(225 ILCS 705/Art. 26 heading)

(225 ILCS 705/26.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2601) Sec. 26.01. Any shaft or other opening in process of sinking, or driving, for the purpose of mining coal, shall be subject to the inspection of the State Mine Inspector for the district in which said shaft or opening is located. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2602) Sec. 26.02. Over every shaft that is being sunk or shall hereafter be sunk, there shall be a safe and substantial structure to support sheaves or pulley ropes at a height not less than 15 feet above the tipping place. The landing platform of such shaft shall be so arranged that material can not fall into the shaft while the bucket is being emptied or taken from the hoisting rope. If provisions are made to land a bucket on a truck, said truck and platform shall be so arranged that material can not fall into the shaft. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2603) Sec. 26.03. When men are in the bottom of the shaft, rock or coal shall not be hoisted except in a bucket or on a cage and said bucket or cage must be connected to the hoisting rope by a safety hook, clevis or other safety attachment. The rope shall be fastened to the side of the drum and not less than three coils of rope shall remain on the drum. In shafts over 100 feet in depth, suitable provision shall be made to prevent the bucket from swinging while being lowered or hoisted, and guides provided for this purpose shall be maintained at a distance of not more than 75 feet from the bottom of the shaft. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2604) Sec. 26.04. An efficient brake shall be attached to the drum of the engine used for hoisting in shaft sinking, and the drum shall be provided with a flange on each end not less than 4 inches in height. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2605) Sec. 26.05. Not more than 4 persons shall be lowered or hoisted in or on a bucket in a shaft at one time, and no person shall ride on a loaded bucket. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2606) Sec. 26.06. All blasts in shaft sinking shall be exploded by electric battery. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2607) Sec. 26.07. Provisions shall also be made for the proper ventilation of shafts while being sunk. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2608) Sec. 26.08. No one but a certified hoisting engineer shall be in charge of the hoisting engine while a shaft is being sunk. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.09) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2609) Sec. 26.09. The upper and lower landing at the top of each shaft, and the opening of each intermediate seam from or to the shaft, shall be kept clear and free from loose materials, and shall be protected with automatic or other gates, such gates to be of good, serviceable construction for the purpose for which they are designed, namely, to prevent either men, or materials from falling into the shaft. At the top, landing cage supports, where necessary, must be carefully set and adjusted so as to securely hold the cage when at rest. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.10) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2610) Sec. 26.10. Every vertical shaft in which men are hoisted and lowered must be equipped with a cage, or cages, fitted to properly constructed guides running from the top to the bottom. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.11) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2611) Sec. 26.11. At every underground landing where men enter or leave the cage and where men must pass from one side of the cage to the other there shall be a safe passageway, free from obstruction and dry as possible around the shaft, not less than 3 feet wide for the use of men only; and animals or cars shall not be taken through such passageway while men are passing or desirous of passing through such passageway. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.12) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2612) Sec. 26.12. No accumulation of ice or obstructions of any kind shall be permitted in any shaft in which men are hoisted or lowered; nor shall any dangerous gases or steam be discharged into the shaft in such quantities or at such times as to interfere with the safe passage of men. All surface or other water which flows therein shall be conducted by rings or otherwise to receptacles provided for the same in such manner as to prevent water from falling upon men while passing into or out of the mine or while in the discharge of their duties about the shaft bottom. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.13) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2613) Sec. 26.13. All hoisting shafts, air shafts, and escapement shafts constructed after March, 1910, shall be of fireproof construction, and if poured concrete is used in said construction it shall be not less than 6 inches in thickness. Cage guides and buntons may, however, be constructed of wood. Drifts and slopes must be fireproof for a distance of 300 feet from the entrance. (Source: Laws 1955, p. 2012.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.14) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2614) Sec. 26.14. The roof and walls of the passageway leading from the bottom of the hoisting shaft and the air and escapement shaft designated as such under the law, within a distance of 300 feet from the bottom of either of said shafts, shall be of fireproof construction, except that the coal rib or pillar may be used as a wall in such passageways. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.15) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2615) Sec. 26.15. Shafts shall be equipped with self-closing or manually controlled safety gates at surface landings. (Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/26.16) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2616) Sec. 26.16. Positive derails shall be placed on tracks leading to shafts to prevent cars, motors, etc. from going into the shaft when the cage is not at the landing. The provisions of this section shall not apply to "slope" or "drift" mines, unless definite danger is imminent. (Source: Laws 1957, p. 2413.)