                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 FIRE PREVENTION IN TRANSPORTATION OF MINING EQUIPMENT (§ 45.2-822)

A. Prior to moving or transporting any piece of off-track mining equipment in
any area of the active workings where energized trolley wires or trolley feeder
wires are present, (i) the piece of equipment shall be examined by a certified
person to ensure that accumulations of coal dust, float coal dust, loose coal,
oil, grease, and other combustible materials have been removed from such piece
of equipment and (ii) a qualified person shall examine the trolley wires,
trolley feeder wires, and the associated automatic circuit interrupting devices
to ensure that proper short circuit protection exists.

B. A record shall be kept of the examinations required pursuant to subsection A
and shall be made available, upon request, to the Chief or his authorized
representative.

C. Off-track mining equipment shall not be moved or transported in any area of
the active workings where energized trolley wires or trolley feeder wires are
present unless under the direct supervision of a certified person who is
physically present at all times during the moving or transporting of such
equipment.

D. The frame of any unit of off-track mining equipment that is being moved or
transported shall be covered on the top and on the trolley wire side with
fire-resistant material.

E. Electrical contact shall be maintained between the mine track and the frame
of any piece of off-track mining equipment that is being moved in a track and
trolley entry. However, rubber-tired equipment need not be grounded to a
transporting vehicle if no metal part of such rubber-tired equipment can come
into contact with the transporting vehicle.

F. To avoid accidental contact with power lines, the equipment being transported
or trammed shall be insulated or, if necessary, the assemblage shall be removed
if the clearance to the power lines is six inches or less.

G. Sufficient prior notice shall be given to the Department so that a mine
inspector, if he deems it necessary, can travel the route of the move before the
actual move is made.

H. A minimum vertical clearance of one foot shall be maintained between the
farthest projection of the piece of equipment that is being moved and the
energized trolley wires or trolley feeder wires at all times during the movement
or transportation of such equipment. If the height of the coal seam does not
permit one foot of vertical clearance to be so maintained, the following
additional precautions shall be taken:

   1. Electric power shall be supplied to the trolley wires or trolley feeder
   wires only from outby the piece of equipment being moved or transported. Where
   direct current electric power is used and such electric power can be supplied
   only from inby the equipment being moved or transported, such power may be
   supplied from inby such equipment if a miner who has the means to cut off the
   power is in direct communication with the persons actually engaged in the
   moving or transporting operation and is stationed outby the equipment being
   moved;

   2. The settings of automatic circuit interrupting devices used to provide
   short circuit protection for the trolley circuit shall be reduced to not more
   than one-half of the maximum current that could flow if the equipment being
   moved or transported were to come into contact with the trolley wire or
   trolley feeder wire;

   3. At all times when the piece of equipment is being moved or transported, a
   miner shall be stationed at the first automatic circuit breaker outby the
   equipment being moved. Such miner shall be (i) in direct communication with
   the persons actually engaged in the moving or transporting operation and (ii)
   capable of communicating with the authorized person on the surface who is
   required to be on duty;

   4. Where trolley phones are utilized to satisfy the requirements of
   subdivision 3, telephones or other equivalent two-way communication devices
   that can readily be connected with the mine communication system shall be
   carried by (i) the miner who is stationed at the first automatic circuit
   breaker outby the equipment being moved and (ii) by a miner who is actually
   engaged in the moving or transporting operation; and

   5. No person shall be permitted to be inby the piece of equipment being moved
   or transported, or in the ventilating current of air that is passing over such
   equipment, except a person who is directly engaged in moving such equipment.

I. The provisions of subsection H shall not apply to a piece of mining equipment
that is transported in a mine car if no part of the equipment extends above or
over the sides of the mine car.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 45-14.1; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-89; 1974, c.
323; 1978, c. 118; 1984, c. 590; 1985, c. 500; 1994, c. 28, § 45.1-161.204;
2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.