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

inspected by a competent person for the presence of inflammable or noxious
gas. A report of every such inspection shall be recorded in a bound paged
book kept for the purpose, and shall be signed and dated by the person who
made the inspection.
142. Safety lamps to be used in gassy mines. – No lamp or light other than an approved
safety lamp or torch or other installation permitted under the Indian Electricity Rules,
1956 shall be used or permitted to be used below ground in any mine, -
(a) in any part of a mine in which an explosion or ignition of inflammable gas has
occurred;
(b) in any ventilating district in which inflammable gas has been found; and
(c) in any place in which, in the opinion of the Regional Inspector, inflammable gas
is likely to be present in such quantities as to render the use of naked lights
dangerous :
Provided that if safety lamps are not immediately available in the case of any
mine to which clauses (b) and (c) apply, the Chief Inspector may, by an order in
writing and subject to such conditions as he may specify therein, grant a
temporary exemption from the operation thereof until such time as safety lamps
can be obtained :
Provided further 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 regulation on the ground that on account of the
special character of the mine or part, the use of safety lamps is not necessary
therein.
143. Contrabands. – In every mine or part of which regulation 142 applies, the following
provisions shall have effect, namely –
(1) No person shall have in his possession belowground any cigar, cigarette, biri or
other smoking apparatus, or any match or other apparatus of any kind capable of
producing a light, flame or spark :
Provided that nothing in this sub-regulation shall be deemed to prohibit the use
belowground of any apparatus for the purpose of shot firing or of relighting safety
lamps, of a type approved by the Chief Inspector.
(2) For the purpose of ascertaining whether any person proceeding belowground has
in his possession any article as aforesaid, a competent person other than the
banksman, if any, shall be appointed to search every such person immediately
before he enters the mine. The competent person shall be on duty throughout the
shift, and no duties other than those under this regulation and regulation 149(2)
shall be entrusted to him.