Any person, firm, or corporation, beginning the opening of a mine, whether or not such person, firm, or corporation is the owner, lessee, or agent of the property upon which such mine is located, shall notify the chief of the division of mineral resources management, and observe the following in the construction of such mine:

(A) If the opening is a slope or vertical shaft, no explosive used therein shall be fired by means of a squib or fuse after the same is extended more than twenty-five feet from the surface, and thereafter and until the slope or shaft reaches the seam and the entry or landing is extended beyond a break-through or other place driven at right angles thereto, no explosive shall be fired except by means of an electric battery operated from the surface after all persons are on the surface.

(B) A substantial structure to sustain sheave wheels or pulleys, ropes, and loads, shall be provided, and if the opening is a shaft, the same shall be placed at a height of not less than twenty-five feet above the tipping place.

(C) A landing platform shall be arranged in such manner that no material can fall into the shaft while the bucket is being emptied, and the shaft shall not be sunk to a depth of more than thirty feet without such structure.

(D) If the bucket used for hoisting material is to land on a truck, the track on which such truck is operated and the platform shall be so constructed that material cannot fall into the shaft.

(E) Rock and coal shall not be hoisted from a shaft or slope except in a bucket or cage attached to a rope by a safety hook, clevis, or other safe attachment, and the bucket or cage securely locked so that same cannot tip or empty while being hoisted.

(F) Such rope shall be fastened to the side of the drum, and not less than three coils of rope shall always remain on the drum.

(G) After the shaft reaches a depth of one hundred feet, the same shall be provided with guides and guide attachments, applied in such a manner as to prevent the bucket from swing while being lowered or hoisted, and such guides and guide attachments shall be maintained at a distance of not more than seventy-five feet from the bottom of the shaft.

(H) The sides of all shafts shall be properly secured for safety and no loose rock or material shall be allowed to remain on any timber in the shaft after each blast.

(I) All loose timber, tools, and materials shall be kept away from the top of the shaft to reduce the danger of the same falling down the shaft.

(J) Where explosive gas is encountered, the person in charge shall see that the shaft or slope is examined before each shift of workers enters to work, and before the the workers descend after each blast.

(K) The slope, or shaft, shall be properly ventilated so that persons working therein will have the necessary air.

(L) An efficient brake shall be attached to each drum of an engine used in hoisting material and persons, and all machinery, ropes, and chains connected therewith shall be carefully examined once each shift.

(M) Not more than four persons shall be lowered or hoisted in or on a bucket at one time, and no person shall be permitted to ride on a loaded bucket.

(N) The bucket used in lowering or hoisting persons shall be equipped with proper safety devices, so that it cannot become detached from the rope or cable, and cannot tip or turn upside down while being so used.

The chief, and the deputy mine inspector, shall have jurisdiction over such mine when the shaft or slope reaches a depth of twenty-five feet, and such person, firm, or corporation shall comply with any order issued by either or both of them with respect to the safety of persons employed. Other than this section, this chapter and Chapters 1561., 1565., and 1567. of the Revised Code do not apply to the opening of a mine until such opening reaches the seam, and the entry or landing is extended beyond a break-through, or other place driven at right angles thereto.

No operator of a mine shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Effective Date: 06-14-2000.