293.200. Shaft coal mine outlets and escapement shaft requirements--penalty. - Missouri Statutes

Shaft coal mine outlets and escapement shaft requirements--penalty.

293.200. 1. It is unlawful for any owner, agent or operatorof any coal mine worked by shaft to employ or permit any personto work therein unless there are to every seam of coal worked ineach mine at least two separate outlets, separated by naturalstrata of not less than three hundred feet in breadth, by whichshafts or outlets distinct means of ingress and egress are alwaysavailable to the persons employed in the mine; but it is notnecessary for the two outlets to belong to the same mine if thepersons employed therein have safe, ready and available means ofingress and egress by not less than two openings; thecommunication or roadway between the two openings, or the twoopenings furnished by a connection between two distinct mines,shall at all times be kept clean and of such width and height asto make the same safe and available for a speedy exit in case ofaccident.

2. The escapement shaft shall be fitted with safe andavailable appliances by which the persons employed in the minemay readily escape in case an accident occurs deranging thehoisting machinery at the main outlets, and such means orappliances for escape shall always be kept in a safe condition,and in no case shall an air shaft with a ventilating furnace atthe bottom be construed to be an escapement shaft within themeaning of this section. The cage or cages and other means ofegress shall at all times be available for the persons employedwhen there is no second outlet.

3. To all other coal mines, whether slopes or drifts, twosuch openings or outlets must be provided within twelve monthsafter shipments of coal have commenced from such mine, and incase such outlets are not provided as herein stipulated, it shallnot be lawful for the owner, agent or operator of such slope ordrift to permit more than five persons to work therein at any onetime.

4. Any owner, agent or operator of a coal mine in this stateviolating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guiltyof a misdemeanor, and for each offense, on conviction, shall befined not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars, orby imprisonment in the county jail not less than three nor morethan twelve months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(L. 1959 S.B. 188 §§ 20, 21)