HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1387

mine where work has not recently been carried on the
operator first shall timber properly the entry, room, or
other excavation, lay up track, and prepare the area for the
work.

(b) The operator shall keep on hand at all times a
sufficient quantity of materials, supplies, and facilities
required by the provisions of this subtitle or rules and
regulations pursuant to it in order to preserve the health
and safety of each worker. Whenever he cannot procure any of
the materials, supplies, or facilities when needed, he shall
notify the mine foreman to withdraw the workers from the
mine or any affected portion until the materials, supplies,
or facilities are received.]

[7-444.

(a)  Coal dust may not be permitted to accumulate
excessively on roadways and along conveyor lines. If any
mining operation raises an excessive amount of dust into the
air, water or water with a wetting agent added to it or
another effective method shall be used to allay the dust at
its source.

(b)  Every mine, except a mine or location in a mine in
which the dust is too wet or high in incombustible content
to propagate an explosion, shall be rock-dusted to within 60
feet of each active working face. Every open crosscut within
the 60 foot zone shall be rock-dusted. However, if the dust
is wet or becomes dry, the mine or portion affected shall be
rock-dusted as soon as it becomes dry.

(c)  In any partially rock-dusted mine or in a mine
which is required to start rock-dusting, haulageways and
parallel entries connected by an open crosscut shall be
rock-dusted. Back entries shall be rock-dusted for at least
1,000 feet out from the junction with first active entry. At
this junction, the rooms, entries, and crosscuts shall be
rock-dusted by generalized rock-dusting as provided in
subsection (a).

(d)  Where rock dust is applied, it shall be
distributed on the top, floor, and sides of each open place
and maintained in a quantity so the incombustible content of
the mine dust is not less than 65 percent.]

[7-445.

(a) If any working place is being driven towards, or
is in supposedly dangerous proximity to, an abandoned mine
suspected of containing explosive gas or which may contain a
dangerous accumulation of water, a borehole shall be kept
not less than 12 feet in advance of the face and on the
sides of the working place. The side holes shall be driven
diagonally at intervals not exceeding 8 feet. A working
place driven to tap water or gas may not be more than 10
feet wide. Any water or gas accumulation, or borehole from