Metalliferous Mines Regulations, 1961 - Directorate General of ...

(3)(a) Soda acid type extinguishers or water shall not be used for fighting oil or electrical fires.
(b)Foam type extinguishers shall not be used for fighting electrical fires.
(c) Fire extinguishers containing chemicals which are liable, when operated, or give off
poisonous or noxious gases, shall not be provided or used belowground :
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be deemed to prohibit the use belowground of fire
extinguishers giving off carbon dioxide when operated.
(9) A competent person shall, once at least in every three months, examine every fire -extinguisher
so provided, and shall discharge and refill it as often as may be necessary to ensure that it is in proper
working order. A report of every such examination or refilling shall be kept in a bound paged book kept for
the purpose, and shall be signed and dated by the person making the examination or refilling.
122. Apparatus for testing for Carbon Monoxide – In every mine to which regulation 123 (1) and 142
apply there shall be kept at the mine, constantly available for use, two or more suitable birds or other
means of detecting carbon monoxide gas approved by the Chief Inspector :
Provided that the Regional Inspector may, by an order in writing, require compliance with this
regulation in case of any other mine also.
123. Precautions when a fire exists belowground . – (1) In every mine in which a fire of spontaneous
heating exists in workings belowground (whether such fire has been isolated by means of suitable
seals or not), no work whatsoever shall be done in any part or section adjacent to the part or section on
fire or believed to be on fire, except with the permission in writing of the Chief Inspector and subject
to such conditions as he may specify therein.
(2) In every mine to which sub-regulation (1) and regulation 142 apply, arrangements shall be made,
once at least in every 30 days, to ascertain the atmospheric conditions behind the seals of an area of
old workings or a fire or spontaneous heating unless such seals are capable of resisting the force of an
explosion :
Provided that the Chief Inspector may, by an order in writing and subject to such conditions as he may
specify therein, exempt any mine or part thereof from the operation of this sub-regulation where in his
opinion special difficulties exist which make compliance with provisions thereof not reasonably
practicable.
(4) (a) Every seal erected to isolate or control a fire or spontaneous heating belowground shall be
numbered, and shall be of adequate strength and shall be so maintained as to prevent any leakage
of air or gas through it. Where water is likely to accumulate behind any such stopping, there shall
be provided in the stopping a suitable pipe or other device to drain away the water without
permitting any leakage or air or gas etc.
(b) where in any mine or part thereof the provisions of clause (a) have not been complied with or
where in the opinion of the Regional Inspector the steps so taken are inadequate, he may give
notice in writing to the owner, agent or manager requiring him to take such protective measures,
within such time, as he may specify therein. In case of non-compliance with the requirements of
the notice, the Regional Inspector may, by an order in writing, prohibit until the requirements of
the notice have been complied with to his satisfaction, the employment in the mine or part, of any
person whose employment is not, in his opinion, necessary for the purpose of complying with the
requirements aforesaid.