by each vehicle;

(c) operating procedures to be followed;

(d) types and kinds of lights, including headlights, tail lights or clearance lights, with which trackless vehicles shall be equipped;

(e) special precautions to be taken at specified points on the haulage system;

(f) conditions under which conveyance of persons may be permitted.


Scheme for examining and maintaining haulage systems

16.2 (a) - formulate a scheme for the systematic examination and maintenance of vehicles, tracks and all other equipment used in the operation of haulage systems;

(b) - ensure that the results of such examinations and tests are recorded.


The mine manager shall ensure that :-

Locomotives

16.3 (1) - any locomotive is equipped with the following devices and systems, namely -

(a) effective headlights and rear lights;

(b) at least two braking systems;

(c) an effective audible warning device;

(d) a sand box;

(e) a speedometer;

(f) controls so placed that the driver can simultaneously operate them and see ahead without leaning out of the locomotive;

(g) a suitable dead-man control;

(h) a fixed seat for the driver.

(2) - a locomotive shall -

(a) not be used on any track where the gradient exceeds eight per cent;

(b) not be left unattended unless brakes of sufficient strength to hold the whole train stationary have been applied;

(3) (a) - stopblocks, derail devices or other adequate means shall be installed where necessary to protect persons from runaway or moving trains;

(b) that rails, joints, switches and other elements of any rail track as well as bridges, culverts and other structures supporting are designed, installed and maintained in a safe manner consistent with the speed and type of haulage.


Trackless vehicles

16.4 (1) (a) -any self-propelled trackless vehicle is equipped with the following devices and systems -

(i) effective lights, both front and rear;

(ii) at least two braking systems;

(iii) an effective audible warning device;

(iv) a speedometer;

(v) a fixed seat for the driver;

(b) - the braking system is capable of effectively stopping and holding the vehicle stationary when fully loaded, under any condition of operation when driven correctly;

(c) - the design and layout of the operator's cab is, as far as is practicable, such as to give protection to the driver against environmental hazards including inclement weather, heat, cold, noise and airborne dust;

(d) - the operator's cab of any vehicle used for rock haulage is constructed so or reinforced so as to resist damage by spillage;

(e) - the cab windows consist of safety glass.

(2) - a vehicle shall not be left unattended, unless all operating controls are in the neutral position and the brakes are set or other equivalent precautions are taken to guard against rolling.


Mine roads

16.5 (1) (a) - that the gradient and radius of any part of a road on a mine shall be such that vehicles can negotiate the road safely;

(b) - where persons are permitted to work or travel on roads used by vehicles and mobile equipment which may endanger the safety of such persons, refuge bays of appropriate dimensions are provided at suitable intervals for them to take shelter;

(c) - any single-lane road is, where appropriate, provided with -

(i) passing places, the whole of which shall be visible from both ends, or

(ii) adequate means of regulating the movement of vehicles.

(d) - the safe travelling width of a road in opencast workings between any bench face and edge of that bench is clearly demarcated;

(e) - such signs as may be necessary to control the speed and movement of vehicles making use of the roads are erected at suitable places;

(f) - any road with a planned gradient exceeding five per cent is, where practicable provided with -

(i) emergency escape roads, which shall be spaced throughout the length of such road and will ensure that a runaway vehicle entering an emergency escape road can be safely brought to rest;

(ii) in the case of a road on the surface or in opencast workings, a shoulder barrier.


Driving or operation of mine vehicles

16.6 (1) No person shall drive or operate any mine vehicle -

(a) on a road in or at a mine, unless he or she has been duly authorized to do so and has received adequate instruction and training for the duties he or she has to perform;

(b) in such a manner as to endanger the safety of persons and or private property.

(2) A driver or an operator of a mine vehicle shall -

(a) ensure that -

(i) the brakes;

(ii) the warning devices;

(iii) the lights, when used between the hours of sunset and sunrise on surface or at any other time whenever necessary, and at all times when used in underground workings,

are in good working order.

(b) not leave the controls of his or her vehicle unattended while -

(i) the bucket of the front-end loader, backhoe or other excavating machine;

(ii) the blade of a bulldozer;

(iii) the platform or forks of a fork lift truck;

(iv) the load on a crane or other hoisting machinery,

is in a raised position, unless it is safely supported by a suitable prop or props or the area is safely guarded or fenced.

(3) The mine manager shall ensure that :-

(a) - no ropeway and no vehicle running on rails which uses a ropeway system is used for the purpose of conveying persons to and from their workplaces, unless such system has been specially designed for the conveyance of persons;

(b) - any vehicle running on rails which is used for the conveyance of persons is provided with such safety devices as are necessary to prevent accidents likely to cause bodily injury to persons and that such devices are properly maintained;

(c) - where a track leads up to a shaft, a sufficiently strong stop block or other suitable device is installed on the track to prevent a tub, mine car or locomotive from accidentally entering the shaft.

(4) No person shall ride in or on any vehicle, unless suitable and adequate provision has been made for the purpose.

(5) No person shall board or alight from a moving vehicle.


Scheme for safe conduct of haulage operations

16.7 Where haulage is effected manually the mine manager shall formulate a scheme for the safe conduct of the operations.


Conveyors

16.8 (1) At any mine where a conveyor is used, the mine manager shall formulate a scheme for the installation, operation and maintenance of the conveyor system.

(2) The mine manager shall ensure that :-

(a) - any conveyor belt which is installed or used in underground workings is, as far as is practicable, of incombustible or fire resistant material;

(b) - any belt conveyor is provided with -

(i) an audible warning device which shall be sounded before starting the belt;

(ii) effective means within reach of persons to stop the belt from any point along its entire length but which shall not be capable of re-starting the belt;

(iii) that suitable and adequate means for extinguishing fire are available for immediate use along any belt conveyor.

(c) - where two or more conveyors are used in series, sequence interlocking is provided which will automatically -

(i) stop all belts feeding a belt that has stopped;

(ii) prevent a belt from starting until the belt on to which it feeds is moving;

(d) - where practicable, walkways fitted with suitable safety rails are provided at all elevated parts of conveyors for the safe passage of persons engaged in making examinations and repairs;

(e) - moving conveyors are not crossed except at designated places where cross-over or cross-under bridges are to be provided;

(f) - where the inclination of a conveyor is such as to give rise to danger from sliding objects, suitable devices are used to provide adequate protection against such danger.

(3) No person shall -

(a) enter any space underneath a conveyor, unless adequate precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of any person entering such space;

(b) ride on a conveyor belt unless specifically designed for that purpose and approved by the Chief Inspector.

(c) carry out any work on any part of a conveyor whilst that conveyor is in motion, unless authorized to do so.