[Trolley wires; how erected.] The trolley wire shall be carried upon hangers or other fixtures which will properly insulate it from contact with the roof or other substances, and so the trolley wheel can trail without the necessity of being constantly attended for that purpose, and no trolley shall be run on any wire not so carried.
[Locomotive must not be operated improperly.] No locomotive shall be operated by means of a person holding and sliding upon or frequently making contact with the positive wire with any device attached to the cable as a substitute for a trolley, but these provisions shall not prohibit the operation of a locomotive by means of a cable without the use of the trolley, provided the cable be connected to and disconnected from the positive wire when the locomotive is not in motion.
[Protection to machine cable crossing entry track.] Means shall be provided by which machine runners may readily carry the machine cable from the machine to the feed wires on one side of the entry, either under or over the track rails, in the entry where such wires are located, and so the cable will not come in contact with such track rails, thereby reducing the danger of shock to persons or animals required to travel such entry, to the minimum. ([Sec. 911], [948]; Penalty, [Sec. 976].)
Sec. 948. [Voltage at mines hereafter electrically equipped.] The owner, lessee or agent of a mine at which electricity with a pressure or potential of more than three hundred and twenty-five volts, or alternating current, is used, shall in addition to the provisions of the preceding section, observe the following:
[Limit to voltage in or about working places.] At each mine equipped with electric power after the passage and approval of this act, the current used to operate gathering locomotives, mining machines, shearing machines, drills and other machinery, used in or about the working places of the mine, shall not exceed in pressure or potential, three hundred and twenty-five volts, direct current, as shown at the nearest switchboard, and the wires conducting the power from the nearest switchboard shall not carry a higher pressure or potential.
[Relating to alternating current.] At each mine equipped with electric power alternating current may be used to convert alternating current to direct current, and to operate motors permanently installed above ground and in underground substations, or buildings especially prepared for them, in a manner subject to the approval of the chief and district mine inspectors, but no wires carrying alternating current shall be used underground except same be carried in an entry or passageway where persons and animals are not permitted to travel.
[Relating to higher voltage mines hereafter equipped.] At each mine equipped with electric power after the passage and approval of this act, when the current used to operate haulage locomotives, pumps and other machinery not located in or about the working places of the mine, is of a pressure or potential in excess of three hundred and twenty-five volts, direct current, the entry or passage way where such wires are carried shall not be designated or permitted to be used as the principal traveling way, and when designated or used as the escapement way, the wires shall be protected so that persons required to travel near same in emergencies will not inadvertently come in contact therewith. No pressure in excess of six hundred and fifty volts at the switchboard shall be used underground.
[Relating to higher voltage, mines heretofore equipped.] At each mine equipped with electric power prior to the passage and approval of this act, where the pressure or potential is in excess of three hundred and twenty-five volts, direct current, or where alternating current is used, and the conditions surrounding the use of same are such, in the opinion of the chief inspector of mines, that the provisions of the preceding section do not provide the required protection from shock to persons employed therein, such additional safeguards shall be employed as may be required by the chief inspector of mines, and the district inspector of mines, jointly. ([Sec. 911], [947]; Penalty, [Sec. 976].)
Sec. 949. [Relating to construction of new mines.] Any person, firm or corporation beginning the opening of a mine, whether such person, firm or corporation be the owner, lessee or agent of the property upon which such mine is located, or not, shall observe the following in the construction of such mine: If the opening be a slope or vertical shaft, no explosive used therein shall be fired by means of a squib or fuse after the same is extended more than twenty-five feet from the surface, and thereafter and until the slope or shaft reaches the seam, and the entry or landing be extended beyond a breakthrough or other place driven at right angles thereto, no explosive shall be fired except by means of an electric battery operated from the surface after all persons are on the surface. A substantial structure to sustain sheave wheels or pulleys, ropes and loads, shall be provided, and if the opening be a shaft, the same shall be placed at a height of not less than twenty feet above the tipping place. A landing platform shall be arranged in such manner that no material can fall into the shaft while the bucket is being emptied, and in no case shall the shaft be sunk to a depth of more than thirty feet without such structures. If the bucket used for hoisting material is to land on a truck, the track on which said truck is operated, and the platform, shall be so constructed that material cannot fall into the shaft. Rock and coal shall not be hoisted from a shaft or slope except in a bucket or cage attached to the rope by a safety hook, clevis, or other safe attachment, and the bucket or cage securely locked so that same cannot tip or empty while being hoisted. The rope shall be fastened to the side of the drum, and not less than three coils of rope shall always remain on the drum. After the shaft reaches a depth of one hundred feet, the same shall be provided with guides and guide attachments, applied in such a manner as to prevent the bucket from swinging while being lowered or hoisted, and said guides and guide attachments shall be maintained at a distance of not more than seventy-five feet from the bottom of the shaft. The sides of all shafts shall be properly secured for safety, and no loose rock or material shall be allowed to remain on any timber in the shaft after each blast. All loose timber, tools, and materials, shall be kept away from the top of the shaft, so as to reduce the danger of same falling down the shaft. Where explosive gas is encountered, the person in charge shall see that the shaft or slope is examined before each shift of men enter to work, and before the men descend after each blast. Provision shall be made for the proper ventilation of the slope, or shaft, so that persons working therein will have the necessary air. An efficient brake shall be attached to each drum of an engine used in hoisting material and persons, and all machinery, ropes and chains connected therewith shall be carefully examined once each twelve hours. Not more than four persons shall be lowered or hoisted in or on a bucket at one time, and no person shall be permitted to ride on a loaded bucket. The bucket used in lowering or hoisting persons shall be equipped with proper safety devices, so that same cannot become detached from the rope or cable, and cannot tip or turn upside down while being so used. The chief inspector of mines, and the district inspector of mines, shall have jurisdiction over such mine when the shaft or slope reaches a depth of twenty-five feet, and such person, firm or corporation shall comply with any order issued by either or both of them with respect to the safety of persons employed. Other than the provisions herein, the provisions of this act shall not apply to the opening of a mine until such opening reaches the seam, and the entry or landing be extended beyond a breakthrough, or other place driven at right angles thereto. (Penalty, [Sec. 976].)
Sec. 950. [Additional openings; when and how provided for.] When in the opinion of the district inspector of mines together with the chief inspector of mines, the ways and means of egress in any mine under their jurisdiction, from the interior working places to the surface, as provided for in this act, are inadequate as a safe and ready means of escape in case of probable emergency, and there are extra hazards of a permanent nature that cannot be removed either from long distance from the interior working places to the exterior openings for egress, from danger of fire at any point, or any other cause that probably will result in the entombment of persons working therein, they shall jointly give notice in writing to the owner, lessee or agent of such mine, and require an additional opening by shaft, slope or drift, from the surface; the location of the interior end of such shaft, slope, or drift, to be sufficiently near the interior working places in that part of the mine where such persons are endangered, to afford such persons safe and ready means of escape, free from such hazards. ([Sec. 932]; Penalty [Sec. 976].)