The Mines Regulations 2014

PART 6 SAFE EXIT, ESCAPE AND RESCUE

Exits from the mine

48.—(1) The mine operator must ensure that there are at least two shafts or outlets providing at least two separate exits to the surface.

(2) The shafts or outlets required by paragraph (1) must be—

(a) of sound construction;

(b) readily accessible to persons below ground at the mine; and

(c) sufficiently separated so that, so far as is reasonably practicable, anything that happens in one of them will not affect the safety of the other or others.

(3) The mine operator must ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, two exits from the mine are available for use at any time by persons below ground at the mine.

(4) The mine operator must prepare a suitable written plan of the action to be taken to secure the safety of persons when, due to an unforeseen event or planned maintenance, only one exit is available for use.

(5) If only one exit is available for use, the mine operator must ensure that—

(a) the plan required by paragraph (4) is implemented; and

(b) the persons below ground are restricted, so far as is reasonably practicable, to those who will not be exposed to danger by reason that only one exit is available for use and who—

(i) are needed to carry out work essential for securing the safety of the mine;

(ii) are involved in work relating to the unforeseen event or planned maintenance;

(iii) at the time the exit became unavailable, were already working below ground, provided they do not remain below ground after their normal period of work has ended; or

(iv) are needed to secure the health or safety of any person.

Ways out from places of work

49.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the mine operator must ensure that every place where a person works has at least two ways out.

(2) At least two of the ways out required by paragraph (1) must—

(a) be clearly identified;

(b) be passable with reasonable convenience;

(c) be separate from each other; and

(d) lead to a different exit from the mine.

(3) The requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to a heading or other place from which it is not reasonably practicable to provide at least two ways out that comply with paragraph (2), provided that the mine operator ensures that the following conditions are met—

(a) there are in place suitable procedures to ensure that all persons can leave the place safely;

(b) the activities carried out in the place are limited to those that are required to be carried out there; and

(c) the persons present at the place at any time are limited to those necessary for the activity or activities being carried out there.

Emergency routes and emergency doors

50.—(1) Emergency routes and exits must remain clear at all times and lead by the most direct and safe route to the open air or a safe area.

(2) Doors that may form part of an emergency route or exit must be capable of being opened easily at all times.

Auxiliary equipment

51.  The mine operator must ensure that suitable auxiliary equipment is available for use when any equipment that is required to be used by persons to leave the mine becomes unavailable or breaks down.

Intake airways

52.  The mine operator must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the intake airways for the mine are constructed of suitable fire resistant materials.

Duties of the mine operator with regard to escape and rescue

53.—(1) The mine operator must—

(a) ensure that suitable arrangements are in place so that persons below ground at the mine can reach a safe place promptly in the event of an emergency; and

(b) provide and operate the necessary warning and other communication systems to enable assistance, escape and rescue operations to be launched immediately if the need arises.

(2) A mine may not be worked unless the mine operator has made suitable arrangements—

(a) for the rescue of persons from the mine; and

(b) for the carrying out of work necessary to secure the health and safety of persons below ground at the mine in the event of an emergency.

Escape and rescue plan

54.—(1) The mine operator must prepare and maintain a written plan (in these Regulations referred to as the “escape and rescue plan”) which sets out the action to be taken to effect safely and promptly the evacuation and rescue of persons to a safe place in the event of an emergency.

(2) In preparing the escape and rescue plan, the mine operator must have regard to every relevant risk assessment carried out in accordance with these Regulations and regulation 3 of the Management Regulations.

(3) The mine operator must review the escape and rescue plan regularly at suitable intervals and whenever—

(a) there has been a significant change in the matters to which the plan relates; or

(b) the plan has been put into use.

(4) The mine operator must keep an up to date copy of the escape and rescue plan in a suitable place and make it available to appropriate persons promptly in the event of an emergency.

Emergency equipment and communication systems

55.—(1) The mine operator must ensure that suitable equipment is available for use at all times where it is necessary in any operation involving escape or rescue.

(2) The mine operator must ensure that the emergency equipment is—

(a) maintained in good condition; and

(b) stored in easily accessible places.

(3) The mine operator must ensure that in the event of an emergency the warning and other communication systems referred to in regulation 53(1)(b) are put into operation immediately.

Training and information

56.—(1) The mine operator must ensure that—

(a) all persons who work at the mine are trained in the appropriate actions to be taken in the event of an emergency at the mine; and

(b) appropriate persons are trained in the use of emergency equipment.

(2) The mine operator must ensure that written instructions are prepared on—

(a) the appropriate actions to be taken in the event of an emergency at the mine; and

(b) the use, handling and operation of emergency equipment.

(3) The mine operator must ensure that safety drills are held at regular intervals for the purpose of ensuring that persons who work at the mine are familiar with the matters specified in paragraph (2).

Self-rescuers

57.—(1) In any mine in which the risk assessment carried out in accordance with regulation 3 of the Management Regulations has identified the likelihood of an irrespirable atmosphere, the mine operator must provide—

(a) suitable self-rescuers for all persons going below ground at the mine; and

(b) where necessary, safe havens or facilities below ground for the exchange and recharge of self rescuers.

(2) The mine operator must ensure that every person who has been issued with a self-rescuer—

(a) has been instructed how to use it; and

(b) does not go below ground without it.

(3) The mine operator must ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, every person who has been issued with a self-rescuer keeps it within the person’s reach at all times when below ground.

(4) The mine operator must ensure that all self-rescuers are checked regularly and stored in a suitable place at the mine.

(5) In this regulation, “safe haven” means a place below ground at a mine which is provided with facilities such that persons may wait there in safety to be rescued or until it is safe to leave.