293.380. Coal mine operated, how--abandoned workrooms sealed, penalty.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

293.380. Coal mine operated, how--abandoned workrooms sealed, penalty.

Coal mine operated, how--abandoned workrooms sealed, penalty.

293.380. 1. The owner, agent or operator of any coal minein this state, employing five or more persons, if said mine isworked on the room and pillar plan, shall cause the work in suchmine to be prosecuted in the following manner, and none other, towit: Two entries must be driven parallel for the ingress andegress of the air, and crosscuts must be made at intervals not toexceed fifty feet apart, and no rooms, entries or other openingsshall be allowed to start inside of the last crosscut until thenext one be made; and further, that it shall be unlawful for anyowner, operator or agent for any person, persons, corporation orcompany to permit the mouth or mouths of worked-out or abandonedrooms or entries in any coal mine to remain open for a periodexceeding one month from the date of abandonment of any suchroom, rooms, entry or entries.

2. All such abandoned work as designated must be securelysealed in such manner as will effectually prevent the escape ofall gases or other impurities calculated to vitiate theventilative current of a mine; provided, that the sealing ofrooms and entries herein provided for shall only be required insuch mines and places therein as the director of the division ofmine inspection shall in his discretion deem necessary forinsuring the health and safety of workmen therein.

3. Any owner, agent or operator in charge of any coal mineworked on the room and pillar plan failing to comply with theprovisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of amisdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine ofnot less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousanddollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than sixmonths nor more than one year, or by both such fine andimprisonment and every day that the mine is operated contrary tothe provisions of this section, after the owner, agent oroperator in charge thereof shall have been convicted for a firstoffense under this section, shall be and constitute a separateand distinct subsequent offense, and shall be punished as such.