WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 1061

course in each split; and place his initials and the date at or
near the face of each place examined.

(e) Where dangerous conditions are found by the
fire boss (or other official), the place shall be marked out
with a DANGER sign and no one except an authorized
person shall cross the DANGER sign and then only for
the purpose of correcting the dangerous condition.

(f) Upon completion of his examination, the fire boss
shall report to a proper official on the surface or report at
a designated underground station any defects found, before
the men enter the mine or pass such designated station.

(g) The fire boss shall record in ink or indelible pencil
the result of his inspection in a book, kept on the surface
for that purpose. Similar records may also be kept at
designated stations underground. Such records shall be
made as soon as possible after the inspection is completed.

(h) Idle and abandoned sections shall be inspected for
gas and other dangerous conditions by a certified foreman
or fire boss immediately before other employees are per-
mitted to enter or work in such places. The working
places in all mines shall be examined by a certified official
for hazards at least once during each shift while the men
are in the mine, or oftener if necessary for safety. In
gassy mines such examinations shall include tests with a
permissible flame safety lamp for methane, noxious gases,
and oxygen deficiency. Any dangerous condition found
shall be corrected promptly.

(i) In gassy mines pillar workings shall be examined
for explosive gas and other dangers before a fall is made.
If methane is found in amounts that can be detected with
a permissible flame safety lamp, the fall shall not be made
until the gas is removed or other precautions shall be
taken to safeguard all employees.

(j) At least once each week, air samples shall be col-
lected for analysis or tests for methane shall be made in
all mines with a permissible methane indicator or a per-
missible flame safety lamp by the mine foreman or other
competent person designated by him, in the return of each
split immediately out by the last working place, in the
main return, pillar falls, seals, abandoned workings, and
entrances thereto, and shall also make ^an ^ examination
for other dangerous conditions; leave his initials and date
at the places examined and, if dangerous conditions are
found, they shall be corrected promptly. A record of these
tests and examinations shall be kept.