45.1-161.235 - Rock dusting. - Virginia Statutes

§ 45.1-161.235. Rock dusting.

A. All underground areas of a mine, except those areas where the coal dust istoo wet or too high in incombustible content to propagate an explosion, shallbe rock dusted to within forty feet of all working faces, unless such areasare inaccessible or unsafe to enter or unless the Chief, or his authorizedrepresentative, permits an exception upon his finding that such exceptionwill not pose a hazard to the miners. All crosscuts that are less than fortyfeet from working faces shall also be rock dusted.

B. All other areas of a mine shall be rock dusted if conditions are found tobe so dusty as to constitute a hazard after proper inspection. Should suchconditions be found to exist, the Chief, or his authorized representative,shall require the necessary rock dusting to make the areas of the mine safe.

C. Coal dust, including float coal dust deposited on rock-dusted surfaces,loose coal, and other combustible materials shall be cleaned up and not bepermitted to accumulate excessively in active workings, or on electricequipment therein.

(Code 1950, § 45-77; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-67; 1978, c. 120;1994, c. 28; 1999, c. 256.)