[Light or signal on locomotives and trains.] The owner, lessee or agent of a mine at which locomotives are used for hauling the coal, shall keep a light on the front end of the locomotive when it is in use, and when the locomotive is run ahead of the trip, and the trip-rider is not required to ride the rear car of the trip, a signal, light or marker, approved by the district inspector of mines, shall be carried on the rear end of the trip to indicate when the trip has passed. Cars shall not be pushed ahead of the locomotive where it can be avoided, and when cars are run ahead of the locomotive a light shall be carried on the front end of the trip and the cars shall not be moved at a speed greater than four miles per hour. When rope haulage is used, an enclosed light shall be carried on the front end of each train so hauled. When a mechanical haulage trip passes through an automatic door having no attendant other than persons in charge of such trip, the trip-rider shall be required to ride the rear car of the trip while passing though such door, and see that it closes after the trip passes through. ([Sec. 923], [958]; Penalty, [Sec. 976].)
Sec. 944. [Employment of minors.] The owner, lessee or agent of a mine shall not employ, or permit to work therein, any boy under fourteen years of age; nor employ, or permit to work therein, any boy under fifteen years of age during a term of the public schools, in the district in which he resides. ([Sec. 912], [953].) (See Child Labor Law, [Sec. 13002], page ——).
"The provisions of [Section 912], [944] and [953] G.C. do not permit the employment of children under 16 years of age in, about or in connection with any mine. Such employment is governed by the provisions of [Section 13002] G.C."
Opinion No. 885 office of the Attorney General, State of Ohio, December 21, 1917.
[Removal of combustible matter.] Whenever an entry or air-way becomes so dry that the air becomes charged with dust, the owner, lessee or agent shall cause such entry or air-way to be sprinkled, and all accumulated matter, explosive in its nature, shall be removed from the mine. ([Sec. 956].)
[Quantity of oil in mine restricted.] No oil shall be taken into or stored in a mine except as may be required to be opened for use within two days thereafter; and in no case shall more than two barrels of oil be kept at any one place, and not more than ten barrels of oil shall be had in a mine at any one time. All waste oil and empty barrels shall be promptly removed from the mine. ([Sec. 974], [975].)
[Location of boilers at mine.] The permanent boilers used for generating steam, and the buildings containing the boilers, shall not be nearer than sixty feet to any mine opening or to a building or inflammable structure connected with or surrounding such opening. (Penalty, [Sec. 976].)
Sec. 945. [Relating to underground stables.] The owner, lessee or agent of a coal mine at which the live stock is kept underground, shall observe the following: The stable or stall shall be separated from the main inlet and main outlet air-courses by not less than twenty feet of solid strata or a solid wall of brick or masonry not less than twelve inches in thickness, except at two doors not more than five feet wide, which shall be made of steel plate not less than one-quarter inch in thickness and hinged to the solid strata or masonry without the use of wood; the ventilation for the stable shall be taken from main inlet air-course by a by-pass or separate split and returned to the main outlet air-course so that the air passing the stables will not enter the inward working places of the mine, and arranged so that the by-pass or split can readily be closed at both inlet and outlet sides of the stable by steel doors hinged to the solid strata or masonry without the use of wood; the construction of the stable inside shall be free from pine or light lumber; shall be of brick or masonry as much as practicable, and any timber used shall be of hardwood of a cross section not less than three by six inches; no hay or straw shall be taken into the mine or stable unless same be compressed into compact bales, and then only from time to time in such quantities as will be required for two days' use; no greater quantity of hay or straw shall be stored in the mine or stable, and when such is taken into the mine it shall be taken inside the stable at once; the lights used in the stable shall be incandescent electric lamps, placed so that same will not be injured by the stock or by persons required to enter the stable, or lanterns of railroad type suitable for using lard or signal oil, and only such oil shall be used therein; all refuse and waste shall be promptly removed from the stable and the mine, and shall not be allowed to accumulate. Stables constructed underground after the passage and approval of this act, shall be located not nearer than one hundred and fifty feet of any opening to the mine used as a means of ingress or egress. ([Sec. 955], [960]; Penalty, [Sec. 976].)
Sec. 946. [Relating to use of gasoline in mines.] No gasoline, naphtha or kerosene engine shall be used in a mine, except for operating pumping machinery where electric, compressed air or steam power is not available or cannot be transmitted to the pump, and then the owner, lessee or agent shall observe the following: Notice shall be made to the chief inspector of mines before installing, and the installation and operation shall be subject to his approval: No wood or inflammable material shall be permitted nearer than twenty-five feet of the engine: The supply tank from which the gasoline, naphtha or kerosene is fed to the engine, shall be of metal, with a suitable screw cap opening, fitted with a gasket, so as to make the tank air-tight and prevent the escape of gas into the atmosphere, and the tank kept free from leaks: the gasoline, naphtha or kerosene shall be fed from a tank to the carburetor or mixer by metal tubes securely connected so as to reduce the possibility of leaks to a minimum: The exhaust from the engine shall be conducted by means of metal pipes into the return air current, so that the fumes of combustion will not enter the workings of the mine where the men are required to work, or be conducted in an upcast shaft or slope not used as a means of ingress or egress, or through metal pipes to the surface: At no time shall there be more than five gallons of gasoline, naphtha or kerosene in the supply tank; at no time shall more than five gallons of same be taken into the mine at any one time, and at no time shall there be more than ten gallons in the mine, including that in the supply tank: No gasoline, naphtha or kerosene shall be taken into the mine except in metallic cans, with a screw cap opening at the top, fitted with a suitable gasket: No package or can, or the supply tank of an engine, containing gasoline, naphtha or kerosene, shall be opened until ready to make the transfer from the package or can to the supply tank, and in transferring, a funnel shall be used so as to avoid spilling the gasoline, naphtha or kerosene, and the cap on the supply tank shall be immediately closed: In no case shall the package, can, or the supply tank, be opened, with any open light or other thing containing fire within twenty-five feet of same. (Penalty, [Sec. 976].)
Sec. 947. [Relating to use of electricity in mines.] The owner, lessee or agent of a mine in which electricity is used as a means of power, shall observe the following in the application thereof: