CODE OF RULES framed and approved of for some of the LANCASHIRE COLLIERIES.
(The General Rules printed here are as in the No 1 Code.)
SPECIAL RULES for the Conduct and Guidance of the Persons acting in the management of the
Coal Mine or Colliery, in the County of Lancaster, and all persons employed in or about the same.
1. The manager or in his absence the underlooker or the fireman shall have the responsible charge of the mine.
2. The manager and the underlooker shall have full power and authority over the firemen and other officers, and the workmen including the boys, and anyone employed by the workmen, and shall be responsible for the efficiency of each fireman and for the condition of the mines under his care; and he shall, in the absence of the underlooker, direct the workmen how and where they shall work, and see that these rules, as well as the orders of the manager and the underlooker, be strictly attended to.
3. Each fireman shall be informed by the underlooker or manager what portion of the working are under his charge, and all the persons working there shall be under his care; and he shall, in the absence of the underlooker, direct the workmen how and where they shall work, and see that these rules, as well as the orders of the manager and the underlooker, be strictly attended to.
4. Each fireman shall be punctual in his attendance and go down the pit log before any of the workmen, and enter the workings entrusted to his care every morning of the day shift, and every afternoon previous to the commencement of the night shift (when the workmen do not relieve each other in the place), before nay workman is allowed to proceed from the shaft and other appointed place appointed by the underlooker for the men to wait in, and shall examine all the working places and ascertaining that the ventilation is going on properly and that the workings are in every respect in a safe condition; and shall not allow any workman to enter the place before it had been examined and found safe, and shall use the safety lamp in examining such workings, or any old or suspended workings.
5. If the parts of the mine are found safe for the workmen to enter the fireman shall leave a lighted candle in all places where the air does not pass over the face of the workings, to indicate to the workmen that they have been properly examined.
6. If any part of the mine be found to be in an unsafe state, either from deficiency of air, or an accumulation of inflammable gas (“firedamp”). or chokedamp, or other foul air, or at all dangerous in any other manner, the fireman shall immediately set two props or rails across the entrance road or level, at a sufficient distance from the point of danger, beyond which no person shall go: this signal shall at all times be understood as a signal of danger, and the fireman shall warn any person he may meet of the existing danger, and shall, if practicable, remove the danger, or forthwith report it to the underlooker; and the underlooker, or in his absence the fireman, shall stop the working of any place, district or pit’s workings until the danger be removed.
7. Besides examining the working parts of the pit, the underlooker or fireman shall daily examine, with a safety lamp, every waste, old working, fall in the roof, and place, likely to contain firedamp and shall have the danger signal as specified in Rule 6 put up in such a place, and caution the workmen against approaching it, and if the working place is found to contain firedamp shall cause it to be forthwith ventilated, if practicable, and the danger removed.
8. In any place where there is an appearance of dangerous firedamp locked safety lamps shall be used, and no workmen shall remain where firedamp is so accumulated as to burn inside the lamps or to heat them dangerously.
9. The underlooker, or in his absence the fireman or specially appointed person, shall personally see that the air furnaces are kept in good repair and carefully attended and fed every day; and shall examine daily, or as often as practicable, the state of the roof and sides in the drawing and travelling roads and in the workplaces of the men, and also the state of the shafts and of the conductors therein; and shall cause the roof to be secured where necessary; and shall see that there are no stones, coal or another loose thing upon the horse- trees, sides of, or openings into the pit; and shall provide an ample supply of props and timber at the station, and see that each collier securely prop his workplace; and shall also particularly notice any indications of potholes in the roof, and cause them to be taken down and secured by props or couplings.
10. A minimum size for airways, or a minimum amount of air for each principle split or division, shall be determined upon by the underlooker, and he shall either by himself or by his fireman or specially appointed person travel through all the distant intake and return air courses and all the air courses used only as air courses at least once a week and see that the size is maintained. The underlooker shall in all cases travel the air courses occasionally so as to keep himself fully acquainted with the same.
11. The underlooker shall see that in approaching old workings or other reservoirs which may contain water or gas, borings be kept in advance and on both sides sufficiently far to discover the existence of such reservoirs before the barrier of coal had been so weakened as to render a dangerous influx of water or gas possible, and that pits and all other entrances from the surface shall be protected from the effects of sudden floods.
12. Where a drawing of prop timber likely to occasion a fall of the roof is taking place, or roof is falling or likely to fall, if it is the first fall in that part of the workings or likely to be attended with a discharge of firedamp, naked lights shall be carefully excluded; and when any accumulation of firedamp has to be removed it shall be done when the pit is not at work.
13. Each fireman (having, when requisite, the assistance of joiners, blacksmiths, masons, and other workmen), shall put in all bratticing, hanging air doors, and keep them in proper order; build all stoppings for the efficient ventilation of the mine, and put in timber, and secure the drawing and travelling roads; and see that there be no loose stones in the roof or side. The air-doors shall be fixed so that they will close themselves, and that they may open against the air if practicable. The principle stoppings, shall be of brick or stone, built with lime, well plastered, and made quite tight, and supported with stowing if necessary.
14. All water curbs in the pit shall be examined and cleaned out at least once a month.
15. The underlooker, or, in his absence, the fireman, shall see that there be proper air-holes in the scaffolds over the sump holes (“dip-holes”); and in dressing or walling or casing shafts, shall take care that air-holes, or space at the side, be not closed up with mortar, rubbish, or otherwise, as to occasion firedamp to accumulate underneath.
16. The underlooker, or in his absence, the fireman, shall see that every mouthing into the shaft, elsewhere that at the bottom of the shaft, shall be provided with a gate, rail, or door, to be kept closed when the hooker-on is not at the mouthing.
17. When the shaft is being repaired, the underlooker, or in his absence, the fireman, shall see that the persons employed i the repairs have a clear and distinct understanding of the signals; and that any person permitted to go down the pit when it is not at work be specially instructed how to act.
18. If the fireman finds any workman habitually careless, or wilfully doing any act by which an explosion might occur, he shall inform the underlooker, or manager thereof, in the latter case immediately.
19. The manager, underlooker or fireman, or some competent and responsible officer appointed by one of them, shall always conduct safely through the workings any stranger or person seeking employment in the mine, whom he may permit to go down the pits.
20. If the workmen at any time have any doubt as to the general safety of the mine, or any part thereof, the manager, underlooker or fireman shall, after receiving reasonable notice, conduct any three men, chosen by the workmen themselves, to any part of the working they wish to examine.
21. The workmen employed at the colliery shall receive their orders from the manager, underlooker or fireman, and apply to one of them, for further instructions when necessary.
22. No workman shall descend or ascend any of the pits at other times than the regular hours fixed, without the express orders from the manager, underlooker or fireman; and every workman shall follow the instructions of the banksman (or in his absence the engineman), in descending the pit, and the directions of the hooker-on in ascending; and unless specially permitted, as above, no person shall give a signal, or ring the bell except the hooker-on, and the banksman or other person duly appointed.
23. No ale or other intoxicating liquor shall be brought to, or drunk in, any part of the colliery, except with the special permission of the manager or the underlooker; and no person in a state of intoxication shall go down the pit, or remain in any part of the works.
24. Not more than two persons, where the rope or cage carries one tub, and not more than six persons, where the rope or cage carries two tubs, shall go down or come up the pit at one time; and that number in each case shall be the compliment, except at the appointed time, when any man may ascend the shaft alone, after waiting 15 minutes; but no boy shall ride alone in the shaft.
25. No person shall ride up or down any of the pits with or against a full tub or full tubs, or carry any tools, timber, rails or such like in his hands, whilst riding in the cage or tub without special permission from the manager, underlooker, or fireman. to do so, and no person shall cross the bottom of the shaft when the load is in motion.
26. No workman shall under any pretext whatever enter any other part of the mines than the place he usually works in, or where he may be ordered to go by the manager, underlooker, or fireman.
27. No workman shall knowingly suffer any air-door to remain open or broken, or an air sheet or bratticing fallen down or torn; but shall immediately shut, hang up, and repair the same. or immediately report it to the manager, underlooker, or fireman.
28. Every workman shall keep his place of work in a safe and working state; and any workman finding the roof or side loose shall either get it down or secure it, or inform the manager, underlooker, or fireman immediately.
29. No workman shall expose himself or others to danger from want of props, or other material; if he has not sufficient he shall leave off working until he is provided with them.
30. Every workman finding danger in the roof of main travelling roads, or waggon roads, or noticing any insecurity of the pit ropes, chains, or conductors, or in the sides of the shafts, shall immediately give notice to the manager, underlooker, or fireman, in order that they may be secured.
31. Every person cutting into old workings or discovering any derangement of the ventilation, or finding any accumulation of chokedamp, firedamp or water, or coal or wood on fire, shall immediately inform the manager, underlooker, or fireman.
32. In work to be proceeding with night and day, one person at least shall remain until released by a person or persons of the next shift, unless permission to the contrary is granted by the manager, underlooker, or fireman.
33. No workman shall ride on any underground road without the orders from the manager, underlooker, or fireman.
34. No waggoner shall get coal unless his better be with him.
35. No person under the age of fifteen years shall wind a jig by himself at any brow.
36. No person shall leave a lighted candle or any other light in any part of the mine when leaving work, or injure any air course, brattice door, or stopping, or fire the coal or wood, or put slack or rubbish, or any other obstruction in any air course, or do any act whereby the lives of the workmen or the safety or security of the mine would be endangered.
37. No workman shall descend the pit before the fireman in the morning, or go to his place in the workings before it has been examined by the fireman.
38. If any workman meets with props or rails set across an entrance road or level, or if he does not find a lighted candle in a place where the air does not pass over the face of the workings, he shall immediately return to the pit bank or other appointed place and there await the instructions of the manager, underlooker, or fireman. Props or rails set across any road or level or the entrance to places are instructions of danger, and must on no account be passed except under the special directions of the manager, underlooker, or fireman
39. No person shall try an unproved part of the workings for firedamp with a lighted candle or other open light, and where candles or open lights are used places out of the air current shall not be re-entered after the absence for dinner or other purposes until they have been examined with a safety lamp unless a lighted candle shall have been left in them and remained burning during the whole time of such absence.
40. Every person using a safety lamp shall frequently notice it, and no workman shall work without a locked safety lamp where there is an appearance of dangerous firedamp, or near to an accumulation of firedamp, without special permission from the manager, underlooker, or fireman; and no workman shall remain where gas is so accumulated as to burn in the inside of the lamp or to heat them dangerously, and the safety amp shall not be suspended upon the row of props nearest to the old work, or in any situation which is not at least two feet from the stroke or swing of the pick or other gear.
41. A workman shall not take a safety lamp for use without it first being examined and safely locked by the manager, underlooker, or fireman, or lamp-man, and shall himself examine the lamp and see that it be securely locked and that there are no broken wires or wide spaces in the gauze, and that the gauze at the bottom fits close to the lamp, and that the lamp generally is in good order; and no error or oversight on the part of the manager, underlooker, or fireman, or lamp-man, shall be taken as an excuse for any workman having in the mine an open or unlocked or insecure or defective safety lamp.
42. No blasting powder shall be used in any mine tunnel or other working except with the permission and under the directions of the manager, underlooker, or fireman.
43. No workman shall take a naked candle or Lucifer match or other self-lighting apparatus into, or smoke tobacco or have in his possession a tobacco pipe in any portion of the mine where lamps are ordered to be used.
44. Every safety lamp which shall become in an unfit state for use by having oil spilled upon the gauze or being crushed, or in any way injured, shall be immediately extinguished carefully, removed from the workings, and taken to the manager, underlooker, or fireman, or lamp-man. No lamp shall be blown out at ant time, but the flame shall be extinguished by drawing the down wick with a pricker.
45. Any person getting into a body or current of firedamp, which continues to burn in the lamp although the wick be drawn down, shall not throw away his lamp or attempt to blow it out, as the flame may get through the gauze and cause an explosion, but shall hold the lamp near the floor and avoid jerking it, and shall steadily retire into the fresh air.
46. Any workman witnessing any improper treatment of a safety lamp by anyone, or doing of any act likely to peril the safety of the men or mine, shall give information to the manager, underlooker, or fireman, so that a recurrence of such conduct may be prevented.
47. The engineman subject to the directions of the manager, underlooker, and head engineer, shall have sole control of the engine entrusted to his care, and shall see that the engine, boilers, drums, ropes, chains, cages and other machinery, used for the purpose of raising men and coal from the mine, be inspected daily, and that the ropes have particular attention paid to them and be examined with great care; that ungalvanized wire ropes be kept well greased, and if necessary be run through the banksman’s or other appointed person’s hand once a week, to detect broken wires; and that the pump and pumping apparatus be kept in an efficient working state, and the water regularly pumped, and that the boilers be emptied and cleaned from time to time, and that all the winding ropes be carefully attached to the drums, and that when the cage is down there is sufficient coil of rope left upon the drum, and that when the cage is up, a flat rope being used, the arms or sides of the drum shall extend sufficiently beyond the outer coil of the rope.
48. The engineman shall attend his engine constantly during his shift, and upon no account allow any person except such as appointed by those in authority over him to touch any part of the machinery or to remain in the engine house, and shall not be out of reach of the hand-gear of the engine whilst in motion, and shall attend his engine with great care and caution, avoid stopping suddenly when any person is ascending or descending the shaft and shall run the ropes once up and down before men and boys descend in the morning, in order to see that the ropes and other gear be all right.
49. The engineman shall keep his engine clean and in efficient working order and all the shafts and bearings well oiled, and shall see that each tubular boiler have a lead rivet at the top of the tube over the fire; and in case of any failure or derangement of the machinery shall report the same to the manager, underlooker or head engineer.
50. There shall be a bell or other signal at every winding pit top connected with the bottom, and the following signals, and any others which may from time to time be appointed by the underlooker, shall be given by the hooker-on or other person duly appointed and shall be carefully observed by the engine-man: namely, One knock, to go on, when the rope or chain is at a stand and coal or rubbish is to come up. One knock, to stop, when the rope or chain is in motion. Two knocks, to let down again, when the rope or chain has been stopped. Three knocks, to go on when persons are coming up. Other signals as may be required.
51. There shall also be a bell or other signal in every underground engine- house, or engine-house for underground winding or drawing, connected with all the hooking-on stations on inclined planes, and the signals as directed by the manager or underlooker shall be carefully observed by the engineer.
52. The engineman shall at all times use very great caution, and pay every attention to these signals and to any deviation from the regular course of his engine, and in a case, anything appears to be wrong he shall immediately stop his engine and not proceed until the proper signal be given.
53. The pulley wheels and rollers above ground shall be regularly oiled by the engineman or stoker at least once a day.
54. The stoker shall fire with regularity in order that a uniform supply of steam is raised, and shall keep the fires clean and the bars free from cinders, and shall attend very particularly to all the safety valves and floats that they may work freely, and to the feeder pumps that a constant and regular supply of water may be kept to the boilers, and shall also assist the engineman to clean his engine, and shall see and take care that the ropes run freely and properly upon the rope rolls, and shall immediately caution the engineman if any derangement takes place.
55. In the absence of the banksman the engineman shall not permit any workman or other person to descend any of the pits at other times than the regular hours fixed without the express orders from the manager, underlooker, or fireman. In each case any persons be so permitted to descend, the engineman shall attend to the signals and also see that they comply with the rules and regulations laid down for the banksman and hookers-on.
56. When an underground boiler fire is used for ventilating the mine, and the fire is fed with return air, the fire-doors and the dampers shall be set open when the fire is out.
57. The banksman, subject to the directions of the manager, underlooker, and fireman, shall have control of the pit bank and the command of the signals down the pit and to the engineman, and have the power to stop anyone from descending the pit; and shall be responsible for the state of the pit top, and see that the frames and the surface near the pit mouth are kept free from coal, stones, or dirt and that they are cleaned at least twice every day; and shall take great care that no person rides in the shaft unless the above is quite clean.
58. The hooker-on, subject to the directions of the manager, underlooker, and fireman, shall have command of the pit bottom and the command of the signals up the pit and shall pay attention that no coal be sent up the shaft projecting beyond the sides of the tub.
59. At least one banksman and one hooker-on, or other person appointed by the manager, underlooker, or fireman, for that purpose, shall be at their respective posts at the proper time every morning to give the proper signals and to see the men and boys carefully into and out of the cages or tubs at the top and bottom of the shaft and shall remain to see the last person out at night.
60. No banksman or hooker-on shall allow any boy to ride alone, or more than two persons to ride at once when the rope or cage carries one tub, or more than six persons to ride at once when the rope or cage carries two tubs or allow any person to ride with coal slack or dirt, or against a loaded cage or tub, or allow any person, unless specially allowed by the manager, underlooker, or fireman, to carry any tool, implement, prop, rail or such like in his hand whilst riding, but the banksman or hooker-on shall see that the same be securely placed in the cage or tub so that no danger may exist or their falling out during their ascent or descent, or of their coming into contact with anything in the pit, and that no person gets up on the cage at the pit top unless it is stationary, or at a mouthing without the signal being first given and responded to.
61. In case any material gets loose in the pit or an obstruction arises from any other cause, the hooker-on shall see that the person to remove it shall not ascend from the bottom; such person shall descend from the top. Any timber, rails, or bulky materials sent down the pit shall be properly fastened by the banksman or hooker-on. The hooker-on shall at all times prevent anyone crossing the bottom of the shaft when a load is in motion.
62. The banksman shall not permit strangers or persons not employed in the mine to descend the pit or remain upon the pit bank unless accompanied by the manager, underlooker or another competent and responsible person, and shall caution strangers on descending to keep carefully within the cage or tub until they be fairly landed.
63. The banksman shall daily see the ropes of the pit he attends to run up and down the shaft each morning before allowing any person to go down and shall examine them carefully from the cage to the point where they are attached to the drums or verticals of the engine, and if he perceives any failure in the ropes, chains, or cages, he shall prevent any person from going down or coming up, and shall give immediate notice to the engineman; and shall keep a strict eye upon the ropes, chains or cages during his work, and, if he sees any defect in any of them at any time, shall call the attention of the engineman to it immediately, and in the case of the danger he shall prevent the further use of such things until they are made secure. If greased ropes are used he shall see that they run through the hand once a week and examined for broken wires.
64. No banksman or hooker-on shall allow any workman or other person to descend the pit at other times than the regular hours fixed without the express orders from the manager or underlooker. At the appointed time for ascending one person or any less number than the appointed number, after waiting fifteen minutes, may ascend, but a boy may not ride alone in the shaft.
65. The signals mentioned in Rule 50 shall be observed between the banksman, hooker-on, and the engineman; and the signal shall be repeated by the banksman, to the hooker-on when persons are about to ascend, and by the hooker-on to the banksman when persons are about to descend.
66. Banksman or lauders or takers-off and hookers-on at the mouthings or openings in the shaft, and at underground inclines, shall be subject to the same rules as the banksman and hooker-on at the top and bottom of the pit.
67. The furnaceman and horsekeeper when the pit is at work shall in ascending and descending the pit and in other matters be subject to the same rules and regulations as the workmen, and when the pit is not at work shall give the signals as in Rule 50, and obtain special instructions from the manager, underlooker, or fireman how to act. The horsekeeper shall take care of boys accompanying him to feed the horses.
68. When day and night furnaceman are employed the one shall not leave the furnace until the other arrives, except to give information of the non-attendance of the other, in which case he shall return with all speed to the furnace and remain there until relieved by some one appointed by the manager, underlooker, or fireman for that purpose.
69. When a day furnaceman only is employed he shall proceed to get the furnace into vigorous operation as soon as the fireman commences his round in the morning. The furnaceman, for the time being, shall prevent the accumulation of ashes or cinders upon the bars of the furnace, and shall put all the cinders into a proper place and not remove them until cold, and shall keep up a clear and brisk fire, and shall fire the furnace harder in boisterous weather, and also (if a barometer be provided) when the mercury falls; and if dust or rubbish or soot accumulate shall see that the furnace drifts be cleansed from all accumulation at least once every three weeks, and shall keep the coal from feeding the furnace well back from the fire and safely out of reach of any embers that may fall from the bars, and when a boiler fire is used for ventilating and the fie is fed with air which ventilates the workings, he shall see that the fire doors and the dampers be set open when the fire is out.
70. The furnaceman shall examine the flues of the underground engine at least twice every day, morning and evening, and shall immediately report to the underlooker or fireman if he finds any coal slack, timber, or rubbish on or near the flues, or that the flues are in any respect out off order.
JOSEPH DICKINSON,
Inspector of Coal Mines, Manchester.
No. 3. CODE of RULES as framed and approved for some of the LANCASHIRE COLLIERIES, such COLLIERIES being worked by DAY LEVELS only, without Pits or Steam Engines.
(The General Rules are printed here as in the No 1 Code)
SPECIAL RULES for the conduct and guidance of the Persons acting in the management of the Coal Mine or Colliery, belonging to and all Persons employed in or about the same.
(i) — Special Rules for Colliers and other Workpeople.
1. Every collier and other workperson shall receive a copy of the general and special rules from the manager, underlooker, or overlooker, who may engage him.
2. Every collier to obey strictly the directions of the underlooker, and in his absence, of the fireman or other officer under whose control he may happen to be, as to the part of the workings of the pit in which he is to work, and he is not to work in, or on any account without permission from such underlooker, to enter, or go into any part of the workings, except such as he may necessarily travel in passing to and from his work, between the part of the working assigned to him, by such underlooker, and the pit eye.
3. If firedamp (explosive gas) be found to prevail in any of the shafts or workings, a fireman will be appointed whose duty it will be to go through the workings before any of the workmen are allowed to proceed further that the place appointed from time to time, and examine all the working places, and ascertain that they are in a safe condition; and in case he finds any part thereof unsafe from firedamp. he will put up in a conspicuous place, at a sufficient distance from the point of danger, a board, with the word “FIRE” upon the side facing the entrance, or use some other well-known signal, such as props or rails placed across the entrance, beyond which no workman shall pass, unless under the special directions of the underlooker or fireman; and in case the place be found safe, he will place the blank side of the board, (if any be used) facing the entrance, or use some other well-known signal, to show that they place has been examined and found safe for him to enter; and if the place be safe, the workmen shall, on entering, lay aside the board (if any) to place appointed by the fireman for use the next day.
4. Every collier, drawer, and other workmen shall, upon being ordered by the underlooker or fireman so to do, cease to use in the pit which he may work, any candle, or other naked light, and shall provide himself with a good safety lamp, with a proper lock attached thereto, and which shall be kept locked if ordered by the manager, underlooker or fireman, and shall not proceed to his work without first having such lamp to the appointed lampman for his examination; and in the case of a lamp becoming damaged or extinguished, he shall not open it, but shall proceed to the pit eye, or to some other appointed station, and the proper officer shall either provide him with a fresh lamp, or unlock, and relight it for him, and in the event of the gauze of the lamp becoming smeared with oil, or clogged with dust, he is to cease working by, or using the same until it can be properly cleaned; and no error or oversight on the part of the lampman shall be taken as an excuse for any workman having in the mine an open, unlocked, or insecure, or defective safety lamp; and in those places where lamps are exclusively used, no person shall smoke tobacco, or take any lucifer matches into the pit, or on any pretence open, or uncover his lamp; nor on any account try a place with a candle, or other open light, to see if it contains firedamp; nor, where prohibited, use gunpowder for blasting, or do any other thing to endanger the safety of the mine.
Places out of the air current in mines where fire-damp prevails, must not be re-entered after any absence for dinner or another purpose, with a naked light, until they have been examined by a safety lamp.
5. Where safety lamps are ordered to be used, and blasting is permitted, the collier is not allowed to fire his shot until he shall have first carefully examined the condition of the air in that particular place; and should it appear in the least degree inflammable, no blasting shall take place until the cause of the danger had been completely removed.
6. Every person getting into a body or current of fire-damp (which may continue to burn in the lamp although the wick be drawn down), shall not throw away his lamp, or attempt to blow it out, as the flame may get through the gauze and cause an explosion, but must hold the lamp near the floor, and avoid jerking it, and steadily retire to fresh air. No lamp to be blown out at any time; but the flame to be extinguished by drawing down the wick with the pricker.
7. Every collier shall on leaving his place of work, take care that no lighted candle or lamp be left therein, or in any part of the workings he may pass through or by unless it is under the care of some other person remaining therein; nor shall such a collier or drawer, on any pretence, light any blower or accumulation of gas.
8. Every collier shall set sprags during holing, when necessary, and shall securely prop, where necessary, the roof of the place where he may work; and in case, upon application to the underlooker or fireman, he should not be provided with sufficient props for that purpose, he is to cease working and report the same to the manager or underlooker or at the colliery office.
9. Every collier shall work according to the directions of the underlooker; and in the case where lines are suspended from the roof, to show the course of any level, end, or drift, every collier shall work according to such lines; and shall, when ordered by the underlooker or fireman, keep a borehole in advance of, and on the sides of his place of work, as may be prescribed by the underlooker or fireman.
10. Every workman employed in the pit or mine shall be bound to give information to the underlooker, fireman, or other person having for the time the underground charge of the pit, of the existence of fire-damp or of any insecurity of the roof, shaft, or other parts of the workings, or of the ladders, or stages, or of any air-door being left open, or partially so, or on cutting into old workings, immediately on its being observed by him; and on any workman observing the presence of fire-damp, or on its existence coming knowledge, he is especially prohibited from entering the place where it may have been observed, or reported to be, with any other light than a safety lamp, and then only if in the company with, or under the special directions of, the underlooker, fireman, or other person having charge of the pit for the time being.
11. No workman shall be allowed to ride on any tram, waggon, horse, or donkey, without the special consent of the underlooker; nor shall any workman proceed along the jig brow, or engine brow whilst the rope or chain is in motion; nor shall any workman interfere with any underlooker or other officer in the discharge of his duties.
12. No collier or other workman shall injure any air-course, brattice, or stopping; or leave open wholly or partially any door, or do any other thing whereby the ventilation of the mine shall be affected, or the property of the owner endangered.
13. No collier shall take down the pit any gunpowder, or blasting powder unless it is properly secured in a metal flask or horn.
14. Every furnaceman shall carefully attend to the furnace under his charge, keeping, under all possible circumstances, a clean brisk fire, so that the ventilation of the mine be efficiently maintained. where day and night furnaceman are employed, the one shall not leave the furnace until relieved by the other, except to give information of the non-attendence of the latter, in which case he shall return with all speed, until a substitute is appointed.
15. No Waggoner or drawer shall get coal unless his getter is with him.
(ii) — Special Rules for Banksmen and Hookers-on.
16. Every banksman and hooker-on is to prevent from entering the pit, at which he may be employed, any collier, drawer, or any other person not employed therein, without a written order from the manager, or the personal direction of the underlooker of the pit.
17. No banksman is to allow any collier or drawer, to enter any pit after any time fixed and notified to them by the underlooker of that pit; nor shall any person be allowed to enter or descend any pit in a state of intoxication; or to take intoxicating liquor down the pit, or to be drunk upon, or shall they themselves drink it upon, the works, except by the direction or the consent of the manager or underlooker.
18. Every banksman or hooker-on, on being required so to do, by the underlooker, shall examine, and where required, lock the safety lamps of the colliers, drawers, and other workpeople, who may be ordered by either of them to provide themselves with safety lamps, and shall not in such cases allow any such colliers, drawers or workpeople to proceed from the pit eye, into the workings unless they are provided with a good safety lamp, capable (if required) of being locked, nor unless they shall have first examined, and ascertained that such lamps and their gauzes are in a safe and proper state, and when required shall have locked them.
(iii) — Special Rules for Underlookers, Firemen, and Superintendents.
19. Every underlooker and superintendent, upon employing any person, shall deliver to him, a copy of the general and also the special rules, which he will be required to observe.
20. Every underlooker, or in his absence, the fireman shall see that there be proper air holes in the scaffolds over any sump hole; and in dressing, or walling, or casing air shafts, shall take care that the sir-holes, or space at the side, be not closed with mortar or rubbish, so as to occasion firedamp to accumulate underneath. The sump to be kept covered or fenced off when water is not being wound, or the sump required to be open for some particular purpose.
21. Every underlooker shall frequently and carefully examine the workings of the pits in his charge, the state of the ventilation, and the furnace (if any), the air doors, and the roof, and the direction and width of the drifts; also the pit shafts and the conductors therein, and that no loose stones, coal, &c., remain on the bearers or horse trees, or near any opening in the pit.
22. Every underlooker are to see that all air doors are so fixed as to close themselves, and not be capable of standing open unless wilfully propped or fastened back, and that, where necessary, double sets of doors are fixed.
23. Every underlooker or fireman shall, in all parts of the mines under his charge, which may be near old falls, or old workings, producing, or likely to produce and retain fire-damp, or where props are likely to occasion a fall of roof and give off fire-damp are being drawn, of where such a fall of the roof or likely fall, particularly if it be the first fall of roof in that part of the workings, order all the colliers, drawers, and other workpeople working in those places to desist from using candles or any naked light in such places, and shall order them to be provided with safety lamps, with locks attached thereto if required; and shall prohibit then from taking any light, other than such lamps, into the workings, and not even those until they shall have been previously examined, and approved by the underlooker or fireman, or another appointed person.
24. In approaching a place likely to contain a dangerous quantity of water, or where a dangerous accumulation of gas is known to exist, the underlooker or fireman shall see that the borings be kept in advance, and, if necessary, on both sides, sufficiently far to discover its existence, before the barrier of coal has been so weakened as to render a dangerous influx possible; and that pits, and all other entrances from the surface, shall be protected from the effects of sudden floods, including the bursting of large water pipes.
25. Every underlooker, or in his absence, the fireman, shall personally see that the furnace holes at the pits in their charge are kept in good repair, and carefully attended to and fed, at all times, and shall examine as often as practicable the state of the roof in the travelling roads, and in the workplaces of the men, and they shall also see that sufficient props are provided.
26. If the fireman finds any workman habitually careless, or who wilfully does any act by which an explosion might occur, or the fireman require the assistance of a carpenter or bricklayer, he shall immediately inform the manager or the underlooker.
27. Every underlooker, in the exercise of his duties, is hereby expressly ordered, in all cases, to give his first and chief attention to the lives and limbs of those in his respective charge; and to suspend any and all operations attended with unusual risk, until he shall have received special directions thereon from the manager, and to stop the working and use of any pit, rope, machinery, or apparatus that may not appear safe, until the removal of the danger.
28. Every underlooker and fireman shall take special care that all air-doors, stoppings, and brattices in the pit, in their care, are i proper and efficient repair and condition.
29. The underlooker shall specify to the fireman, or another person in charge of the air-ways, a minimum size for each particular air-way, or a minimum quantity of air for each principle split or division; and every fireman shall frequently examine all parts of the mine in his charge, that they may be accessible, whether frequented by workmen or not, so as to make himself certain as to the state of every part of such mine, and he shall instantly give notice to the underlooker or manager, of the existence of any fire-damp, or insecure state of the working therein.
30. Every fireman who shall be unable to attend his work, shall case the underlooker to be informed in sufficient time to enable him to find a substitute.
I have &c. The Right Hon. Sir George Grey,
JOSEPH DICKINSON, &c. &c. &c.
Inspector of Coal Mines.
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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