Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.01 - Means Of Access

(1) Mines three hundred (300) feet deep vertically, three hundred (300) feet deep on the incline or three hundred (300) feet deep on a combination of vertical and incline shall have two (2) or more exits or openings to the surface, and these exits where inclined more than 20^ from the horizontal shall be equipped with stairs or steps, (track or abandoned track where ties are not more than eighteen inches (18') center to center shall constitute stairs and steps) and where inclined more than 35^ from the horizontal shall be equipped with ladders, provided, that if both exits have hoisting equipment maintained in good operating condition, and the mine has hoisting equipment in two exits, the above requirements shall be waived.

(2) The required exits shall be not less than fifty feet (50') apart at the surface and shall not be covered by one building or connecting buildings. Signs with arrows indicating the way to and through the second exit shall be posted in all regularly used underground travel or passageways.

(3) Exits - Mines opened by a tunnel or adit level one thousand (1,000) feet in length, or opened by a tunnel or adit level where workings are three hundred (300) feet deep vertically or on an incline or a combination of both below the tunnel or adit level, shall have two (2) or more exits or openings to the surface. An underground travel or passageway to an adjoining mine may be considered as one of these exits.

(4) No mine shall be worked to a greater depth vertically, on incline or both than three hundred (300) feet below the last level without connecting the bottom of such exits. Provided, however, that none of the preceding requirements shall be applied in cases where outlets are in process of being connected to comply with these requirements, or where openings or shaft are being driven or sunk for the prospecting or developing of mines and not for the extraction of minerals except such as may be extracted in course of prospecting or development work, or in any mine where one of the outlets shall have become temporarily impassable and in which all reasonable effort is being directed towards opening such outlet.

(5) Exits Through Other Mines - When a travel or passageway shall have been established by agreement between adjoining mines, this travel or passageway shall be kept available for egress, and shall not be closed except temporarily in cases of extreme emergency. Such travel or passageway shall be constructed, equipped and maintained according to plans approved by the Department.

Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation Examiner.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.01

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-2-13(2).