(A) An operator conducting longwall mining shall provide all longwall working face conveyors installed on and after the effective date of this section with lock-out type de-energizing devices to de-energize the electrical power on the longwall working face conveyor. The de-energizing devices shall be provided at intervals of not more than fifty feet when the average height of the coal seam is at or below forty-eight inches and at intervals of not more than one hundred feet when the average height of the coal seam is above forty-eight inches. The lock-out de-energizing may be done electrically.

(B) Within twelve months after the effective date of this section, an operator shall provide all longwall working sections in operation prior to the effective date of this section with lock-out type de-energizing devices on face conveyors as required in division (A) of this section.

(C) The operator shall provide on the headgate of the longwall working section an emergency de-energizing device to de-energize immediately the longwall working face equipment.

(D) At the beginning of each coal producing shift, all emergency de-energizing devices shall be checked for proper functioning and, if an emergency de-energizing device is found malfunctioning, mining operations shall not begin until all de-energizing devices within the intervals required by division (A) of this section are functioning properly or until a designated person is stationed at the next de-energizing device at the interval required under division (A) of this section until such time as the malfunctioning de-energizing device is repaired.

(E) If, during a coal producing shift, a de-energizing device malfunctions, which creates an interval greater than that required by division (A) of this section, a designated person shall be stationed at the next de-energizing device at the interval required under division (A) of this section until such time as the malfunctioning de-energizing device is repaired or the machine is de-energized and locked out.

(F) No operator shall permit longwall mining to begin or continue at any time that more than one of the de-energizing devices required under division (A) of this section is malfunctioning. If the malfunctions create intervals greater than those required under that division, except as provided in division (E) of this section.

(G) No operator shall install or use a longwall working face conveyor unless its electrical circuits are designed so that the face conveyor will not start at any other location until the lock-out device is disengaged at the point of initial interruption.

(H) No operator shall provide or permit use of shearer and plow motors on a longwall working section that are not designed so that their cutting bits cannot begin operating when electrical power is initially applied.

(I) No person shall perform work on the face conveyor or on the face side of the face conveyor unless equipment is de-energized and locked out, except when motion facilitates troubleshooting or positioning for maintenance or repair.

Effective Date: 10-29-1995.