1356

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 418

(s) "Live" or "alive" applies to any part of an
electric system, circuit, apparatus, or object in contact
with or adjacent to it, charged with electricity or
generating voltage to an extent that the difference of
potential between the system, circuit, apparatus, or object
and the earth is measurable by a voltmeter, or in case of a
static charge, by an electrostatic voltmeter.

(t) "Methane" is a hydrocarbon gas (CH4) frequently
encountered in coal mines. When it is diffused through air
in certain proportions of 5.5 to 14.5 percent, the mixture
will explode in the presence of a flame or hot spark.]

[(u)] (J) "Mine" includes a shaft, slope, drift, or
inclined plane connected with an excavation penetrating coal
stratum, which excavation is ventilated by one general air
current, and any appliance and equipment for hoisting and
extracting coal. It includes any part of the mining property
and plant on the surface or underground, which contributes
directly or indirectly to the mining or handling of coal and
is connected by one general system of mine railroads, over
which coal may be delivered to one or more points outside
the mine. The word also includes a portion of a mine or
opening whether or not the mine or opening employs a system
of railroads, when the sense so requires.

[(v) "Nongassy mine" is one in which methane gas has
not been detected by an approved or permissible flame safety
lamp, detector, device, or by air analysis in an amount of
0.25 percent or more.]

[(w)](K) "Operator" means any firm, corporation,
association, or individual operating in whole or part any
coal mine, either as an owner, lessee, or otherwise. The
term also includes the representative of the operator.

[(x)] (L) "Panel" means a unit area in a system of
mining by which the mine is divided into large rectangles or
panels isolated or surrounded by solid pillars of coal into
which pairs of entries are driven for the development of
rooms and the extraction of pillars.

[(y) "Permissible" refers to a device, plan, formula,
method, machine, or course of action which has been added to
a list by the United States Bureau of Mines after an actual
test.

(z) "Potential" or "voltage" means electric pressure
as determined by the voltmeter.]

[(aa)] (M) "Secretary" means Secretary of Natural
Resources.

[(bb)] (N) "Shaft" means an opening, the axis of which
is approximately vertical, extending downwards from the
surface. It includes an underground shaft driven between two
levels.