Section 1b.-Water or water with a wetting agent added to it should be applied to the cutter bars of mining machines and to the loading heads of loading machines. Machine cuttings, unless they are damp, should either be loaded out before blasting or they should be wetted with water. Section 2a and 2b.-Rock dust should be applied to within 80 feet of the faces in all open, unsealed rooms, haulage entries, and parallel entries connected thereto by open crosscuts. Back entries should be rock-dusted for at least 1,000 feet outby the junction with the first active entry. Section 2c.-Where rock dust is applied it should be distributed upon the top, floor, and sides of all open places and maintained in such quantity that the incombustible content of the mine dust will not be less than 65 percent. ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS Section 5a.-All workmen and other persons underground should use only permissible electric cap lamps for portable illumination. Section 5b.-Each workman should be provided with an identification check which he should be required to carry on his person at all times while underground. An accurate record of the men in the mine should be kept on the surface and said record should bear a number identical to the identification check carried by the person underground. Section 6a.-Smoking or the carrying of matches or other flame-making devices into the mine should be prohibited. SUPPLEMENTAL RECOMMENDATION NOT SPECIFICALLY COVERED BY THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY CODE Rock dust should be applied up to and including the last open crosscuts in rooms and entries. The face area from the end of the rock-dusted zone to the face should be kept damp with water or a wetting solution. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The writers acknowledge the courtesies extended and the help given by officials of the Centralia Coal Co., members of the United Mine Workers of America, and representatives of the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, who gave, without reservation, all information requested in connection with this investigation. DETAIL OF EVIDENCE. (SEE REFERENCE NUMBERS ON MAP) 1. Troughs filled with rock dust-not tripped. 2. Door forced open in opposite direction. Telephone knocked off post. 3. Door blown out. 4. Door forced open in opposite direction. 5. Empty car blown off track. 6. Nine empty cars derailed on sidetrack. 7. Body of repairman. Repairman's truck blown off track. |