Article

Ventilation, Mine Gases and Gassy Mine Classification

225 ILCS 705/31.01— All active underground working places in a mine shall be ventilated by a current of air containing not less than 19.5% of oxygen, not more than 0.5% of carbon dioxide, and no harmful quantities of other noxious or poisonous gases
225 ILCS 705/31.02
225 ILCS 705/31.03— In every mine the minimum quantity of air shall not be less than 150 cubic feet per minute for each person employed, measured at the foot of the downcast and of the upcast
225 ILCS 705/31.04
225 ILCS 705/31.05
225 ILCS 705/31.06
225 ILCS 705/31.07
225 ILCS 705/31.08— Doors, curtains or brattices shall be placed at such places as may be designated by the mine manager, subject to the approval of the State Mine Inspector, to conduct into the working places an amount of air sufficient to render the working places reasonably free from deleterious air of every kind
225 ILCS 705/31.09
225 ILCS 705/31.10
225 ILCS 705/31.11— All doors used in guiding and directing the ventilating currents shall be hung and adjusted so as to close automatically
225 ILCS 705/31.13— At all doors through which 3 or more drivers are hauling coal on any one shift, an attendant shall be employed on said shift for the purpose of opening and closing the doors when trips of cars are passing to and from the workings
225 ILCS 705/31.14— If the State Mine Inspector finds men working without the amount of air required by this Act he shall at once notify the mine manager to increase the amount of air in accordance with the requirements of this Act
225 ILCS 705/31.15— In all mines classified as gassy mines by the State Mine Inspector, it shall be compulsory to use electric lamps, and smoking shall be prohibited
225 ILCS 705/31.16— Ventilating fans at all operating mines shall be operated continuously
225 ILCS 705/31.17— A recording pressure gauge shall be attached to the ventilating fan at all times
225 ILCS 705/31.18— In all mines starting operation after July 1, 1947, the ventilating fan shall be installed on the surface in a fireproof building
225 ILCS 705/31.19— All ventilating fans shall have suitable automatic devices attached to them for the purpose of sounding an alarm when the fan stops
225 ILCS 705/31.20— Ventilating fans shall be operated on a separate power circuit, independent of the mine circuit
225 ILCS 705/31.21— When the ventilating fan at any mine fails or stops, immediate action shall be taken to cut off the electric power and withdraw the workers from the face regions of the mine
225 ILCS 705/31.22— The ventilating fan shall be inspected daily
225 ILCS 705/31.23— Booster fans may not be used in mines except by special permission from the State Mining Board
225 ILCS 705/31.24— Blower fans with tubing may be used, if the following precautions are followed: 1
225 ILCS 705/31.25— Doors shall be kept closed except when men or equipment are passing through the doorways
225 ILCS 705/31.26— Permanent overcasts shall be constructed of incombustible material such as masonry, concrete, concrete blocks, or metal and shall be of ample area to pass the required quantity of air, and where necessary to securely timber to prevent falls from the roof
225 ILCS 705/31.27— Flame resisting brattice cloth shall be used in the construction of line brattice
225 ILCS 705/31.28— The entrances to abandoned workings shall be posted to warn persons against entering the territory
225 ILCS 705/31.29— In a gassy mine, all workings which are abandoned after the effective date of this Act, or the date such mine was classified a gassy mine, whichever is later, shall be sealed or ventilated
225 ILCS 705/31.30
225 ILCS 705/31.31
225 ILCS 705/31.32— No person shall obstruct or cause any obstruction in any air current, or leave open any door or other means provided to control the air current, or perform any act that will interfere with the air current of the mine, without permission from the Mine Manager