I, JOSEPH BRENNAN, Minister for Labour, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 11 , 68 and 127 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1965 (No. 7 of 1965) and the Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1966 ( S.I. No. 164 of 1966 ), and after due compliance with the provisions of that Act relating to the procedure for making general regulations hereby make the following Regulations:

PART I PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Mines (Fire and Rescue) Regulations, 1972.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of December, 1972.

3. (1) In these regulations--

"the Act" means the Mines and Quarries Act, 1965 (No. 7 of 1965);

"breathing apparatus" means apparatus of such a character that it supplies all the requirements of respiration by itself and is quite independent of the surrounding atmosphere;

"fresh air base" has the meaning assigned to it by Regulation 37 of these Regulations;

"inspector" means an inspector appointed under section 130 of the Act;

"manager" means a person appointed under section 13 of the Act.

"owner" has the meaning assigned to it by Section 4 of the Act;

"the Minister" means the Minister for Labour;

(2) Any word or expression to which a meaning is assigned by the Act or by these Regulations and which is used in any document issued wholly or partly under the provisions of these Regulations shall, unless the contrary intention appears, have in such document the same meaning as it has in the Act or these Regulations, as the case may be.

4. Subject to Regulation 5 hereof, these Regulations shall apply to every mine.

5. The Minister or an inspector may, by notice served on the owner, exempt any mine from the application of any provision of these regulations if he is satisfied that the safety of persons employed at the mine will not be prejudiced in consequence of the granting of the exemption.

PART II DUTIES OF PERSONS EMPLOYED

6. (1) (a) The manager shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that there is drawn up a plan of general procedure to be followed both on surface and below ground to fight and otherwise deal with fire at a mine, either underground or in any surface building, which may endanger the mine entrance and the manager shall ensure that all persons concerned are informed and kept informed of their duties and that copies of the procedure or suitable excerpts are posted and kept posted in each shafthouse or other prominent places at the mine.

(b) The manager shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that procedures for fighting fire in surface plant buildings at a mine (including arrangements for fire drills) are drawn up and suitable signs pertaining to and excerpts from the procedures are posted and kept posted in prominent places at the mine.

PART III BUILDINGS AND MACHINERY

7. (1) No building or structure at the top of any shaft or outlet at a mine shall be made of material likely to cause danger from fire to any person employed in the mine.

(2) No engine-room or motor-room constructed below ground in any mine shall be made of or comprise any flammable material likely to cause danger from fire to any person employed in the mine.

8. Unless there is first provided a second means of egress from the mine workings at a mine, a building which is not of non-flammable construction shall not be erected within 15.2 metres (50 feet) of any closed-in portion of a headframe or mine entrance; provided that a building housing a winding engine (hoist) or motive power equipment may be erected within such distance if, but only if, such building is not less than 10.6 metres (35 feet) from such portion or entrance.

9. (1) A steam boiler or diesel engine shall not be installed at a mine so that any portion thereof is within 22.8 metres (75 feet) of the centre line of the collar of any shaft or other entrance to the mine.

(2) An internal combustion engine using petroleum spirit or flammable gasses shall be installed at a mine neither within

(a) 30.4 metres (100 feet) of the centre line of the collar of any shaft or other entrance to the mine nor

(b) where there is a winding engine (hoist) at a mine

(i) in case the winding engine (hoist) is installed in a separate building--within 15.2 metres (50 feet) of that building;

(ii) in case the winding engine (hoist) is installed in a compartment or other particular part of the building--within 15.2 metres (50 feet) of that compartment or other particular part of the building;

(iii) in any other case--within 15.2 metres (50 feet) of the place where the winding engine (hoist) is installed.

10. All workshops, lunch rooms, structures or enclosures necessary for the housing of machinery, equipment and stores below ground in a mine together with their furnishings and fittings shall be located, constructed and maintained so as to reduce the fire hazard to a minimum.

PART IV FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

11. (1) The manager shall take all reasonable steps to ensure the efficient carrying out of arrangements--

(a) whereby all equipment provided in pursuance of this Part of these Regulations is inspected by competent persons appointed by him at intervals not exceeding thirty days; and

(b) for the discharge and refilling of each fire extinguisher to ensure that it is maintained in good working order.

(2) Every person making an inspection mentioned in paragraph (1) (a) of this regulation shall make a full and accurate report thereon to the manager in writing.

12. The Manager of a mine shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that--

(a) both sufficient and suitable fire-fighting equipment is provided and maintained in or about every headframe, shafthouse, and every other building housing machinery at the mine and at every shaft or winze station below ground,

(b) both sufficient and suitable fire-fighting equipment is provided and maintained below ground at all crushers, pump stations, tipplers and electrical installations at the mine except where, in the opinion of an inspector, no fire hazard exists, and

13. (1) The manager of a mine shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that--

(a) no petroleum spirit or liquid flel (other than petroleum spirit or fuel in the fuel tank of any operating equipment) is stored within 30.4 metres (100 feet) of the collar of a shaft or other entrance to a mine;

(b) no oil, grease, volatile flammable liquid or other flammable material is stored in a shafthouse at the mine;

(ii) the amount of oil or grease so taken below ground, does not exceed the requirements for seven days, and

(iii) the amount of fuel oil so taken below ground shall not exceed the amount required to fill the tanks of vehicles being in use for the time being below ground or for two day's work whichever is the greater;

(d) no petroleum spirit other than petroleum spirit forming a component of a cleaning agent, is taken below ground at the mine and then only in sufficient quantity for one day's needs, and

(e) all timber not likely to be used below ground at the mine is taken from the mine as soon as practicable.

(2) In case petroleum spirit or liquid fuel is stored at a place on the surface at a mine, the drainage of that place shall be such that the flow is on the surface and in a direction away from the location of any shaft or any entrance to the mine.

14. (1) The fuel tanks of any internal combustion engine installed within a building at a mine shall be arranged so that the transfer of fuel to any such tanks takes place at a point outside the building and the fuel is conducted to the tank in a tightly-jointed pipe or conduit. A similar pipe or conduit shall be provided for the escape of displaced air from the fuel tank whereby the displaced air shall be conducted to a safe point outside the building before being discharged to the atmosphere.

(2) The transfer of liquid fuels from one container to another by the direct application of air under pressure shall not be permitted at a mine, except where properly designed and tested equipment is used for this purpose.

15. (1) Flammable refuse shall not be allowed to accumulate at a mine in or about any headframe, any shafthouse, or any other building housing machinery or at any point below ground and for that purpose shall be both removed and disposed of in a suitable manner at intervals of not more than seven days.

(2) Suitable containers for the temporary disposal of flammable refuse such as scrap paper, oily waste, rags, and other similar materials shall be provided at a mine at all shaft stations, underground workshops and lunch rooms and at all buildings or enclosures necessary for the housing of machinery, equipment or stores and such containers shall be regularly emptied. The material accumulated therein shall be brought to the surface (where necessary) and shall be disposed of in a suitable manner.

(3) A person shall not build, set or maintain a fire below ground at a mine for any purpose unless he has authority and suitable instructions from the manager for so doing and the necessary firefighting equipment has been provided.

16. Where operations at a mine involving the use of welding or cutting torches are conducted in--

(a) a headframe, shafthouse, or any other building from which were there to be an outbreak of fire therein an entrance to the mine would be endangered, or

(b) the underground workings,

reasonable precautions shall be taken to prevent the outbreak of fire.

17. (1) Where a cylinder of compressed gas, such as acetylene or oxygen, is taken below ground at a mine, all regulators, manifolds or other similar fittings on the cylinder shall be disconnected therefrom and the cylinder valves shall be protected by a suitable removable protective device and that device shall be used at any time the cylinder is moved below ground to a new location or is returned to the surface.

(2) Where cylinders of compressed gas are operated at a mine from within any cage, skip or other shaft conveyance, or where the cylinders are set up in a location at a mine not readily accessible to the workman operating the nozzle equipment, a second competent person shall be employed at all times to attend to the operation of the cylinder-control devices.

(3) Where cylinders of compressed gas are used below ground at a mine for the purpose of supplying cutting or welding equipment reasonable precautions (including proper maintenance) shall be observed to avert the possibility of damage to the regulators, manifolds and hoses used in conjunction with the cylinders or equipment.

(4) No device for the generation of gas, such as acetylene for supplying cutting or welding equipment, shall be used below ground at any mine.

18. (1) Calcium carbide shall be stored at a mine on the surface only, in a suitable dry place, in its original unopened container and shall not be stored in a shafthouse or in accommodation provided for the changing of clothes or taking of food.

(2) Quantities of calcium carbide in excess of one day's supply or 45.4 kilogrammes (100 pounds), whichever is the greater, shall not be distributed on any day at a mine.

(3) Calcium carbide shall not be taken into any shafthouse or into a building at a mine entrance unless such structure is thoroughly fireproof.

(4) Calcium carbide may be distributed at a distribution centre at a mine, other than a structure described in paragraph (3) of this regulation if, and only if, the centre is not closer than 15.2 metres (50 feet) to the nearest point of any part of the headframe or building at a mine entrance.

(5) Adequate precautions shall always be taken at a mine to ensure that calcium carbide is handled in a safe manner and no calcium carbide shall be taken underground except in suitable containers.

(6) In addition to complying with the foregoing requirements of this regulation, such other measures shall be taken as may, in the particular circumstances, be necessary to ensure the safe distribution of calcium carbide at a mine.

PART V PRECAUTIONS IN CASE OF OUTBREAK OR SUSPECTED OUTBREAK OF FIRE

19. (1) If in any mine it appears that a fire has or may have broken out at a place below ground, the person in charge of any part of the mine likely to be affected by such a fire, by-products of combustion thereof or by any explosion resulting therefrom, shall cause all persons employed at any place likely to be so affected to leave it; provided that in any case in which it appears to the person in charge of the place in the mine from which the sign of fire emanates that there exists no immediate danger, persons may remain at that place for the purpose of preventing danger from arising.

(2) Where persons are caused to leave any place in pursuance of paragraph (1) of this regulation, the manager shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that no person is thereafter permitted to enter the place until it is examined and reported safe for him to do so. This paragraph shall not be construed as prohibiting a person from entering any place for the purpose of saving life, ascertaining the condition of that place, ascertaining or taking any necessary measures for the purpose of rendering it safe or ascertaining the effectiveness of such measures.

(3) A report under paragraph (2) of this regulation shall be full and accurate and shall be signed by the persons making it and the position of the fire or suspected fire shall, if possible, be indicated by means of a plan. After it is made, a copy of any such report shall be posted forthwith in a conspicuous position at the minehead.

(4) Whenever a fire is being sealed off, all parts of the mine below ground shall be deemed to be affected in the manner described in paragraph (1) of this regulation, and until the fire is sealed off no person shall be permitted to go below ground except for the purposes of such work or otherwise for securing the safety of the mine.

(5) Whenever it is ascertained that fire has broken out at any place at a mine measures shall be taken to render harmless any flammable dust in accessible parts of the mine contiguous to the fire.

20. (1) Every mine worked from shafts or adits producing over one hundred tons of mineral per day and any other mines as may be designated a mine to which the provisions of this regulation apply by an inspector shall be equipped with an apparatus approved by the inspector for the introduction into the mine workings of ethyl mercaptan or other warning gas or material approved by the inspector. Such apparatus shall at all times be made available and kept ready for immediate use for the purpose of warning workmen below ground of any emergency necessitating a speedy evacuation of the workings.

(2) A test of the effectiveness of the warning and a report as to the functioning of the apparatus shall be made at least once in each year and a report of such test and functioning made available to the inspector.

21. (1) Where an inspector considers it necessary or advisable for the protection of workmen employed below ground, he may by notice served on the manager require refuge stations to be provided and maintained at such places within the mine as he may direct, and every such refuge station shall have water, air and telephone connections to the surface and be separated from the adjoining workings by closeable openings arranged and equipped so that gases can be prevented from entering the refuge station.

(2) The provisions of section 146 of the Act with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under the last preceding paragraph and the relevant ground of objection to such a notice shall be that compliance with the requirement sought to be imposed is, wholly or to a particular extent, unnecessary, inadvisable for reasons of safety or impracticable.

PART VI RESCUE TEAMS

22. (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this regulation, it shall be the duty of the manager of every mine to take every reasonable step to organise and maintain rescue teams as follows:

(a) where the number of persons employed below ground in the mine does not exceed one hundred, at least one team, and

(b) where the number of persons so employed in the mine exceeds one hundred but does not exceed three hundred and fifty, at least two teams,

(2) This regulation shall not apply with respect to a mine at which less than one hundred persons are employed below ground and arrangements are in force whereby a team from another mine will be made available promptly in case of need.

(3) Mines of which the surface entrances to all the shafts and outlets for the time being in use lie within a circle having a radius of five miles may for the purposes of this regulation, be treated together as a single mine provided that the managers of the mines have made arrangements to this effect and notice of those arrangements has been served on an inspector and the inspector is satisfied with the arrangements.

(4) The manager of a mine to which this regulation applies shall appoint, subject to regulation 26 of these Regulations, not less than five men fully trained in rescue work and employed at that mine to each rescue team and shall appoint one of such men captain.

(5) The manager of a mine to which this regulation applies shall endeavour to ensure that at no time--

(a) in the case of a mine at which one rescue team is maintained--all the members of the team, or

(b) in the case of a mine at which more than one rescue team is maintained--members of all the teams, are employed below ground simultaneously, otherwise than in rescue work or practice.

23. The manager of a mine to which regulation 22 of these regulations applies shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that effective arrangements are made for summoning every person appointed thereunder in case of need.

24. A person shall not be selected for training in rescue work with a view to appointment as a member of a rescue team at a mine unless--

(a) after a thorough examination he is certified by a registered medical practitioner to be physically fit and fit also to undertake rescue work,

(b) he has had not less than two years' practical experience of work below ground in a mine or in operations which are both of comparable nature and appropriate.

25. A person shall not, for the purposes of these Regulations, be regarded as being fully trained and qualified to be a member of a rescue team unless--

(a) he has attended one or more courses of instruction and practice, being courses complying with the initial training scheme specified in the First Schedule to these Regulations,

(b) he has been certified by a manager or by an instructor who has been in charge of such a course to be efficient and able to undertake rescue work with breathing apparatus, and

(c) he is the holder of a certificate of proficiency in first aid granted within the last preceding three years by a society, body or training organization approved by the Minister for the purpose.

26. Every member of a rescue team at a mine shall, at least once in every period of twelve months--

(a) be certified by a registered medical practitioner after a thorough examination to be physically fit and fit also to undertake rescue work, and

(b) have attended a course of instruction and practice in rescue work as described in paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of the First Schedule to these Regulations.

27. There shall be kept at the office of a mine a record of every person employed at the mine who is attending a course of instruction and practice in rescue work and such record shall include the following particulars, namely, the date and character of each practice and, if anything abnormal is observed in the condition of any man, whether it is considered to be due to any defect in any apparatus used by him.

28. (1) At every mine to which Regulation 22 of these Regulations applies there shall be provided and maintained in readiness for immediate use the following equipment, namely--

(a) not less than five complete suits of breathing apparatus of a type approved by the Minister,

(b) sufficient oxygen or liquid air to enable the apparatus to be used for forty-eight hours, and equipment to charge the apparatus,

(c) where necessary not less than two smoke helmets or other apparatus serving the same purpose, being helmets or apparatus of a type approved by the Minister, with, where appropriate not less than 36.6 metres (120 feet) of tubing for each,

(d) two sets of reviving apparatus, not being apparatus of a continuous pressure type, each with a cylinder or cylinders capable of supplying not less than 566.0 litters (20 cubic feet) of oxygen,

(e) a first aid box containing the items specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations,

(f) not less than five electric safety-lamps, and not less than two flame safety-lamps per rescue team,

(g) suitable devices for making immediate determinations of noxious or toxic gases,

(h) two portable signaling devices.

(2) At every mine mentioned in paragraph (1) of this Regulation there shall be provided practical means for training persons to test for flammable gas and deficiencies of oxygen with a flame safety-lamp.

29. (1) The manager shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that every suit of breathing apparatus kept at a mine is adjusted and tested at the times and in the manner specified in the Third Schedule to these Regulations and a record of the results of every test carried out in accordance with those provisions shall be kept at the mine.

(2) No oxygen cylinder shall be used for re-charging breathing apparatus unless a part of the contents has been analyzed and found to contain not less than ninety-eight per cent. of oxygen. Where a cylinder of oxygen is used for recharging breathing apparatus a record shall be kept at the mine of the result of the analysis relating to the cylinder for so long as the cylinder is in use.

(3) No suit of breathing apparatus shall be used below ground in any mine unless, as soon as possible before use, it has been tested for leakage in the manner specified in the Third Schedule to these Regulations and found safe.

(4) Whenever there occurs at a mine an accident or other occurrence which is likely to require the use of breathing apparatus, the manager shall as soon as practicable inform an inspector by the quickest means available and such person as may for the time being be nominated to receive notices under section 98 (1) of the Act.

30. In rescue work and training therefor an effective system of communication shall be established between the fresh air base and a rescue team and also between the members of the team itself. In case a two-way telephone communication system is not in use between the fresh air base and the rescue team, or in case audible signaling is used between members of a rescue team the signals specified in that regard in the first column of the Fourth Schedule to these Regulations and no other shall be used to convey the message specified opposite in the second column of that Schedule. If no answer is received to a signal so specified, distress is to be understood in the cases indicated in that Schedule.

31. (1) The manager shall take all reasonable steps to ensure the provision on the surface at the mine of a suitable room with sufficient accommodation for any persons who may be engaged in rescue work or practice therefor and such room shall be provided near to the shaft or outlet normally used by persons employed below ground at the mine and shall be adequately heated and lighted and kept clean and properly maintained.

(2) At every mine at which not less than one hundred persons are employed below ground the room mentioned in paragraph (1) of this regulation shall, if it is not permanently separated from accommodation used for any other purpose, be arranged so that it can readily be so separated. The equipment provided in pursuance of these Regulations at that mine shall be kept therein.

(3) The manager shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the equipment provided at the mine in pursuance of these Regulations is kept in the aforesaid room and shall appoint a competent person to be in charge of the room.

32. (1) The manager shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the mine, or at such other place as may be approved by an inspector, a plan or set of plans, in a form suitable for use by rescue workers, of the workings of the mine, for each part of the mine showing clearly and accurately, by means of satisfactory recognizable signs the extent of the workings, the airways and the direction of the air current therein and all principal doors, stoppings, air crossings and regulators and telephone stations.

(2) A plan or set of plans referred to in paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be brought up-to-date (where necessary) at least every three months.

33. The manager of a mine shall make arrangements for the inspection at intervals not exceeding six months by a competent person appointed by him of the accommodation and equipment provided at the mine for rescue work and training. The arrangements shall ensure that any defect or deficiency disclosed by the inspection is promptly reported to the manager.

34. (1) The manager shall make rules allotting to competent persons the duties to be performed by them in relation to rescue work at the mine.

(2) Such rules shall include provisions to secure that in case rescue work is in progress and the manager is not himself ensuring that any one or more of the following requirements are complied with, namely--

(a) no person enters any shaft or outlet for the purpose of going to a part of the mine to which the rescue work relates unless he is duly authorized so to do,

(b) the name of every person going below ground or returning to the surface at the mine is recorded in writing,

(d) suits of breathing apparatus are tested in accordance with Regulation 29 (3) of these Regulations, and

(e) such other steps as can be taken on the surface to regulate and facilitate the rescue work are taken,

a competent person is in charge on the surface to ensure that those requirements are complied with.

35. Whenever rescue work is about to be or is being carried on in a mine, no person shall go below ground for the purpose of going to a part of the mine to which the rescue work relates unless authorized to do so by the manager or by some other competent person appointed by the manager.

36. Whenever rescue work is about to be or is being carried on in a mine,

(a) a person other than a member of a rescue team shall not be authorized to go below ground for any purpose which may involve the use of breathing apparatus unless he has been properly trained in the use of such apparatus, and

(b) no person shall be permitted to engage in a second or subsequent spell of work involving the use of breathing apparatus unless he has been medically examined following the preceding spell of work and is found fit to undertake it.

37. (1) Whenever rescue work is to be carried out in a mine at a place in which the atmosphere is or may be irrespirable, there shall be organized as soon as possible by the manager, or by some competent person appointed by him in that behalf, a base or bases (hereinafter referred to as a fresh air base) in respirable air and as near to the place as appears to the manager or the person to be safe.

(2) Whenever any persons are engaged in rescue work in a mine beyond the fresh air base there shall, so far as is practicable, be stationed at such base--

(a) a team of rescue workers ready for immediate service and equipped with breathing apparatus and including a person competent to test and maintain breathing apparatus and other rescue equipment and a person holding a certificate of proficiency in first aid granted within the last preceding three years by a society or body or training organization approved by the Minister for the purpose, and

(b) a set of reviving apparatus, a stretcher and suitable devices for making immediate determinations of noxious or toxic gases.

(3) Telephonic communication shall, if practicable, be established and maintained between either the surface of the mine or an entrance below ground to a shaft or outlet and a fresh air base,

38. (1) Whenever rescue work is to be carried out in a mine, a team of rescue workers or a member thereof shall not go beyond a fresh air base, or in case an appropriate fresh air base has not been established shall not go below ground, unless the captain has been given clear instructions as to where the team is to go and what it is to attempt by the person in charge at the fresh air base or in charge on the surface, as the case may be, and if breathing apparatus is to be used, has assured himself that that apparatus has been tested in accordance with Regulation 29 (3) of these Regulations.

(2) Whenever rescue work is to be carried out in a mine the captain of a rescue team shall not proceed without a plan of the relevant part of the mine made in pursuance of Regulation 32 of these Regulations and on which the route is clearly marked.

39. (1) It shall be the duty of the captain of any rescue team engaged in rescue work in any mine to devote himself to the direction of the team and to secure, to the best of his ability, its safety.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the captain of a team while so engaged shall examine the state of the roof and sides of any place to be entered or passed by the rescue team and he shall not permit the team, or any member thereof, to pass any place which appears to him insecure or, except where it is necessary so to do in an attempt to save life, to pass through any passage less than 0.61 meters (2 feet) high and 0.91 meters (3 feet) wide.

(3) The captain of a rescue team while so engaged shall secure that--

(a) a guide line is taken in either from the fresh air base or from another place at which the air is respirable and that no member of the team moves out of reach of that line, and

(b) when passing any junction the route is clearly indicated by means of arrows or other suitable marks.

40. The captain of a rescue team which is to use breathing apparatus in the course of any rescue work at a mine shall make sure that each such apparatus is working properly immediately before the team enters an atmosphere which is or may be irrespirable and in the case of apparatus in which compressed oxygen is used he shall read the pressure of oxygen at intervals not exceeding twenty minutes.

41. On any occasion on which a fire is being sealed off at a mine, the manager shall ensure that there are kept available at or near the location of the fire either two suits of breathing apparatus and persons qualified under regulation 25 of these Regulations to use them or two smoke helmets and persons competent to use them.

42. The following are hereby revoked:

(a) Regulations 138 to 146 of the General Regulations made under section 85 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, on the 10th day of July, 1913;

(b) the General Regulations made under sections 85 and 86 of the said Coal Mines Act on the 19th day of May, 1914; and

(c) Regulations 11 to 27 together with the First, Second and Third Schedules to Part III of the General Regulations made under the said section 86 on the 30th day of July, 1920.

FIRST SCHEDULE

SCHEMES FOR INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICES IN RESCUE WORK

Instruction

1. The course of initial instruction shall include instruction as to:

(a) the general methods of dealing with underground fires and the recovery of mines after fires and explosions,

(b) the construction, use, repair, maintenance and testing of the type or types of breathing apparatus provided and of smoke helmets or other apparatus serving the same purpose,

(d) the properties and detection of the noxious and flammable gases which may be found in mines,

(e) the taking of gas samples in irrespirable atmospheres,

(f) the reading of mine plans, and

(g) the conduct of rescue work detailed in these Regulations and the code of signals contained in the Second Schedule to these Regulations.

Practices

(2) Not less than 12 practices shall be provided for each man using breathing apparatus together with not less than two practices using smoke helmets or other apparatus serving the same purpose. Every practice shall take place under conditions so devised as to simulate those likely to be encountered in underground operations requiring the use of such apparatus.

3. The practices shall be carried out as far as possible by each rescue team as such, i.e. by all members of the team, at one and the same time.

4. The practices with breathing apparatus shall take place initially in ordinary air and shall thereafter progress gradually until practices can be carried out in an irrespirable atmosphere.

5. (1) Subject to subparagraph (2) of this paragraph the practices with breathing apparatus shall comprise the following operations, namely:

(a) the repeated raising and lowering of a weight of 25.4 kilogrammes (56 lbs. to and from a height of 1.83 meters (6 feet) by means of a rope and pulley;

(b) walking continuously at a fair pace for half-an-hour,

(c) building and removing temporary stoppings of stone, brick, sandbags, brattice cloth or other materials, and carrying the materials required for such operations over a distance of at least 9.14 meters (30 feet),

(d) removing debris in confined spaces as representing the clearing of a fall of roof,

(e) setting timber or other roof supports,

(f) carrying, pushing or pulling on a stretcher a live person or dummy body weighing at least 68.2 kilogrammes (150 lbs), along the length of a gallery, and through an opening 0.6 meters (2 feet) high by 0.91 meters ((3 feet) wide and 3.64 meters (12 feet) long and

(g) the rapid establishment of communication.

(2) An operation which an inspector considers appropriate may be used in practices with breathing apparatus in lieu of an operation mentioned in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph.

Instruction after initial training

6. Revision of all subjects included in the course of instruction and practice specified in the foregoing paragraphs of this Schedule.

Practices after initial training

7. The practices shall be with breathing apparatus and shall take place at least once in each quarter and at least six times annually, and at least two of the practices shall take place in mines, and the remainder in an irrespirable atmosphere.

8. Where possible mine practices shall include work in low and constricted roadways.

9. All practices required by this part of this Schedule shall last at least two hours except on occasion when, in the opinion of the instructor, it is desirable in the interests of safety to curtail the practice. At some of the practices the breathing apparatus shall be worn continuously for two hours.

SECOND SCHEDULE

FIRST AID BOX

The items to be contained in the first aid box referred to in regulation 28 (d) of these Regulations are the following:

1 set of splints;

12 triangular bandages;

24 roller bandages of various sizes;

36 sterilized dressings of assorted size;

2 rolls of cotton wool--1 lb. each;

1 packet of surgical lint--1 lb;

2 rolls adhesive tape;

1 eye bath;

1 tube of suitable eye cream;

6 tubes of antiseptic cream;

2 small boxes of safety pins;

1 pair of small scissors; and

1 tourniquet (one 2½" rubber bandage may be substituted).

THIRD SCHEDULE

ADJUSTMENT AND TESTING OF BREATHING APPARATUS

1. In the case of breathing apparatus by which a uniform delivery of oxygen is provided, the reducing valve shall be adjusted so as to deliver not less than two litres of oxygen per minute.

2. A competent person appointed by the manager shall at intervals not exceeding thirty days examine and test every suit of breathing apparatus as follows:

(a) thoroughly examine its general condition giving particular attention to any delicate or perishable part thereof,

(b) test it for leakage in the manner specified by the manufacturer,

(d) in the case of apparatus in which compressed oxygen is used, measure the pressure in the oxygen cylinder thereof, and

(e) in the case of apparatus mentioned in the immediately preceding subparagraph, measure by a flow meter the rate of delivery of oxygen and, in a case in which that rate can be adjusted by the wearer, measure that rate over the whole range of the adjustment.

3. No flow meter shall be used for the purposes of any test under the last preceding paragraph unless it has been tested for accuracy within the preceding six months.

4. No suit of breathing apparatus from which any leakage is found shall be passed as safe.

FOURTH SCHEDULE

CODE OF SIGNALS

Electric Signalling

To be used where a two way telephone communication system is not in use between the fresh air base and the rescue team.

Signal (1)	Message (2)
ONE ring .. ..	"Distress" or "Help wanted"
TWO rings * ..	'Not understood" or "Repeat the Message"
THREE rings * ..	"No"
FOUR rings * ..	"Yes" or "All right" or "All's well"
FIVE rings * ..	To "ring up". To "ring off"

*If no answer is received distress is to be understood.

Audible Signaling between Members of a Rescue Team

Signal (1)	Message (2)
ONE hoot .. ..	"Distress" or "Help wanted"
TWO hoots .. ..	Halt
THREE hoots ..	Retire
FOUR hoots ..	Advance
FIVE hoots ..	To call attention

GIVEN under my Official Seal this 13th day of September, 1972.

JOSEPH BRENNAN,

Minister for Labour.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These regulations prescribe the safety precautions to be taken to minimize the risk of fire in mines. They regulate the type of fire-fighting equipment to be provided and make provision for the training and operation of rescue teams.

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	Irish Statutory Instruments
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Irish Statutory Instruments

S.I. No. 226/1972 -- Mines (Fire and Rescue) Regulations, 1972.