Alberta Regulation 284/95

Electric Utilities Act

TEMPORARY SUSPENSION REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 719/95) pursuant to

section 44 of the Electric Utilities Act.

Table of Contents

Definition 1

Suspension of

section 34 of the Act 2

Application for suspension order 3

Interim Board order 4

Final Board order 5

Conditions 6

Effect of Board order 7

Definition

1 In this Regulation, "Act" means the Electric Utilities Act.

Suspension of

section 34 of the Act

2 In the event that the physical operations of a regulated generating

unit are suspended, curtailed or interfered with, the owner of the

regulated generating unit may apply to the Board for an order temporarily

suspending the owner's obligation under

section 34 of the Act to pay,

through financial settlement under

section 11(

b) of the Act, the unit

obligation value in respect of that owner's interest in the generating

unit.

Application for suspension order

3(1) An application under

section 2 must include the period for which the

temporary suspension is sought.

(2) The period referred to in subsection (1) may begin on a date that

precedes the making of the application.

Interim Board order

4 Within 7 days of receiving the application, the Board must

(

a) make an order suspending the obligation referred to in

section

2 for an interim period if and to the extent that the Board is satisfied

that the application discloses a prima facie case that the conditions set

out in

section 5(1)(

a) have been met, or

(

b) deny suspension.

Final Board order

5(1) After giving notice and hearing interested parties, the Board may

(

a) make an order suspending the obligation referred to in

section

2 for the period stated in the order if and to the extent that the Board is

satisfied that

(

i) the physical operations of the regulated generating

unit are suspended, curtailed or interfered with owing to any event or

cause including, without limitation, acts of God, civil commotions, labour

disputes, interruptions in the supply of fuel, transmission system failure

or major breakage of or major damage to the generating unit, the occurrence

and effect of which

(

A) are outside the reasonable control of

an owner, and

(

B) are outside the risk of impaired

physical capability that the owner is being compensated to accept as part

of its aggregate reservation price prepared in accordance with

section 36

of the Act,

and

(ii) the owner has used reasonable diligence to put

itself in a position to carry out the obligation referred to in

section 2

through prudent operation of the generating unit, or

(

b) deny suspension.

(2) The duty of an owner under subsection (1)(a)(ii) does not require the

owner to settle strikes or lockouts by acceding to the demands of opposing

persons if the owner considers that that course of action is inadvisable.

Conditions

6 An order made under

section 4 or 5 may contain any conditions the Board

considers reasonable.

Effect of Board order

7 Where the Board makes an order under

section 5(1)(a), the owner's

obligation to pay the unit obligation value is extinguished, to the extent

provided for in the order, during the period of the suspension.

Alberta Regulation 285/95

Electric Utilities Act

INDEPENDENT POWER AND SMALL POWER REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 720/95) pursuant to

section 71 of the Electric Utilities Act.

Table of Contents

Definitions 1

Application of this Regulation 2

Clarification of s3(3) of Act 3

Deemed offer of zero cents 4

Certain windturbine contracts 5

Costs to be included in aggregate reservation price 6

Expiry 7

Definitions

1 In this Regulation,

(a) "Act" means the Electric Utilities Act;

(b) "existing independent power production contract" means an

agreement

(

i) made between the owner of a generating unit, other

than a regulated generating unit, that is connected with the interconnected

electric system and the owner of an electric utility, and

(ii) that provides for the purchase of electric energy

by the owner of the electric utility from the owner of the generating unit,

but does not include a small power production contract;

(c) "owner", in respect of an electric utility, includes a

municipality or a subsidiary of a municipality that owns an electric

distribution system;

(d) "small power production contract" has the meaning given to it

in the Small Power Research and Development Act.

Application of this Regulation

2 This Regulation applies only to

(

a) small power production contracts, and

(

b) existing independent power production contracts

that were in existence on May 17, 1995.

Clarification of s3(3) of Act

3(1) The phrase "is deemed to be amended to the extent necessary to make

the agreement consistent with this Act" used in

section 3(3) of the Act

means, in respect of a small power production contract or an existing

independent power production contract that contains provisions relating to

the subject-matter of clauses (

a) and (

b) of this subsection, that the

owner of the electric utility that is a party to the contract

(

a) is responsible for exchanging, including dispatch and receiving

payments related to financial settlement for its account pursuant to

section 11(

b) of the Act, through the power pool the electric energy

produced by the generating unit that enters the interconnected electric

system in the amounts provided for under the agreement, and

(

b) must continue to make payments to the owner of the generating

unit in accordance with the agreement.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the parties to a contract referred to

in subsection (1) may agree that the owner of the generating unit or some

other person must carry out the obligations in subsection (1)(a), as set

out in the agreement, provided that the agreement is consistent with the

Act.

Deemed offer of zero cents

4(1) An eligible power production facility as defined in the Small Power

Research and Development Act with a small power production contract is

deemed to have a standing offer of zero cents per kilowatt hour for any

electric energy offered to the power pool from the capacity allocated under

the Small Power Research and Development Act.

(2) For the portion of the production of small power production contracts

that is in excess of the capacity allocated under the Small Power Research

and Development Act and for existing independent power production

contracts, the generating units are deemed to have a standing offer of zero

cents per kilowatt hour for electric energy offered to the power pool

unless

(

a) the agreements contain specific dispatch requirements that are

not supported by such a standing offer, or

(

b) the owners of the generating units and the owner of an electric

utility agree to some other dispatch requirements consistent with the Act.

Certain windturbine contracts

5(1) Electric energy produced pursuant to the following contracts need not

be exchanged through the power pool:

(

a) the contract between the Town of Fort Macleod and the Pioneer

Lodge in Fort Macleod respecting electric energy produced by the 65 kW

capacity windturbine owned by the Pioneer Lodge on May 17, 1995;

(

b) the contract between the Town of Fort Macleod and the Scarlet

and Gold Inn in Fort Macleod respecting electric energy produced by the 65

kW capacity windturbine owned by the Scarlet and Gold Inn on May 17, 1995;

(

c) the contract between Nor'Wester Energy Systems and the City of

Calgary respecting electric energy produced by the 2 kW windturbine owned

by Nor'Wester Energy Systems on May 17, 1995 and located west of Calgary;

(

d) the contract between Double A Fertilizer Service and TransAlta

Utilities Corporation respecting electric energy produced by the 25 kW

windturbine owned by Double A Fertilizer Service on May 17, 1995 and

located at or near Lethbridge;

(

e) the contract between Hargrave Ranching and TransAlta Utilities

Corporation respecting electric energy produced by the 25 kW windturbine

owned by Hargrave Ranching on May 17, 1995 and located at or near Walsh;

(

f) the contract between L.M. Atwood and TransAlta Utilities

Corporation respecting electric energy produced by the 5 kW windturbine

owned by L.M. Atwood on May 17, 1995 and located at or near Cardston;

(

g) the 2 contracts between Leth Turkey Farm and TransAlta

Utilities Corporation respecting electric energy produced by the two 65 kW

each windturbines owned by Leth Turkey Farm on May 17, 1995 and located at

or near Taber;

(

h) the contract between W. Schauerte and TransAlta Utilities

Corporation respecting electric energy produced by the 5 kW windturbine

owned by W. Schauerte on May 17, 1995 and located at or near Pincher Creek.

(2) Subsection (1) applies in respect of electric energy produced pursuant

to a contract only for the term of that contract, as stated on May 17, 1995

in the contract.

Costs to be included in aggregate reservation price

6(1) The following costs associated with small power production contracts

may be included in the aggregate reservation price under

section 36(2)(

c) of the Act:

(

a) the costs of purchasing electric energy, up to the amount

provided from the capacity allocated under the Small Power Research and

Development Act, at a price equal to the price described in

section 3(1)(

b) of that Act minus the pool price;

(

b) costs incurred under the Revenue Adjustment Regulation (Alta.

Reg. 358/94);

(

c) costs incurred by an electric utility to administer its small

power production contracts, that are appropriate for the capacity allocated

under the Small Power Research and Development Act;

(

d) costs incurred by a small power producer as defined in the

Small Power Research and Development Act as a result of the coming into

force of the Act such as, but not limited to,

(

i) costs of metering changes,

(ii) costs associated with

section 13(2)(

a) of the Act,

and

(iii) costs of any charges that may arise from system

access service or system support services.

(2) Subsection (1) is not to be interpreted as precluding the Board from

approving for inclusion in the aggregate reservation price under

section

36(2)(

b) or (

c) of the Act costs related to small power production

contracts

(

a) that have been prudently incurred, and

(

b) that are not included in subsection (1).

Expiry

7 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for

ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be re-passed

in its present or amended form following a review, this Regulation expires

on a date that is 20 years after the effective commencement date of the

small power production contract relating to the final small power project

to be commissioned or to commence commercial operation pursuant to the

Small Power Research and Development Act.

Alberta Regulation 286/95

Electric Utilities Act

TIME EXTENSION REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 721/95) pursuant to

section 71 of the Electric Utilities Act.

Authority of Minister

1(1) The Minister is authorized to extend by written order the date

specified in

section 39(5)(

b) of the Electric Utilities Act.

(2) The Minister must not extend the date beyond April 1, 1996.

Expiry

2 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for

ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be repassed in

its present or amended form following a review, this Regulation expires on

April 2, 1996.

------------------------------

Alberta Regulation 287/95

Electric Utilities Act

DEFICIENCY CORRECTION REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 722/95) pursuant to

section 72 of the Electric Utilities Act.

Table of Contents

Definition 1

Regulated generating unit 2

Power Pool Council 3

Electric Transmission Council 4

Service areas 5

Application of

section 40 of the Act 6

Permissible interest held by a municipality in a generating unit 7

Approval of tariffs 8

Increases and decreases in rates 9

Hearings required in 1995 10

Schedule to the Act 11

Definition

1 In this Regulation, "Act" means the Electric Utilities Act.

Regulated generating unit

2 For the purposes of

section 1(1)(

x) of the Act, "regulated generating

unit" includes an isolated regulated generating unit listed in

Part 2 of

the

Schedule to the Act, as the generating unit exists on the date this

Regulation comes into force.

Power Pool Council

3 The Power Pool Council may

(

a) determine the number of its members that constitutes a quorum

at meetings of the Power Pool Council, and

(

b) determine rules or procedures respecting the number of its

members that is required to carry out any act in order for that act to bind

all of its members and constitute

an act of the Power Pool Council.

Electric Transmission Council

4 The Electric Transmission Council may

(

a) determine the number of its members that constitutes a quorum

at meetings of the Electric Transmission Council, and

(

b) determine rules or procedures respecting the number of its

members that is required to carry out

an act in order for that act to bind

all of its members and constitute

an act of the Electric Transmission

Council.

Service areas

5(1) For the purposes of

Part 4 of the Act, the service areas of the

electric distribution systems owned by the municipalities referred to in

subsection (4) and by rural electrification associations are considered to

be part of the service area of the owner of the entitled electric

distribution system with whom arrangements for the supply of electricity

existed on May 17, 1995.

(2) Where a municipality referred to in subsection (4) or a rural

electrification association no longer wishes the service area of the

electric distribution system owned by it to be considered in accordance

with subsection (1), the municipality or rural electrification association

may give notice in writing to that effect to the owner of the entitled

electric distribution system.

(3) If notice is given under subsection (2),

section 40 of the Act applies

as if an order has been made under the Hydro and Electric Energy Act

(

a) reducing the size of the entitled electric distribution

system's service area, and

(

b) creating a service area for the electric distribution system

owned by the municipality or rural electrification association giving the

notice.

(4) Notice may be given under this

section by any of the following

municipalities:

(

a) the Town of Cardston;

(

b) the Town of Fort Macleod;

(

c) the Town of Ponoka;

(

d) the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.

(5) A notice given under subsection (2) is not effective until after the

expiry of contractual arrangements existing on the date the notice was

given for the supply of electricity and made between the municipality or

rural electrification association giving the notice and the owner of the

entitled electric distribution system.

Application of

section 40 of the Act

6 When

section 40 of the Act becomes applicable pursuant to

section 5(3)

of this Regulation or otherwise, the payments and receipts required under

that

section must be made through financial settlement under

section 11(

b) of the Act, unless

section 40(3) of the Act applies.

Permissible interest held by a municipality in a generating unit

7 If

(

a) a municipality had an interest in a generating unit on May 1,

1995, and

(

b) a subsidiary of the municipality acquires the interest after

May 1, 1995,

the municipality and the subsidiary are considered to be in compliance with

section 45(2) of the Act if the generating capacity of the generating unit

does not increase significantly beyond its capacity on May 1, 1995.

Approval of tariffs

8 An application under

section 49 of the Act for Board approval of a

tariff is required for tariffs prepared under sections 27, 29, 31, 33, 36

and 49 of the Act.

Increases and decreases in rates

9 The increases or decreases in rates referred to in

section 49(5) of the

Act may include increases or decreases in rates to correspond to

(

a) the increases or decreases in costs occurring when the

operation of

Part 4 of the Act, or any provision of it, is suspended

pursuant to regulations made under

section 44(1) of the Act, and

(

b) other related costs approved by the Board.

Hearings required in 1995

10(1) The Board may make an interim order in respect of the matters set

out in

section 76 of the Act.

(2) Section 77 of the Act does not apply if the Board has made, before

January 1, 1996, an interim order in respect of all of the matters set out

section 76 of the Act.

Schedule to the Act

11(1) Brazeau #2 Generating Unit is a regulated generating unit and the

following is considered to be part of the list set out in

Part 1 of the

Schedule to the Act:

Brazeau #2 TAU hydro

(2) Part 2 of the

Schedule to the Act is repealed and the

Part 2 attached

to this Regulation is substituted.

PART 2

ISOLATED REGULATED GENERATING UNITS

Generating Owner Type Rating

Unit (kW)

CUL 5 APL Thermal 100

CUL 43 APL Thermal 3000

CUL 47 APL Thermal 3000

CUL 65 APL Hydro 500

CUL 66 APL Hydro 900

CUL 144 APL Thermal 10

CUL 145 APL Thermal 10

CUL 146 APL Thermal 10

CUL 147 APL Thermal 10

CUL 148 APL Thermal 10

CUL 153 APL Thermal 10

CUL 154 APL Thermal 10

CUL 155 APL Thermal 20

CUL 183 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 185 APL Thermal 150

CUL 187 APL Thermal 750

CUL 189 APL Thermal 3000

CUL 190 APL Thermal 3000

CUL 191 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 194 APL Thermal 200

CUL 195 APL Thermal 800

CUL 198 APL Thermal 2100

CUL 201 APL Thermal 50

CUL 203 APL Thermal 50

CUL 204 APL Thermal 50

CUL 205 APL Thermal 50

CUL 206 APL Thermal 50

CUL 208 APL Thermal 50

CUL 213 APL Thermal 250

CUL 214 APL Thermal 30

CUL 215 APL Thermal 30

CUL 216 APL Thermal 30

CUL 217 APL Thermal 30

CUL 218 APL Thermal 30

CUL 220 APL Thermal 20

CUL 221 APL Thermal 20

CUL 222 APL Thermal 20

CUL 226 APL Thermal 150

CUL 228 APL Thermal 150

CUL 231 APL Thermal 80

CUL 232 APL Thermal 15

CUL 238 APL Thermal 150

CUL 239 APL Thermal 150

CUL 241 APL Thermal 1085

CUL 242 APL Thermal 40

CUL 245 APL Thermal 100

CUL 246 APL Thermal 100

CUL 248 APL Thermal 100

CUL 250 APL Thermal 200

CUL 251 APL Thermal 200

CUL 252 APL Thermal 125

CUL 253 APL Thermal 125

CUL 254 APL Thermal 400

CUL 255 APL Thermal 400

CUL 256 APL Thermal 400

CUL 263 APL Thermal 100

CUL 264 APL Thermal 60

CUL 266 APL Thermal 1085

CUL 268 APL Thermal 200

CUL 269 APL Thermal 80

CUL 272 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 273 APL Thermal 40

CUL 274 APL Thermal 40

CUL 280 APL Thermal 60

CUL 281 APL Thermal 500

CUL 282 APL Thermal 325

CUL 286 APL Thermal 165

CUL 287 APL Thermal 165

CUL 291 APL Thermal 20

CUL 294 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 295 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 296 APL Thermal 160

CUL 298 APL Thermal 165

CUL 300 APL Thermal 165

CUL 301 APL Thermal 160

CUL 302 APL Thermal 250

CUL 306 APL Thermal 150

CUL 307 APL Thermal 150

CUL 308 APL Thermal 150

CUL 309 APL Thermal 150

CUL 314 APL Thermal 300

CUL 315 APL Thermal 500

CUL 318 APL Thermal 300

CUL 319 APL Thermal 300

CUL 320 APL Thermal 300

CUL 321 APL Thermal 300

CUL 323 APL Thermal 500

CUL 325 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 326 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 327 APL Thermal 200

CUL 328 APL Thermal 200

CUL 329 APL Thermal 200

CUL 330 APL Thermal 500

CUL 331 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 332 APL Thermal 150

CUL 333 APL Thermal 150

CUL 334 APL Thermal 500

CUL 335 APL Thermal 500

CUL 336 APL Thermal 500

CUL 337 APL Thermal 500

CUL 338 APL Thermal 500

CUL 339 APL Thermal 500

CUL 340 APL Thermal 500

CUL 342 APL Thermal 300

CUL 351 APL Thermal 125

CUL 358 APL Thermal 500

CUL 359 APL Thermal 500

CUL 360 APL Thermal 1400

CUL 361 APL Thermal 500

CUL 362 APL Thermal 40

CUL 363 APL Thermal 30

CUL 365 APL Thermal 750

CUL 366 APL Thermal 500

CUL 368 APL Thermal 2880

CUL 369 APL Thermal 75

CUL 373 APL Thermal 175

CUL 374 APL Thermal 300

CUL 380 APL Thermal 300

CUL 381 APL Thermal 500

CUL 382 APL Thermal 250

CUL 383 APL Thermal 250

CUL 386 APL Thermal 30

CUL 387 APL Thermal 425

CUL 388 APL Thermal 450

CUL 389 APL Thermal 71

CUL 390 APL Thermal 71

CUL 391 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 392 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 393 APL Thermal 1000

CUL 394 APL Thermal 425

CUL 395 APL Thermal 500

CUL 396 APL Thermal 300

CUL 398 APL Thermal 325

CUL 399 APL Thermal 350

------------------------------

Alberta Regulation 288/95

Gas Utilities Act

GAS UTILITIES CORE MARKET AMENDMENT REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 726/95) pursuant to

section 26.01 of the Gas Utilities Act.

1 The Gas Utilities Core Market Regulation (Alta. Reg. 44/95) is amended

by this Regulation.

Section 1(1) is amended

(

a) by repealing clause (

h) and substituting the following:

(h) "direct seller" means a person, other than a

distributor, who sells gas to a consumer or to another person who purchases

the gas as an agent of the consumer for the purposes of

section 26.01 of

the Act;

(

b) by repealing clause (

j) and substituting the following:

(j) "distributor" means the operator of a gas utility

for the distribution of gas to consumers in all or part of a municipality;

Alberta Regulation 289/95

Mines and Minerals Act

NATURAL GAS ROYALTY REGULATION, 1994

AMENDMENT REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 727/95) pursuant to

sections 5 and 37 of the Mines and Minerals Act.

1 The Natural Gas Royalty Regulation, 1994 (Alta. Reg. 351/93) is amended

by this Regulation.

Section 30(2) is amended by striking out "1995" and substituting

"1997".

------------------------------

Alberta Regulation 290/95

Municipal Government Act

MUNICIPAL GAS SYSTEMS CORE MARKET AMENDMENT REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 729/95) pursuant to

section 31 of the Municipal Government Act.

1 The Municipal Gas Systems Core Market Regulation (Alta. Reg. 45/95) is

amended by this Regulation.

Section 1(1)(

h) is repealed and the following is substituted:

(h) "direct seller" means a person, other than a distributor, who

sells gas to a consumer or to another person who purchases the gas as an

agent of the consumer for the purposes of

section 31 of the Act;

Alberta Regulation 291/95

Government Organization Act

STORAGE TANK SYSTEM MANAGEMENT REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 737/95) pursuant to

Schedule 10,

section 2 of the Government Organization Act.

Table of Contents

Definitions 1

Delegation 2

Authorization to collect 3

Conditions 4

Limiting legal liability 5

Appeals of actions or decisions 6

Records 7

Reporting 8

Expiry 9

Definitions

1 In this Regulation,

(a) "accredited corporation" means an accredited corporation as

defined in the Safety Codes Act authorized to administer the Safety Codes

Act with respect to the things, processes and activities described in

section 2(1), (2) and (3) of this Regulation;

(b) "accredited municipality" means an accredited municipality as

defined in the Safety Codes Act authorized to administer the Safety Codes

Act with respect to the things, processes and activities described in

section 2(1), (2) and (3) of this Regulation;

(c) "Act" means the Government Organization Act;

(d) "Administrative Agreement" means a written agreement between

the Minister and the Association entitled Administrative Agreement;

(e) "Administrator" means Administrator as defined in the Safety

Codes Act;

(f) "Alberta Fire Code" means the Alberta Fire Code 1992 declared

in force by the Alberta Fire Code Regulation, 1992 (Alta. Reg. 204/92);

(g) "Association" means the Petroleum Tank Management Association

of Alberta incorporated under the Societies Act;

(h) "Fire Authority" means the Fire Commissioner or a person

authorized by him in writing to act on his behalf;

(i) "Fire Commissioner" means an employee of the Government

designated as the Fire Commissioner by the Deputy Minister;

(j) "Freedom of Information Co-ordinator" means an employee of the

Government designated by the Deputy Minister as a Freedom of Information

Co-ordinator;

(k) "Minister" means Minister as defined in the Safety Codes Act,

and the Deputy Minister means the Deputy of that Minister;

(l) "rules" means rules made by the Association under

section 3 of

Schedule 10 of the Act;

(m) "safety codes officer" means a safety codes officer as defined

in the Safety Codes Act, a Fire Authority, an inspector or Fire Chief, as

defined in the Alberta Fire Code;

(n) "Senior Technical Officer" means an employee of the Government

designated as the Senior Technical Officer, Fire Standards by the Deputy

Minister;

(o) "storage tank system" means a storage tank system as defined in

the Alberta Fire Code and includes storage tanks and underground storage

tank systems as defined in the Alberta Fire Code.

Delegation

2(1) Subject to subsection (5), all the powers, duties and functions of

the Senior Technical Officer with respect to the following are delegated to

the Association:

(

a) the approval of materials, systems, equipment and procedures

concerning storage tank systems referred to in

Part 4 of the Alberta Fire

Code, pursuant to Subsection 1.1.2. of the Alberta Fire Code;

(

b) the approval of personnel, referred to in Sentence 4.1.2.(1) of

the Alberta Fire Code, permitted to install, test, maintain, alter,

upgrade, remove or dispose of storage tank systems referred to in

Part 4 of

the Alberta Fire Code.

(2) Subject to subsection (5), all the powers, duties and functions of the

Fire Commissioner with respect to the following are delegated to the

Association:

(

a) the acceptance, pursuant to Subsection 1.1.3. of the Alberta

Fire Code of results of tests based on test standards other than those

described in the Alberta Fire Code for storage tank systems;

(

b) the review of plans, drawings and specifications for storage

tank systems submitted pursuant to Clause 4.1.1.2.(2)(

b) of the Alberta

Fire Code;

(

c) the granting of permission to abandon a storage tank pursuant

Article 4.10.3.2. of the Alberta Fire Code.

(3) Subject to subsection (5), all the powers, duties and functions of a

safety codes officer pursuant to

Article 4.1.1.3. of the Alberta Fire Code

with respect to the following are delegated to the Association:

(

a) the establishment, pursuant to

Article 1.1.4.2. of the Alberta

Fire Code, of longer intervals between inspections and tests concerning

storage tank systems referred to in

Part 4 of the Alberta Fire Code;

(

b) the receiving of notification with respect to the following:

(

i) a leak or a spill of a flammable liquid or a

combustible liquid pursuant to Clause 4.1.9.1.(4)(

b) and

Article 4.3.17.2.

of the Alberta Fire Code;

(ii) the taking out of service of underground storage

tanks for a period exceeding 180 days pursuant to

Article 4.10.2.1. of the

Alberta Fire Code;

(iii) the reactivation of above ground storage tanks

pursuant to Sentence 4.10.4.2.(4) of the Alberta Fire Code;

(iv) the reactivation of underground storage tanks for

the storage of flammable liquids or combustible liquids pursuant to

Sentence 4.10.2.1.(4) of the Alberta Fire Code;

(

v) the removal or abandonment of underground storage

tank systems that have no further use or have been out of service for more

than 2 years pursuant to Articles 4.10.3.1. and 4.10.3.2. of the Alberta

Fire Code;

(

c) the assignment of site sensitivity classifications pursuant to

Article 4.3.8.1. of the Alberta Fire Code.

(4) All the powers, duties and functions of an Administrator under

Part 2

of the Administration and Information Systems Regulation (Alta Reg. 55/95)

are delegated to the Association.

(5) The delegations under subsections (1), (2) and (3) do not apply within

the boundaries of an accredited municipality or within the geographical

area where an accredited corporation has jurisdiction.

(6) The Association is authorized to provide advice, with the consent of

the Minister, to the Minister on the powers, duties and functions delegated

under this Regulation.

Authorization to collect

3 The Association is authorized

(

a) to impose, with the approval of the Minister, assessments, fees

and charges, and

(

b) to collect money by the levy of assessments, fees and charges,

with respect to the powers, duties and functions delegated to it under this

Regulation on persons who apply for or are provided services, materials or

programs, including but not restricted to providing information, issuing a

permit, certificate or other thing or to notifying, filing with, or

registering any thing with, the Association.

Conditions

4(1) The delegation of powers, duties and functions under

section 2 is

subject to the following conditions:

(

a) the Association must exercise its powers and authorizations and

perform the duties and functions delegated to it by this Regulation in

accordance with the Administrative Agreement;

(

b) the Association must comply with this Regulation;

(

c) neither the Association nor its employees or agents may lay an

information to prosecute any person under the Safety Codes Act, or

regulations under that Act, without the consent of an Administrator in the

fire discipline;

(

d) subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

Act, any confidential information acquired by the Association, its

directors, officers, employees and agents in the course of carrying out

their powers, duties and functions under this Regulation shall not be

disclosed or made known to any other person, except as is necessary to

carry out those powers, duties and functions;

(

e) if a request for information is made to the Association under

the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the request must

be directed to the Freedom of Information Co-ordinator and the Association

must respond to the request as instructed by the Co-ordinator;

(

f) the Association must designate a person to be responsible for

freedom of information matters and matters related to records management;

(

g) all computer software and systems used or developed by the

Association for the carrying out of its powers, duties and functions under

this Regulation or the Administrative Agreement, the information on the

software and systems and anything generated or capable of generation by

them is owned by the Government of Alberta.

(2) All money received by the Association under the authority of this

Regulation must be recorded and accounted for in accordance with generally

accepted accounting principles, and receipts for money received must be

provided on request of the person paying the money.

(3) The Association is authorized to use the money collected by it under

this Regulation to pay costs incurred in carrying out its powers, duties

and functions under this Regulation.

Limiting legal liability

5(1) No action lies against the Association or all or any of its

directors, officers, agents or employees for anything done or not done by

any of them in good faith while carrying out their powers, duties and

functions under this Regulation.

(2) The Association and its directors, officers, employees and agents are

not liable for any damage caused by a decision related to the system of

inspections, examinations, evaluations and investigations, including but

not limited to a decision relating to their frequency and how they are

carried out.

(3) If the Association engages the services of an accredited agency under

the Safety Codes Act to carry out its powers, duties and functions under

this Regulation, the Association is not liable for any negligence or

nuisance by the accredited agency that causes an injury, loss or damage to

any person or property.

Appeals of actions or decisions

6(1) Pursuant to

section 2(1)(

e) of

Schedule 10 of the Act, a person

affected by an action taken or decision made by the Association or its

agents, directors, officers or employees in relation to the carrying out of

functions and concerning a matter related to this Regulation or the

Administrative Agreement but not governed by

section 46 of the Safety Codes

Act may request in writing that the Minister review the action or decision.

(2) The Minister may decide whether to hear an appeal under subsection

(1).

(3) On hearing an appeal, the Minister may confirm, vary or revoke the

action or decision that is the subject-matter of the appeal.

(4) A decision made by the Minister with respect to an appeal under this

section is final.

Records

7(1) All records in the custody or under the control of the Association

that are required in the carrying out of its powers, duties and functions

under this Regulation must be managed, maintained and destroyed in

accordance with subsection (2) and

(

a) the Records Management Regulation (Alta. Reg. 57/95), or

(

b) a regulation that replaces the Records Management Regulation

(Alta. Reg. 57/95).

(2) The following conditions apply to the records described in subsection

(1):

(

a) management of the records must be under the direction of a

public records officer who is an employee under the administration of the

Minister;

(

b) the Association must designate a person to be responsible for

records management and freedom of information and privacy matters;

(

c) subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

Act, confidential information must be kept confidential, and the

Association must establish appropriate rules to that effect;

(

d) all records created or maintained in the course of carrying out

the powers, duties and functions under this Regulation become and remain

the property of the Crown in right of Alberta;

(

e) the Association must comply with the Freedom of Information and

Protection of Privacy Act in the course of carrying out its powers, duties

and functions under this Regulation;

(

f) the Association must provide to the Freedom of Information

Co-ordinator any records required under the Freedom of Information and

Protection of Privacy Act, within 7 days of a request under that Act.

Reporting

8 The Association shall report on its activities to the Minister at least

once a year, at a time and in a manner specified by the Minister as set out

in the Administration Agreement, and in accordance with

section 10 of

Schedule 10 of the Act.

Expiry

9 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for

ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be re-passed

in its present or amended form following a review, this Regulation expires

on December 31, 2000.

Alberta Regulation 292/95

Occupational Health and Safety Act

MINES SAFETY REGULATION

Filed: December 7, 1995

Made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (O.C. 740/95) pursuant to

section 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Table of Contents

Definitions 1

Part 1

General

Application 2

Availability of equipment 3

Manufacturer's and professional engineer's specifications 4,5

Availability of specifications 6

Use of copies of original specifications 7

Identification of approval on equipment 8

Certification by a professional engineer 9

Acceptances 10

Notification to Director 11

Safety of mine site buildings 12

Work site plans 13

Record retention 14

Excavating 15

Stockpiles 16

Drill operation 17

Light alloys 18

Fueling vehicles 19

Responsibilities of an equipment operator 20

Haul roads 21

Material discard 22

Walls 23

Dumping block 24

Flammable gas monitors 25

Reporting dangerous occurrences 26

Part 2

Training and Certification

Training program 27

Underground Coal Mines

Supervision 28

Board of examiners 29,30

Provisional certificates 31

Underground coal mine manager's certificate 32

Underground coal mine foreman's certificate 33

Underground coal mine electrical superintendent's certificate 34

Certificates expire 35

Part 3

Fire Prevention and Emergency Response

Emergency

Emergency response plan 36

Emergency response station or facility 37

Emergency response team 38

Team member 39

Transitional 40

Emergency response team training 41

Underground Coal Mines

Precautions against fire 42

Fireproofing of roadways 43

Conveyor transfer and loading points 44

Fire detection 45

Emergency warning system 46

Evacuation procedures and instructions 47

Fire fighting equipment 48

Fire extinguishers 49

Fire fighting training 50

Fire fighting plans 51

Water supply requirements 52

Fire hydrants 53

Refuge stations 54

Part 4

Electrical

Definitions 55

Electrical standards 56

Notification 57

Installation records 58

Installation and repair 59

Electrical apparatus used in an underground coal mine 60

Supply systems for mobile electrical equipment 61

Batteries 62

Overhead lines for moveable switch houses 63

Ground fault protection 64

Switchgear 65

Grounding 66

Electric welding 67

Hand held electric drills 68

Part 5

Rubber-tired, Self-propelled Mobile Equipment

Definitions 69

Application 70

Braking systems 71,72

Emergency energy 73

Hydraulics 74

Dual system 75

Emergency brakes 76

Air brakes 77

Auxiliary air reservoirs 78

Air brakes 79

Parking brakes 80

Annual brake test 81

Auxiliary steering 82

Auxiliary pump 83

Auxiliary steering standards 84

Design of equipment 85

Records 86

Clearance lights 87

Obstructed view 88

Lights 89

Diesel-powered equipment 90

Clearances 91

Unattended vehicles 92

Part 6

Conveyors

Fire 93

Stopping 94

Travelling room 95

Belt cleaning 96

Clearances 97

Riding conveyor belts 98

Crossing conveyor belts 99

Dust 100

Examination 101

CO monitors 102

Conveyor roads 103

Part 7

Explosives

Definitions 104

Blasters' Certificates

Certified worker 105

Quarries/coal certificates 106

Underground blaster's certificate 107

Surface blaster's certificate 108

Certificate expires 109

Suspension, cancellation 110

Storage and Control of Explosives

Storage in magazines 111

Location and construction of magazines 112

Certification and location 113

Illumination of magazines 114

Storage 115

Authorized access 116

Removal from magazine 117

Priority of use 118

Containers 119

Magazine record 120

Operational procedures 121

Theft of explosives 122

Transportation of Explosives on a Mine Site

Supervision 123

Open flames 124

Vehicle 125

Precipitation protection 126

Original packaging 127

Transport of detonators 128

Vehicle breakdown 129

Operational Precautions

Manufacturer's specifications 130

Unsafe explosives 131

Blasting apparatus and keys 132

Blast area control 133

Entering blasting areas 134

Duties of a blaster 135

Non-sparking tools 136

Blasting wires 137

Blasting machines control 138

Undetonated or Abandoned Explosives

Unused explosives 139

Misfires 140

Misfire procedures 141

Explosive found 142

Drilling precautions 143

Equipment for testing and initiation 144

Blasting apparatus 145

Circuit testing 146

Circuit requirements 147

Secondary blasting 148

Surface Mines

Blast area 149

Blast holes 150

Electrical storm 151

Detonating cord procedures 152

Ignition precautions 153

Safety fuses 154

Electromagnetic radiation 155

Overhead power lines 156

Electric cables and wires 157

Electric blasting 158

Burning explosives 159

Misfire 160

Drilling near explosives 161

Storage in the mine 162

Blasting warning 163

Charged holes 164

Explosives in Underground Mines and Tunnels

Permitted explosives 165

Electric conveyances 166

Shaft conveyance 167

Transport underground 168

Drilling precautions 169

Duties of a blaster 170

Blasting cable 171

Delay detonator 172

Same manufacturer 173

Series connection 174

Water 175

Stemming 176

Round 177

Misfires 178

Misfire detonation 179

Leaving a misfire 180

Compressed air coal breaking 181

Shock blasting 182

Surface shots 183

Permanent firing station 184

Secondary blasting 185

Part 8

Underground Mines

Application 186

Definitions 187

Workers

Mine manager 188

Qualifications 189

Foreman 190

Mine surveyor 191

Unsafe conditions 192

Shift change 193

Record of workers 194

Self rescuers 195

Plans

Annual mining plans 196

Contraband

Smoking materials 197

Forbidden materials 198

Working alone 199

Combined operations 200

Propane installations 201

Bulk storage 202

Communications 203

Portal structures 204

Outlets 205

Escape ways 206,207

Man holes 208

Vehicles

Underground filling stations 209

Diesel fuel 210

Control levers 211

Support of Roof and Sides

Support of roof and sides 212

Extractions 213

Safe operating procedure (support) 214

Removal of roof supports 215

Ventilation System

Ventilation system 216

Air velocity 217

Return 218

Doors 219

Stoppings 220

Seals 221

Chutes 222

Splits 223

Fans 224

Reverse flow 225

Proximity to mine opening 226

Booster fans 227

Auxiliary fans 228

Brattice, vent tubes 229

Fan operating procedures 230

Stopping fan 231

Ventilation monitoring 232

Cross-cuts 233

Splits 234

Shift inspections 235

Gas 236

Diesel vehicles roads 237

Degassing procedures 238

Gas removal 239

Unused areas 240

Sealed off areas 241

Combustible gas detectors 242

Gas Detectors on Coal Getting Machines

Detector on machine 243

Detector breakdown 244

Roof bolting 245

Gas detectors authorization 246

Airborne dust 247

Lasers 248

Rock dusting 249

Dust sampling 250

Certified barriers 251

Explosion barrier placement 252

Welding, Cutting and Soldering

Welding, cutting and soldering 253

Pillars 254

Drill holes 255

Water or gas 256

Part 9

Fees, Repeal and Commencement

Fees 257

Repeal 258

Coming into force 259

Expiry 260

Schedules

Definitions

1 In this Regulation,

(a) "acceptance" means a written instrument issued pursuant to

section 10;

(b) "Act" means the Occupational Health and Safety Act;

(c) "approved", in relation to a type of equipment and a named

organization or standard, means of a description that is approved or

certified by that organization as meeting those standards or specifications

of the organization that are applicable to that type of equipment, or,

where applicable, the named standard;

(d) "Canadian Electrical Code" means the current edition of the

Canadian Electrical Code,

Part 1 CSA Standard C22.1 as varied and declared

in force pursuant to the Safety Codes Act;

(e) "certified by a professional engineer" means stamped and signed

by a professional engineer as described in

section 9;

(f) "competent", in relation to a worker, means a worker who is

adequately qualified, suitably trained and with sufficient experience, to

safely perform work that is the subject-matter of the relevant provision of

this regulation without or with only a minimal degree of supervision;

(g) "CSA" means the Canadian Standards Association;

(h) "Director" means the Director of Inspection whose duties

include mines;

(i) "discard" means presently unusable solid or liquid materials

that are removed or rejected during mining or processing operations and

that may be of future use;

(j) "equipment" means any man-made device or anything used to equip

workers at a work site, and includes machinery and sanitary facilities;

(k) "flammable liquid" means a liquid of Class I as prescribed in

the National Fire Protection Association International (Boston,

Massachusetts) Standard 321-1976, "Basic Classification of Flammable and

Combustible Liquids";

(l) "harmful substance" means a substance that by its nature,

application or presence creates or could create a danger to the health or

safety of any worker exposed to it;

(m) "hazardous locations" has the same meaning as in the Canadian

Electrical Code;

(n) "kVA" means kilovolt amperes;

(o) "locked out" means in a condition that prevents the movement of

a control device to the operating or on position by means of a lockout

device comprised of a mechanism or arrangement that maintains the control

device in a non-operating or off position;

(p) "lower explosive limit" or "LEL" means the lowest value of the

concentration of a substance suspended in the air within which the

suspended substance may ignite;

(q) "machinery" means any combination of mechanical parts that

transmit from one part to another or otherwise modifies force, motion or

energy that arises from hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical or electrical

reactions;

(r) "manufacturer's specifications" means the written

specifications, instructions or recommendations, if any, of the

manufacturer of equipment, that outline how the equipment is to be erected,

installed, assembled, started, operated, used, handled, stored, stopped,

adjusted, maintained, repaired or dismantled, and includes a manufacturer's

instruction, operating and maintenance manual or drawings for that

equipment;

(s) "material" means any substance that may be taken from or into a

mine and includes coal, rock and other matter from the earth and includes

equipment and supplies;

(t) "mine" means a working, other than a drill hole made while

exploring for a mineral, from which a mineral is or could be extracted,

whether commercially or otherwise;

(u) "mine entrance" means a surface entrance to an underground

mine;

(v) "mine foreman" means an underground coal mine foreman;

(w) "mine manager" means an underground coal mine manager;

(x) "mine official" means a mine manager or mine foreman qualified

in accordance with this Regulation;

(y) "mine site" means a location at which a facility for extracting

a mineral by underground, strip or open pit operations exists or is to be

developed, and includes

(

i) a mineral processing plant, storage facility or

discard disposal facility that exists or is to be developed in connection

with a mine, and

(ii) all connected access roads;

(z) "open pit mine" means a mine worked by removal of over-lying

strata and subsequent excavation of exposed coal in terrain that is not

flat or substantially flat;

(aa) "open stockpile" means a stockpile that is open to the

atmosphere and accessible to workers;

(bb) "plan" means a map, including any profile or section, of a mine

or part of a mine, certified by the mine surveyor to be correct;

(cc) "portal" means the structure used to support the ground and

protect workers where outlets, other than vertical shafts, reach the

surface and includes the structures erected at the surface and for a

distance underground of 30 metres;

(dd) "powered mobile equipment" means equipment that is fitted with

a source of power that has the ability to move by means of the source of

power;

(ee) "processing plant" means a facility for the cleaning, sizing

and preparing of raw coal for sale or use;

(ff) "professional engineer" means a person who holds a certificate

of registration to engage in the practice of engineering, geology or

geophysics under the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions

Act and is a member or licensee in good standing of the Association of

Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta;

(gg) "specifications", in relation to a professional engineer or an

employer, includes the written instructions, procedures, drawings or other

documentation of a professional engineer or employer or certified by a

professional engineer and relating to equipment or a work process or

operation;

(hh) "stockpile" means a storage pile of mineral or other material

to be recovered at a later time;

(ii) "surface mine" means a mine worked by strip mining, open pit

mining or other surface method, including auger mining;

(jj) "tunnel" means an underground passage having an incline of less

than 45 from the horizontal plane;

(kk) "underground mine" means a mine other than a surface mine;

(ll) "underground shaft" means an underground passage having an

incline of 45 or more from the horizontal plane that is used primarily for

the transportation of workers or materials, and includes a drilled or bored

pile or caisson;

(mm) "vehicle" means a device, including powered mobile equipment,

in, on or by which a person or thing may be transported or drawn;

(nn) "wall" means the exposed face of an excavation in a surface

mine from ground level to the working level;

(oo) "work area" means a place on a work site where a worker is or

may be during his work or during a work break;

(pp) "working face" means the surface from which mineable material,

overburden or waste material is being removed;

(qq) "working place" means any part of a mine worked or actively

maintained in connection with a mining program, and includes all working

faces;

(rr) "workings" means the place where mineral or other naturally

occuring material is excavated for any purpose.

PART 1

GENERAL

Application

2(1) If a provision of this Regulation imposes a duty on an employer or

worker, the duty shall be treated as applying to circumstances and things

that are within the employer or worker's area of occupational

responsibility.

(2) If

(

a) a provision of this Regulation imposes a duty on an employer

with respect to the design, construction, erection or installation of

equipment, and

(

b) the equipment is erected or installed by or on behalf of a

contractor,

then, notwithstanding that this Regulation imposes the duty on the

employer, that contractor shall comply with the provision as if the

provision were directly imposed on a contractor.

(3) If

(

a) a provision of this Regulation imposes a duty on an employer,

contractor or a prime contractor with respect to the erection, installation

or provision of any equipment, harmful substance or hazardous material, and

(

b) the equipment, substance or material is erected, installed or

provided by a supplier

then, notwithstanding that this Regulation imposes the duty of the

employer, contractor or prime contractor, that supplier shall comply with

the provision as if the provision were directly imposed on a supplier.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not relieve an employer, contractor or

prime contractor from any responsibility under this Regulation.

Availability of equipment

3 If this Regulation requires a worker who performs an activity to use or

wear equipment that is specified by this Regulation, his employer shall

ensure that there is available at the work site all the equipment that is

necessary to enable the worker to perform the activity in accordance with

this Regulation.

Manufacturer's and professional engineer's specifications

4 If this Regulation requires work to be done in accordance with a

manufacturer's specifications or specifications certified by a professional

engineer, an employer shall ensure that the workers responsible for the

work are made aware of the existence and purpose of those specifications.

Manufacturer's and professional engineer's specifications

5(1) If this Regulation requires anything to be done in accordance with a

manufacturer's specifications, an employer may, instead of complying

strictly with the manufacturer's specifications, comply with those

specifications as modified, if that modification has been certified by a

professional engineer.

(2) If anything concerning equipment is required by this Regulation to be

done in accordance with manufacturer's specifications which cannot be

ascertained, an employer shall instead

(

a) have the equipment certified by a professional engineer at

least every 12 months, or

(

b) have a written

schedule of procedures, designed to ensure that

the thing is done in a safe manner, certified by a professional engineer.

(3) If this Regulation requires anything to be done in accordance with a

manufacturer's specifications, in the absence of such specifications the

employer shall employ a professional engineer to prescribe those

specifications, and those specifications must be certified by the

professional engineer.

Availability of specifications

6 If this Regulation refers to a manufacturer's or employer's

specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer, the

employer shall ensure that during the material period the specifications

are kept readily available for inspection by an officer and workers

affected by them.

Use of copies of original specifications

7 If this Regulation requires manufacturer's or employer's specifications

or specifications certified by a professional engineer to be available for

inspection by an officer or workers, the availability of a legible copy of

those specifications is sufficient if the original is also available, in

Alberta, for inspection by an officer.

Identification of approval on equipment

8 If this Regulation requires equipment to be approved by a named

organization, an employer shall ensure that the equipment also has the

seal, stamp, logo or similar identifying mark of that organization affixed

to it to indicate the approval.

Certification by a professional engineer

9 If this Regulation requires that equipment, procedures, drawings or

specifications are to be certified by a professional engineer, the

certification shall

(

a) be written,

(

b) bear the professional engineer's stamp and signature, and

(

c) except where this Regulation requires the certification to

state something specific, state or deem to state that the equipment,

procedure or the subject-matter of the drawings or specifications is safe

to workers affected by it.

Acceptances

10(1) If a provision of this Regulation requires the use of a particular

type of equipment or service or the following of a specific or particular

work procedure, but allows alternative equipment, service or procedure that

is acceptable to the Director, the Director may, on receipt of an

application and to the extent referred to in the provision, issue an

acceptance pursuant to

section 26.1 of the Act.

(2) The application for the acceptance must provide the information about

the equipment, service or procedure so that the Director may ascertain the

degree of protection to workers afforded by it.

(3) The employer shall ensure that a copy or a record of an acceptance

issued under this

section is available for examination by an officer and is

(

a) posted at the work site,

(

b) if applicable, affixed to or kept with the equipment forming

the subject-matter of the acceptance, or

(

c) otherwise communicated to the workers who may be affected by

the acceptance.

Notification to Director

11 If this Regulation requires notification to be given to the Director,

the notification must be by the quickest practical means of communicating

with him.

Safety of mine site buildings

12 The employer shall ensure that every processing plant, facility or

building at a mine site buildings site is kept as free as practicable of

dust and cleaned sufficiently often to prevent it from becoming a health or

safety hazard.

Work site plans

13 An employer shall keep plans at the work site that include

(

a) the workings surveyed up to a date not later than 12 months

previous to the last survey,

(

b) extensions to the workings sketched in up to date not more than

3 months previous,

(

c) the general direction and inclination of the strata and

thickness of the bed or strata being worked,

(

d) the legal description of the land that makes up the operating

property, and

(

e) any portion of the rights of way for a pipeline or other

utility corridor.

Record retention

14 An employer shall ensure that records of equipment inspections and

accidents are kept for a period of 12 months.

Excavating

15 An employer at a surface mine shall ensure that

(

a) no excavating is undertaken

(

i) within 10 metres of any boundary of an operating

property,

(ii) within 20 metres of the right of way for a highway

or a thoroughfare, and

(iii) within 30 metres of oil and gas wells and the right

of way for a pipeline or other utility corridor,

and

(

b) walls of excavations are designed to ensure distances

prescribed in clause (

a) are maintained.

Stockpiles

16 An employer shall ensure that open stockpiles are constructed and

operated so that instability that could endanger workers is prevented.

Drill operation

17(1) An employer shall ensure that, when a blast hole drill, rotary drill

or other drill is used, there is a suitable means of controlling the

issuance of dust.

(2) If drilling is intermittent and dust cannot be effectively controlled,

the employer may use an alternative means of protection for the workers in

accordance with an acceptance by a Director.

Light alloys

18(1) An employer shall ensure that wherever practical no alloys that

contain light metals are taken into a hazardous location.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if equipment containing alloys that

contain light metals is taken into a hazardous location, an employer shall

ensure that the equipment has protective design features to minimize

possible incendiary friction or sparking.

(3) An employer shall ensure that aluminum alloy fan blades are not used

for underground mine ventilation fans.

Fueling vehicles

19(1) An employer shall ensure that a worker does not, and no worker

shall, refuel a vehicle while it is running.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if a manufacturer or a professional

engineer designs fueling systems and safe work practices for this purpose,

the engine may be left running during refueling.

Responsib-ilities of an equipment operator

20 A worker who operates a vehicle shall

(

a) examine and test the vehicle before putting it to use,

(

b) if any unsafe condition is noted, not use the vehicle, and

(

c) operate the equipment in accordance with the mine's safe work

practice.

Haul roads

21(1) An employer shall ensure that haul roads are built and maintained to

permit safe travel of all vehicles in regular service.

(2) An employer shall ensure that haul roads that have a gradient in

excess of 5% are provided with emergency escape roads that

(

a) are spaced throughout the length of the haul road, and

(

b) allow for a runaway vehicle to be safely brought to rest.

Material discard

22 An employer shall ensure that discard from the mine, refuse from the

plant, rock and soil from the mine operation, and mine and plant effluent

are disposed of in a manner that ensures the stability of the dump or

impoundment.

Walls

23(1) An employer shall establish and implement a plan of procedures,

certified by a professional engineer, for the safe control of walls,

including the overall slope of walls.

(2) An employer shall ensure that

(

a) undermining is not permitted in unconsolidated or blasted

material,

(

b) the working face is not more than 1.5 metres above the maximum

heights that the excavation equipment can reach,

(

c) unconsolidated material lying within 2 metres of the crest of a

working face is removed,

(

d) unconsolidated material lying more than 2 metres from the crest

of a working face is stabilized so that it does not create a hazard to

workers working near the working face, and

(

e) safety berms are constructed and maintained so that

accumulations of loose rock or other material do not create a hazard to

workers on working benches.

Dumping block

24 An employer shall ensure that, where a vehicle is discharging its load

and a hazard exists of the vehicle going over the bank or entering the dump

opening, an effective stop block is provided by

(

a) an anchored block,

(

b) a designated signaller, or

(

c) a ridge of material to act as a backstop.

Flammable gas monitors

25(1) An employer shall ensure that in a hazardous location, applicable

flammable gas monitors are installed at suitable locations.

(2) An employer shall ensure that the flammable gas monitors required

under subsection (1) will cause an alarm to sound if the content of the

atmosphere exceeds 20% of the lower explosive limit.

Reporting dangerous occurrences

26(1) An employer shall submit a report to the Director of any of the

following occurrences:

(

a) an unexpected major ground fall or subsidence that does or may

endanger persons, equipment or property;

(

b) each of the following if it affects the integrity of a

structure:

(

i) cracking or evidence of weakening or subsidence of

a dam or impoundment dike,

(ii) unexpected seepage or the appearance of springs on

the outer face of a dam or dike;

(iii) loss of adequate freeboard, washout or significant

erosion of a dam or dike;

(

c) unplanned stoppage of the main underground ventilation system,

if it lasts more than 30 minutes;

(

d) a mine vehicle going out of control;

(

e) electrical equipment failures or incidents that cause, or

threatens to cause, injury to persons or damage to equipment or property;

(

f) any other unusual accident or unexpected event that had the

potential to result in serious injury.

(2) A report under subsection (1) must

(

a) be submitted on a form prescribed by the Director, and

(

b) be forwarded to the Director at the end of the month in which

an occurrence takes place.

PART 2

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

Training program

27 An employer shall establish and maintain training programs to ensure

that all workers receive thorough orientation and basic instruction in safe

work practices and in any special skills necessary to perform safely any

work they are assigned.

Underground Coal Mines

Supervision

28 An employer at an underground coal mine shall ensure that every worker

employed underground is under the supervision of a worker who is the holder

of an underground coal mine manager's certificate or underground coal mine

foreman's certificate.

Board of examiners

29(1) The board of examiners shall consist of the Director and other

members appointed by the Minister from the following groups:

(

a) workers who do not perform managerial functions, have at least

5 years of underground mining experience and are currently employed at an

underground coal mine;

(

b) workers who perform managerial functions at an underground mine

and are the holders of underground coal mine managers' certificates;

(

c) other groups of persons.

(2) The Director shall act as the chairman of the board of examiners.

(3) The appointment of a person to the board shall be for a term

determined by the Minister.

(4) The fees and expenses payable to persons serving on the board shall

be in an amount determined by the Minister.

(5) The chairman and « the number of appointed members constitute a

quorum of the board.

Board of examiners

30(1) The board of examiners shall

(

a) determine the eligibility and qualification requirements for

candidates applying for any certificate required by this Regulation,

(

b) conduct examinations of candidates seeking certificates, and

(

c) recommend to the Director candidates to whom a certificate

should be issued.

(2) The board of examiners may recommend to the Director that a

certificate be issued to a candidate who holds a similar certificate

granted by another jurisdiction if the board is satisfied that the standard

of training and examination is equivalent to that required for the granting

of a certificate under this Regulation.

Provisional certificates

31(1) The Director may grant a provisional certificate to a worker who

(

a) is qualified to apply under this Regulation for an examination

for the certificate, and

(

b) satisfies the Director regarding his knowledge of the Act and

this Regulation as they apply to the type of provisional certificate

applied for.

(2) A provisional certificate granted under subsection (1) shall

(

a) be for a period of not more than 18 months from the date of its

issue and be subject to cancellation at any time,

(

b) be valid only at the mine specified on the certificate, and

(

c) not be renewable after the expiry date unless the holder

satisfies the Director

(

i) that he is progressing through a course of study to

the satisfaction of the Director, or

(ii) that he was unable because of exceptional

circumstances to present himself for examination on the dates set.

Underground coal mine manager's certificate

32 No worker shall hold or be issued an underground coal mine manager's

certificate unless the worker is a graduate in mining engineering from a

university or college recognized by the board of examiners and has had

experience in underground coal mining totalling not less than 5 years

including one year in work at the working face or has had 10 years of

experience in underground coal mining including 2 years of work at the

working face and the worker either

(

a) is the holder of a valid first aid certificate and has training

and knowledge in underground mine rescue procedures, or

(

b) has other training and experience acceptable to the board of

examiners.

Underground coal mine foreman's certificate

33 No worker shall hold or be issued an underground coal mine foreman's

certificate unless the worker

(

a) has had experience totalling not less than 5 years in an

underground coal mine including one year of working at the working face or

its equivalent,

(

b) has knowledge in blasting procedures,

(

c) qualifies as a first aider 1 under the First Aid Regulation,

1981 (Alta. Reg. 299/81),

(

d) has training and qualifications in underground mine rescue

procedures, or

(

e) has other training and experience acceptable to the Board of

Examiners.

Underground coal mine electrical super-intendent's certificate

34 No worker shall hold or be issued an underground coal mine electrical

superintendent's certificate unless

(

a) the worker is a graduate in electrical engineering from a

university or college recognized by the board of examiners and has at least

2 years' experience in underground mining,

(

b) the worker has an Alberta electrical journeyman's certificate,

or has an out-of-province electrical journeyman's certificate containing an

interprovincial standards red seal and

(

i) has had 3 years of electrical experience in

underground coal mining or its equivalent, or

(ii) has had 4 years of electrical experience including

one year in underground coal mining,

(

c) has other training and experience acceptable to the board of

examiners.

Certificates expire

35(1) Certificates issued under sections 32, 33 and 34 expire 5 years

after the date of issue.

(2) A manager's certificate for underground mining issued under the Coal

Mines Safety Act is continued as an underground coal mine manager's

certificate under this Regulation.

(3) A foreman's certificate for underground mines issued under the Coal

Mines Safety Act is continued as an underground coal mine foreman's

certificate under this Regulation.

(4) An electrical superintendent's certificate issued under the Coal Mines

Safety Act is continued as an underground coal mine electrical

superintendent's certificate under this Regulation.

(5) Certificates described in subsections (2) to (4) expires on March 31,

PART 3

FIRE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Emergency

Emergency response plan

36(1) An employer shall establish an emergency response plan for

responding to a fire, explosion or other emergency in a mine and the plan

shall include

(

a) identification of potential emergencies,

(

b) identification, availability and operational procedures for

equipment,

(

c) emergency response training requirements,

(

d) location and use of emergency facilities,

(

e) fire protection requirements,

(

f) emergency communication requirements, and

(

g) first aid services.

(2) The emergency response plan required under subsection (1) shall be

written and kept up-to-date.

Emergency response station or facility

37(1) An employer shall establish, maintain and operate an emergency

response station and provide facilities for the conduct of rescue

operations and other emergency work at a mine, unless exempted by the

Director.

(2) If an emergency response station has been established under subsection

(1), an employer shall ensure that

(

a) adequate rescue equipment and apparatus is available for

immediate use, and

(

b) a sufficient number of persons are trained in the use and

maintenance of rescue equipment and apparatus.

Emergency response team

38(1) An employer shall establish an emergency response team, unless

exempted by the Director.

(2) If an emergency response team is established under subsection (1), an

employer shall appoint a qualified person to be responsible for training

team members.

Team member

39 An employer shall ensure that no worker is a member of an emergency

response team unless the worker

(

a) is competent to perform the tasks assigned,

(

b) is medically fit to perform emergency response related

functions,

(

c) qualifies as a first aider 1 under the First Aid Regulation,

1981 (Alta. Reg. 299/81), and

(

d) has completed training acceptable to the Director.

Transitional

40 The holder of an underground, or surface, mine rescue certificate or a

mine rescue training instructor's certificate issued under the Coal Mines

Safety Act is deemed to have completed a training course acceptable to the

Director under

section 39.

Emergency response team training

41 An employer shall ensure that members of an emergency response team

(

a) practice on a regular basis and that no more than 2 months

elapse between practices, and

(

b) make periodic tours of the workings of the mine site for the

purpose of maintaining familiarity with the mine layout and the location of

means of entry into and egress from the working places.

Underground Coal Mines

Precautions against fire

42 An employer at an underground coal mine shall ensure that

(

a) no flammable liquid in excess of 700 litres is stored at any

place in a mine except in a fireproof receptacle or chamber,

(

b) no paper or material of a kind likely to cause fire is

permitted to accumulate in any working part of a mine except in fireproof

containers to be removed and disposed of at regular intervals,

(

c) no flammable material is used in the construction of an engine

room or chamber in which stationary compressors or other stationary

equipment in excess of 400 kilowatts is installed,

(

d) no tarred building paper or paper of any kind is used for

construction in any mine,

(

e) all underground portals, main fan installations, booster fan

installations, ventilation air crossings, and stoppings, regulators and

doors are constructed of non-flammable material, or are treated to make

them fire resistant,

(

f) equipment that is brought into an underground coal mine after

March 31, 1999 except for axles, fluid couplings and brake systems, use

fire resistant hydraulic fluids that conform to CAN/CSA - M423-8M87,

(

g) unattended belt conveyor transfer points are equipped with

automatic fire warning devices,

(

h) propane is not used in an underground mine except for use in

mine heaters in portal structures, and

(

i) if concentrations of dust occur that may be hazardous,

dust-suppression devices are used.

Fireproofing of roadways

43 At each place where a conveyor transfer or loading point is installed

in an underground coal mine, an employer shall ensure that all parts of the

roadway support and lining extending from at least 5 metres on the intake

side to at least 10 metres on the return side of the complete installation

is constructed of fire resistant materials, or with the minimum of

combustible materials, which when practical have been treated with a fire

resistant coating.

Conveyor transfer and loading points

44 An employer at an underground coal mine shall ensure that

(

a) a clearance is maintained between the bottom rollers of belt

conveyors and the floor of the roadway to permit removal of combustible

material, and

(

b) if the clearance is obtained by mounting the conveyor on

pillars, the pillars are of non-flammable material.

Fire detection

45(1) An employer at an underground coal mine shall ensure that there is

installed an automatic fire detection system that automatically activates

an alarm if it becomes inoperative.

(2) A Director may direct that, at a specific location in a mine, a fire

detection system be installed.

Emergency warning system

46 An employer at an underground coal mine shall

(

a) establish an effective emergency warning system for warning all

workers of an emergency requiring prompt evacuation of their work place,

and

(

b) ensure that the emergency warning system is tested at least

every 12 months.

Evacuation procedures and instructions

47 An employer at an underground coal mine shall

(

a) prepare procedures for the safe evacuation of the mine in the

event of a fire,

(

b) post copies of the procedure in conspicuous places at the

surface and underground, and

(

c) ensure that each worker

(

i) receives instruction in the procedures prepared

under clause (a),

(ii) recognizes the emergency warning system, and

(iii) is familiar with the emergency escape routes from

the mine.

Fire fighting equipment

48 An employer at an underground coal mine shall ensure that fire

fighting equipment

(

a) is provided and maintained in or near every structure that

covers an underground working at a mine where fire may endanger life,

(

b) is provided at all underground locations where a fire hazard

may exist,

(

c) is located so that if there is a fire, the direction of the

mine ventilation air flow will not prevent or hamper the effective use of

the fire fighting equipment,

(

d) is inspected once each month,

(

e) except for fire extinguishers, is tested once every 3 months,

and

(

f) is maintained in operating condition at all times.

Fire extinguishers

49 An employer at an underground coal mine shall ensure that at least 2

suitable fire extinguishers are located at each stationary electric or

diesel motor and transformer, and at any switch gear in use in an

underground coal mine.

Fire fighting training

50(1) An employer at an underground coal mine shall ensure that training

in fire fighting is carried out under the direction of a competent person.

(2) An employer shall ensure that

(

a) all workers newly employed at a mine receive training in the

use of fire fighting equipment during the first 3 months of employment,

(

b) all workers continually employed underground receive a

practical course in the use of fire fighting equipment at least every 2

years, and

(

c) a training record is maintained of all drills and practices,

and the names of workers attending fire fighting equipment training.

Fire fighting plans

51 An employer shall ensure that a fire fighting plan is developed and

maintained and that the plan

(

a) shows the position of all fire fighting pipelines, hydrant

valves, fire stations and fire cabinets,

(

b) is reviewed at intervals not exceeding 3 months and updated as

required, and

(

c) is readily available in the case of an emergency.

Water supply requirements

52 An employer shall ensure that the water supply meets the following

requirements:

(

a) that the supply is not less than 100 cubic metres so that water

is available in an adequate volume and at the pressure necessary to conduct

fire fighting operations;

(

b) if electric pumps are required to secure the water supply, that

a standby pumping system whose prime mover is not dependent on the main

electrical system is provided;

(

c) that the main fire fighting water supply is not located in a

return air roadway.

Fire hydrants

53(1) An employer at an underground mine shall ensure that fire hydrants

meet the requirements of this

section and are located

(

a) on the intake side of conveyor loading and transfer points and

main junctions,

(

b) along fire ranges so that the distance between fire hydrants

does not exceed 100 metres,

(

c) at suitable central points to room and pillar workings, and

(

d) in close proximity to long wall faces.

(2) In close proximity to each fire hydrant required under subsection (1),

there must be

(

a) a nozzle of 38 millimetres minimum internal diameter,

(

b) sufficient lengths of hose

(

i) to cover the distance between each hydrant, and

(ii) with a minimum internal diameter of 38 millimetres

and a working pressure of 1000 kilopascals.

(3) Fire hydrants must be capable of delivering a flow of not less than 4

litres per second.

Refuge stations

54(1) An employer shall ensure that refuge stations that meet the

requirements of this

section are provided within the mine, unless exempted

by the Director.

(2) A refuge station must

(

a) have water, air and an effective communication system with the

surface, and

(

b) be separated from adjoining workings by closeable openings

arranged and equipped so that gases can be prevented from entering the

refuge station.

PART 4

ELECTRICAL

Definitions

55 In this Part,

(a) "authorized worker" means a competent worker whose duties

require the worker to operate electrical equipment and who has been

instructed or authorized to do so by the employer;

(b) "mobile equipment" means equipment capable of being moved under

its own power or by being pulled or carried and not intended to be affixed

to land;

(c) "portable power cables" means portable trailing cables as

specified in the applicable sections of the CSA Standard CAN/CSA-M421-93

Use of Electricity in Mines.

Electrical standards

56 Unless modified by this Part, an employer shall ensure that the

installation, maintenance and operation of electrical equipment complies

with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-M421-93 Use of Electricity in Mines.

Notification

57(1) An employer shall notify a Director prior to

(

a) placing and using electrical energy at any mine,

(

b) increasing an existing installation by more than 500 kVA, or

(

c) placing, installing or modifying any electrical equipment, in

an underground coal mine or a hazardous location.

(2) The system referred to in subsection (1)(

a) and (

c) shall not be

energized until written approval has been obtained from a Director.

(3) The notification referred to in subsection (1) shall show the parts of

the mine where the electrical energy is to be transmitted and used.

Installation records

58 A record of installations of electrical equipment shall be kept at the

mine for 2 years and be available for inspection by an officer.

Installation and repair

59(1) The employer shall ensure that electrical installations, repairs and

changes are made only by an authorized worker.

(2) The employer shall ensure that at any place in an underground coal

mine or in a hazardous location in a surface mine where flammable gas could

accumulate, the repair, adjustment or replacement of electrical equipment

is only carried out

(

a) after the equipment has been disconnected from the power supply

and is electrically dead, and

(

b) when the electrician doing the work is satisfied that no

dangerous concentration of flammable gas is present.

(3) The employer shall ensure that all electrical equipment used in a

hazardous location is approved for use in such a location and for the

specific gas, vapour or dust that is or may be present.

Electrical apparatus used in an underground coal mine

60 An employer shall ensure that

(

a) if an electrical apparatus is used in an underground coal mine,

it is operated only after approval of the mine electrical superintendent,

and

(

b) electrical installations, re-installation, repairs, maintenance

and testing are done under the supervision of an underground coal mine

electrical superintendent.

Supply systems for mobile electrical equipment

61(1) The employer shall ensure that supply systems for mobile electrical

equipment are tested before being put into service and at least once a year

thereafter, in order to ensure the effectiveness of the ground fault

tripping and the ground conductor monitoring circuits.

(2) The employer shall ensure that a record of the tests required under

subsection (1) are made and the record is kept at the mine for 2 years

after the test.

(3) The employer shall ensure that the records under subsection (2) are

available for examination by an officer.

Batteries

62(1) The employer shall ensure that installation of surface storage

battery rooms and battery charging stations meet the requirements of

sections 5 and 6 of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-M421-93 Use of Electricity in

Mines.

(2) The employer shall ensure that in an underground mine, battery

charging stations are

(

a) ventilated by intake air to ensure the diffusion of gases and

discharge directly into the return airway, and

(

b) approved by the Director.

(3) An employer shall ensure that repairs to batteries are not carried out

in an underground coal mine or other hazardous location.

Overhead lines for moveable switch houses

63 The employer shall ensure that the cable supplying each moveable

switch house or substation from an overhead line

(

a) is continuous, without cable couplers or junction boxes,

(

b) does not exceed 25 metres in length unless

(

i) the ampicity of the cable is at least of the over

current protection setting of the supply, or

(ii) properly sized over-current protective devices are

installed at the point of cable termination to the overhead line,

(

c) is provided at the overhead line end with

(

i) a separate means of disconnection located on a

pole, or

(ii) subject to approval of the Director, an alternative

means of disconnection arranged to prevent switching errors or incorrect

isolation,

and

(

d) has the conductors connected directly through suitable cable

glands to the supply terminals of the switch house or substation.

Ground fault protection

64 The employer shall ensure that in an underground coal mine portable

power cables supplying mobile electrical equipment and submersible pumps

operating in excess of 125 volts are provided with ground fault protection

so that the current is automatically interrupted in the event of a ground

fault and the current will not be restored until the ground fault has been

removed.

Switchgear

65(1) The employer shall ensure that switchgear is provided at the surface

of an underground mine for isolating all underground electrical circuits,

and that an authorized worker is available to operate the switchgear

whenever the circuits are energized.

(2) An employer shall ensure that in an underground coal mine, no

electrical distribution switchgear is located nearer to the working face

than the last ventilated cross-cut.

Grounding

66(1) An employer shall ensure that the ground electrodes at a surface

mine and at the surface of an underground mine are inspected and tested

annually.

(2) The employer shall ensure that a record of the tests required under

subsection (1) is made and the record is kept at the mine for 2 years after

the test.

(3) The employer shall ensure that the records under subsection (2) are

available for examination by an officer.

Electric welding

67 An employer shall ensure that a current return lead of the same

cross-sectional area as the power lead is used from all welding sets to the

work place.

Hand held electric drills

68 The employer shall ensure that electric drills intended to be held in

the hands while being worked have electric switches constructed so that the

circuit is broken when the hands release the switch.

PART 5

RUBBER-TIRED, SELF-PROPELLED

MOBILE EQUIPMENT

Definitions

69 In this Part,

(a) "G.V.W." means the manufacturer's rated gross vehicle weight;

(b) "SAE" means the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Application

70(1) This Part applies to all rubber-tired, self-propelled mobile

equipment used in and around mines for hauling, carrying, lifting,

hoisting, scraping or similar operations and that has a G.V.W. greater than

6000 kilograms.

(2) On and after this Regulation comes into force, the employer shall

ensure that all rubber-tired, self-propelled mobile equipment received at

the site

(

a) conforms to this Regulation, and

(

b) is not used until a representative unit has been accepted for

use by the Director.

Braking systems

71(1) This

section applies to all self-propelled machines as defined by

SAE J1057, June 1988, Identification Terminology of Earthmoving Machines.

(2) The employer shall ensure that

(

a) the equipment braking performance complies with SAE J1473 Oct.

90, Braking Performance, Rubber-tired Earthmoving Machines or revisions to

that standard as required by this section, and

(

b) the equipment manufacturer or a professional engineer certifies

that the equipment meets or exceeds the requirements of this section.

(3) Equipment referred to in

Section 6.6 of SAE J1473 Oct. 90 as being

exempt must meet the stopping performance indicated in Sections 6.6.2.3 and

6.6.2.4 of SAE J1473.

(4) The test course referred to in

Section 6.7.1.2 of SAE J1473 Oct. 90

must be conducted on not less than 9% down grade or the maximum grade

operated at a mine, whichever is greater.

Braking systems

72(1) This

section applies to equipment of a type not covered by SAE J1473

Oct. 90, Braking Performance, Rubber-tired Earthmoving Machines but having

a G.V.W. in excess of 45 000 kilograms or designed for use in a mine.

(2) An employer shall ensure

(

a) that a representative unit of each type of equipment is tested

and the equipment manufacturer or a professional engineer certifies that

the equipment meets or exceeds the stopping performance indicated in

Section 6.6 of SAE J1473 Oct. 90, Braking Performance, Rubber-tired

Earthmoving Machines, and

(

b) that a copy of the test report for the test under clause (

a) which contains the information required in

Section 7 "Test Report" of SAE

J1473 Oct. 90, Braking Performance, Rubber-tired Earthmoving Machines is

retained and maintained by the manufacturer or engineer who carried out the

test under clause (a).

Emergency energy

73 The employer shall ensure that all mobile equipment fitted with an

air, or air-over-hydraulic, braking system is provided with an emergency

source of energy that is capable of applying the service brakes and safely

stopping and holding the equipment on any grade over which it operates.

Hydraulics

74 The employer shall ensure that all mobile equipment fitted with

hydraulically actuated service brakes has the hydraulic system divided into

2 or more separate circuits that are independently actuated and each of

which is capable of safely stopping and holding the equipment on any grade

over which the equipment operates.

Dual system

75 The employer shall ensure that all mobile equipment fitted with a

divided, or dual, braking system is provided with an effective visible, or

audible, warning device to alert the operator whenever one portion of the

system becomes ineffective.

Emergency brakes

76 The employer shall ensure that where the emergency braking system is

arranged to cause an automatic application of the service brakes in the

event of an accidental loss of pressure in the main brake actuating system,

the available brake application pressure does not fall below 415

kilopascals.

Air brakes

77 The employer shall ensure that where air, or air-over-hydraulic, brake

systems are fitted to mobile equipment

(

a) all non-braking secondary air circuits are supplied through

pressure protection valves that isolate the secondary circuit involved if

there is a sudden pressure drop in the main circuit;

(

b) the total volume of air available in the main circuit for

normal service brake application is not less than 12 times the total

displacement volume of all brake actuators at full travel;

(

c) a wet reservoir or an air-drying system is fitted between the

compressor and the first brake service reservoir;

(

d) gauges conforming to SAE J209, January 1987 are provided and

that they are visible to the operator and show the air pressure in the main

and emergency air circuits and the brake application pressure;

(

e) an effective visual or effective audible warning device is

provided to warn the operator when the air pressure in the main service

brake circuit falls below a predetermined pressure;

(

f) check valves are used to protect air reservoirs from loss of

pressure in the event of leakage on the supply side.

Auxiliary air reservoirs

78 The employer shall ensure that where auxiliary air reservoirs are

provided for modulated emergency brake application under driver control,

the volume of air in the auxiliary reservoirs is not less than 6 times the

total displacement volume of all brake actuators used to develop the

emergency brake force.

Air brakes

79 The employer shall ensure that mobile equipment used in surface mines

having a G.V.W. in excess of 45 000 kilograms and having an air, or

air-over-hydraulic, brake system has front wheel brake control so that the

operator can reduce the front wheel brake effort according to road

conditions.

Parking brakes

80(1) The employer shall ensure that all mobile equipment is equipped with

a mechanically-actuated parking brake capable of holding the vehicle on a

15% grade when fully loaded to the G.V.W.

(2) The employer shall ensure that the performance of a parking brake

system is not affected by any loss of air pressure in the system or by any

dimensional changes in the brake components.

Annual brake test

81(1) The employer shall ensure that all rubber-tired, self-propelled

mobile equipment in service at a mine site that in normal operation exceeds

10 kilometres per hour is subject to an annual service brake test to

monitor the vehicles' braking performance.

(2) The annual service brake test must be carried out under the

supervision of a competent person.

(3) The annual service brake test must be conducted

(

a) at the machine's normal operation speed,

(

b) with the equipment loaded approximately to the manufacturer's

G.V.W., and

(

c) on a straight, level road having a hard, dry surface.

(4) In an annual service brake test, a measurement must be made of

(

a) the distance travelled by the equipment following application

of the service brakes to the maximum extent possible, and

(

b) the forward speed of the equipment at the time of application.

Auxiliary steering

82(1) The employer shall ensure that where a rubber-tired vehicle depends

on power for steering and the loss of power might prevent the vehicle from

being steered manually, an auxiliary device is installed that enables the

driver to steer the vehicle to a safe stop.

(2) Despite subsection (1), a rubber-tired vehicle restricted to

underground use and that has a maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour does

not require auxiliary steering.

Auxiliary pump

83 The employer shall ensure where an auxiliary hydraulic pump is used to

provide the emergency steering capability, the hydraulic fluid supplied to

the pump is taken from a separate reservoir or from an isolated

section of

the main reservoir.

Auxiliary steering standards

84(1) The employer shall ensure that every auxiliary steering system put

into service conforms to the requirements of Recommended Practice SAE J53,

Mining Performance Criteria for Emergency Steering of Wheeled Earthmoving

Construction Machines.

(2) The auxiliary steering system must

(

a) come into use automatically or be actuated manually on failure

of the power source, and

(

b) operate an effective warning device to alert the driver that

the steering power or power assistance is not available and that emergency

steering is in use.

Design of equipment

85 The employer shall ensure that

(

a) seats on all mobile equipment are shock-absorbing;

(

b) all mobile equipment is provided with a fail safe means to

prevent unintentional movement when the equipment is parked;

(

c) all mobile equipment is provided with an interlock system to

prevent the engine from starting when the transmission is engaged;

(

d) all haulage trucks fitted with rear dump boxes

(

i) have a calculated centre of gravity,

(ii) when loaded to the manufacturer's G.V.W., will

maintain all wheels in contact with the ground during normal operation, and

(iii) if material characteristics cause the front wheels

to lift off the ground, have work procedure that is developed to protect

workers from the hazards that are created.

Records

86 The employer shall ensure that there is maintained for powered mobile

equipment a suitable information recording system

(

a) in which is entered a notation of all unsafe conditions and the

repairs made,

(

b) that is available for inspection at all times by a

representative of the Director,

(

c) that includes a copy of the powered mobile equipment annual

brake test, and

(

d) that includes the powered mobile equipment records for the

previous 3 years.

Clearance lights

87(1) The employer shall ensure that clearance lights that clearly

indicate the overall width of the powered mobile equipment from both front

and rear are fitted on each machine.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to blades on motor graders and

rubber-tired dozers or buckets on front-end loaders.

Obstructed view

88 The employer shall ensure that equipment that restricts the operator's

vision is provided with means of minimizing an obstructed view around the

equipment.

Lights

89 The employer shall ensure that aligned headlights, reversing lights,

tail lights, retarder lights and brake lights are provided for all powered

mobile equipment, where applicable.

Diesel-powered equipment

90 The employer shall ensure that diesel-powered equipment used in

(

a) an underground coal mine complies with CSA Standard

CAN/CSA-M424.1-88, Flame-Proof Non-Rail Bound, Diesel-Powered Machines for

Use in Gassy Underground Coal Mines, except where otherwise required by

this Regulation, and

(

b) an underground mine, other than a coal mine, complies with CSA

Standard CAN/CSA-M424.2-90, Non-Rail Bound, Diesel-Powered Machines for Use

in Non-Gassy Underground Mines.

Clearances

91 The employer shall ensure that at an underground coal mine the sum of

the horizontal clearances on each side of a rubber tired vehicle are not

less than 2 metres, and the vertical clearance between the highest point of

a rubber tired vehicle or its load and the lowest overhead obstruction is

not less than 0.3 metres, unless exempted by the Director.

Unattended vehicles

92 A worker shall not leave a rubber-tired vehicle unattended

underground, unless the engine is turned off and it is parked

(

a) on level ground,

(

b) with its down hill end turned into the rib to prevent its

running away, or

(

c) with its wheels turned towards the rib and blocked to prevent

its running away.

PART 6

CONVEYORS

Fire

93 The employer shall ensure that all conveyor belting used in a

hazardous location is of a fire-resistant type or the conveyor is fitted

with a fire suppression system approved by the Director.

Stopping

94(1) The employer shall ensure that every accessible

section of a

conveyor is provided with a pull cord to stop the conveyor in an emergency

and the controls are arranged so that they must be reset manually before

the conveyor can be restarted after an emergency stop.

(2) The employer shall ensure that a switch, sensitive to belt travel, is

installed on each belt conveyor so as to stop the drive motor in the event

of the belt blockage or slippage.

Travelling room

95 The employer shall ensure that each underground level, entry or tunnel

over any part of which coal, or other mineral, is removed by conveyor is

provided with travelling room of at least one metre between the side of the

conveyor and one side of the road.

Belt cleaning

96 The employer shall ensure that in hazardous locations, no combustible

dusts accumulate at or near the conveyor belt, belt support rollers,

conveyor belt drive and tail and belt take up drums.

Clearances

97(1) The employer shall ensure there is maintained along the side of a

belt conveyor

(

a) on the travelling side, where rubber-tired vehicles are used, a

total minimum clearance of 2 metres more than the maximum width of the

vehicle,

(

b) on the travelling side, where track-guided vehicles are used, a

clearance of not less than 0.3 metre between the vehicle and the conveyor,

and

(

c) on the blind side of the conveyor, a clearance of not less than

0.3 metre.

(2) The employer shall ensure that there is a clearance of not less than

0.3 metre between the roof supports and the top of the load carried on the

conveyor.

Riding conveyor belts

98(1) No worker shall ride on a conveyor belt unless the conveyor

installation has been certified by a professional engineer and designated

by the employer as a man-riding belt.

(2) The employer shall ensure that every conveyor designed as a man-riding

belt

(

a) is at no place steeper than 15 , from the horizontal plane

(

b) has a head room clearance along its entire length of not less

than 0.9 metre,

(

c) is provided with mounting platforms with non-slip surfaces not

less than 1.5 metres in length, 0.6 metre wide and with clearance above the

platform of 2.4 metres for the length of the platform and for a further

length of 10 metres beyond the platform in the direction of the travel of

the belt,

(

d) is provided with dismounting platforms with non-slip surfaces

of not less than 15 metres in length, 0.6 metre wide and fitted with a hand

rail and with adequate head room clearance to allow a slighting in a

vertical position,

(

e) is provided with a safety device that automatically stops the

belt if the person travels beyond the dismounting platform,

(

f) has a belt speed not exceeding 2.65 metres per second and a

minimum belt width of 915 millimetres,

(

g) has reflective signs that clearly indicate

(

i) the mounting platforms,

(ii) the dismounting platforms, and

(iii) the approaches to dismounting platforms at 10

metres, 20 metres and 30 metres from the dismounting place,

(

h) is provided with automatic brakes that operate when the belt is

stopping, and

(

i) has the mounting and dismounting platforms electrically

illuminated.

(3) The employer shall develop safe operating procedures for workers who

are required to travel on a man-riding conveyor.

(4) The employer shall post belt conveyor man-riding rules in a

conspicuous and appropriate location, dealing with safe procedures and

precautions to be observed when persons travel on a man-riding belt.

Crossing conveyor belts

99(1) No worker shall cross over a conveyor belt that has not been locked

out except at an established bridge that is not less than one metre in

width and adequately guarded.

(2) No worker shall cross under a moving conveyor belt except at a

designated place where a means of preventing a person from coming into

contact with moving parts of the conveyor and of preventing a worker from

being struck by material falling from the belt is provided.

Dust

100 The employer shall ensure that, where it presents a hazard, every

belt conveyor discharge is constructed to eliminate or minimize spillage

and dispersion of dust into the air.

Examination

101 In an underground coal mine, the employer shall ensure that a belt

line is examined

(

a) once in every work day, and

(

b) once following the last working shift.

CO monitors

102 The employer shall ensure that belt conveyors installed in an

underground coal mine are provided with monitors linked to the fire

detection system that detect carbon monoxide gas.

Conveyor roads

103(1) The employer shall ensure that conveyor roads in an underground

mine are at least 1.5 metres high.

(2) Workers shall travel only in the clear space on the road.

(3) The employer shall ensure that each haulage or conveyor road is kept

clear of obstructions.

PART 7

EXPLOSIVES

Definitions

104 In this Part,

(a) "AWG" means, with respect to electrical conductors, American

Wire Gauge;

(b) "blaster" means a worker who holds a blaster's certificate;

(c) "blaster's certificate" means a certificate issued to a worker

under this Part, or a certificate continued under this Part;

(d) "blasting area" means an area extending for at least 45 metres

in all directions from where explosives are being prepared, fired or an

unexploded charge is considered to exist;

(e) "blasting machine" means a portable device designed to fire

electric blasting caps;

(f) "bootleg" means that portion of a drill hole or borehole that

is not destroyed after an explosive charge has been detonated in it;

(g) "CANMET" means the Canadian Explosives Atmospheres Laboratory,

Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology, Department of Energy,

Mines and Resources (Canada);

(h) "detonator" means a device used in firing a charge of

explosives and includes blasting cap;

(i) "direct supervision" means personal and continuous visual

supervision within the range of audible voice communication;

(j) "electromagnetic radiation" includes radiation used or found in

association with

(

i) broadcasting,

(ii) mobile communications systems,

(iii) remote control signal stations,

(iv) television and radio transmitters,

(

v) industrial radio frequency heaters,

(vi) equipment used for geophysical surveys,

(vii) radar, and

(viii) atmospheric electrical storms;

(k) "explosive" means explosive as defined in the Explosives Safety

Regulations (Alta. Reg. 272/76);

(l) "licensed magazine" means an explosives magazine licensed under

the Explosives Act (Canada);

(m) "magazine" means any building, storehouse, structure or place

that is on a worksite and in which any explosive is kept or stored, but

does not include

(

i) a vehicle in which an explosive is being conveyed,

(ii) any place at which the blending or assembling of

the non-explosive component parts of an explosive is allowed;

(n) "misfire" means an explosive charge, or a drill hole or

borehole containing an explosive charge, that has failed to explode;

(o) "permitted explosive" means an explosive that is listed as such

by the Chief Inspector of Explosives, Department of Energy, Mines and

Blasters' Certificates

Certified worker

105 An employer shall not allow a worker to prepare, fire, burn, or

destroy an explosive or handle misfires unless the worker

(

a) holds a valid blaster's certificate, or

(

b) works under the direct supervision of a blaster.

Quarries/coal certificates

106(1) An unexpired blaster's certificate issued under the Coal Mines

Safety Act or Quarries Regulation Act is continued as a blaster's

certificate under this Regulation.

(2) Notwithstanding

section 109, a blaster's certificate that has been

continued under subsection (1) expires 5 years after the original date of

its issue or on March 31, 1998, whichever occurs first.

Underground blaster's certificate

107 The Director, may issue an underground blaster's certificate to a

worker if an application for the certificate has been completed by the

worker on a form provided by the Minister for that purpose and the worker

(

a) has a minimum of 3 years' experience in underground mining,

(

b) produces written evidence that he has received adequate

instruction and training in blasting by a worker competent in blasting, and

(

c) has satisfied the Director as to his competence.

Surface blaster's certificate

108 The Director, may issue a surface blaster's certificate to a worker

if an application for the certificate has been completed by the worker on a

form provided by the Minister for that purpose and the worker

(

a) has a minimum of 3 years' experience in surface mining,

(

b) produces written evidence that he has received adequate

instruction and training in blasting by a worker competent in blasting, and

(

c) has satisfied the Director as to his competence.

Certificate expires

109 A blaster's certificate expires 5 years from the date of its issue.

Suspension, cancellation

110(1) If an officer or the Director has reason to believe that the holder

of a blaster's certificate has contravened a provision of this Regulation

or has otherwise used explosives, detonators or equipment in a manner that

constitutes a hazard to himself or other workers, the blaster's certificate

may be

(

a) suspended by an officer at any time for a period of up to 72

hours,

(

b) suspended by the Director at any time for any period of time,

(

c) cancelled by the Director at any time.

(2) Written reasons for the suspension or cancellation of a blaster's

certificate shall be given by the Director or officer to the worker to whom

the blaster's certificate has been issued and the employer of that worker.

(3) If a blaster's certificate has been suspended or cancelled by the

Director, the worker named in the certificate shall, on request, surrender

it to an officer.

Storage and Control of Explosives

Storage in magazines

111 An employer shall ensure that explosives are stored in a licensed

magazine in the charge of a competent worker appointed by the employer, and

that the magazine is designed, constructed and used in accordance with the

Magazine Standards for Blasting Explosives and Detonators, as prepared by

the Explosives Branch of the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of

Location and construction of magazines

112 An employer shall ensure that a surface magazine is

(

a) located at a minimum distance from any mine opening or vital

structure as set out in

Schedule 1 and at least 60 metres from overhead

power lines and at least 100 metres from electrical substations,

(

b) protected to prevent damage from impact,

(

c) protected from damage caused by lightning in accordance with

Schedule 2,

(

d) wired in accordance with CSA Standard CAN/CSA - M421 - Use of

Electricity in Mines,

Section 3.3.5, May 1992, where electricity is

provided at the magazine, and

(

e) provided with signage as defined in

section 95 of the

Explosives Regulations under the Explosives Act (Canada).

Certification and location

113 An employer shall ensure that magazines in an underground mine, are

certified and located by a professional engineer and are acceptable to the

Director.

Illumination of magazines

114 An employer shall ensure that only portable lights designed for use

in a hazardous location are taken into a magazine, if a permanent

illumination system is not installed in the magazine.

Storage

115 An employer shall ensure that

(

a) stored explosives are examined at a frequency sufficient to

ensure that no hazardous conditions arise due to the deterioration of an

explosive,

(

b) all deteriorated or damaged explosives are

(

i) removed from storage, and

(ii) destroyed by a blaster in accordance with the

manufacturer's specifications,

and

(

c) electric detonators are stored and transported with the leg

wires coiled and shunted in the manner in which they are supplied by the

manufacturer.

Authorized access

116 An employer shall ensure that only a blaster designated by him, or

workers working under the direct supervision of the designated blaster have

access to a magazine and handle explosives.

Removal from magazine

117(1) If an explosive or detonator is removed from a licensed magazine,

the blaster shall ensure that, until an explosive is about to be primed,

the explosives and detonators are

(

a) kept in separate containers, and

(

b) separated so that one cannot affect the other.

(2) A blaster shall ensure that the leg wires of electrical detonators are

shunted until immediately before connecting the detonators to a blasting

circuit.

Priority of use

118 When explosives are removed from a magazine for use, an employer

shall ensure that the oldest explosives in the magazine are removed first.

Containers

119 An employer shall ensure that the containers referred to in

section

117(1) are

(

a) lined with non-conductive material,

(

b) secured against unintentional movement or unauthorized access,

(

c) weatherproof, and

(

d) protected to ensure that the contents do not contact anything

that may cause premature detonation.

Magazine record

120 An employer shall ensure that a record of the explosives placed in

and removed from a magazine is maintained at the magazine and that

(

a) all explosives placed in or removed from, a magazine are

recorded in the record forthwith,

(

b) the number of failures of explosive charges is entered in the

record by the blaster at the end of each shift,

(

c) all cartridges that are destroyed are recorded in the record

forthwith, and

(

d) the record is retained for at least 3 years from the date of

the last entry.

Operational procedures

121(1) No worker shall take into or allow to remain in a building at a

mine, other than a magazine, any explosives or explosive substances.

(2) If any worker has any explosives in his possession at the end of his

shift, he shall return the explosives to the magazine.

Theft of explosives

122 The employer shall immediately report any suspected, attempted or

known break and entry into a magazine or any theft of explosives or

detonators to the Director.

Transportation of Explosives on a Mine Site

Supervision

123 Only a worker authorized by the mine manager shall remove explosives

from a magazine and transport them to a workplace, and the transfer must be

made without undue delay.

Open flames

124 No worker shall smoke, or have an open-flame apparatus, within 15

metres of a vehicle transporting explosives.

Vehicle

125 A vehicle used to transport explosives must

(

a) be maintained in good working order,

(

b) not be loaded until the vehicle has been fully serviced,

including fueling,

(

c) have separate compartments for the explosives and detonators

that prevent them from coming into contact with any metals or with each

other,

(

d) be constructed so that the explosives cannot fall from the

vehicle,

(

e) when carrying more than 25 kilograms of explosives, be provided

with orange, diamond-shaped placards clearly marked "Explosives" in letters

not less than 150 millimetres in height,

(

f) only be operated by a blaster, or a worker authorized by the

blaster, and

(

g) be equipped with at least two 9-kilogram ABC type fire

extinguishers.

Precipitation protection

126 Explosives and detonators being transported must be protected from

rain and snow.

Original packaging

127 Explosives must be transported in their original packaging.

Transport of detonators

128(1) Detonators must be separated by a minimum of 150 millimetres from

other explosives by a solid partition of wood or its equivalent, which

extends at least 150 millimetres above the highest level to which

explosives are packed in the vehicle.

(2) If electric detonators are being transported in vehicles that are

equipped with radio transmitters, the transmitters must be turned off when

the detonators are being put into, or removed from, their wood-lined

transport cases.

Vehicle breakdown

129 If a vehicle transporting explosives breaks down, the operator shall

(

a) make, or permit to be made, repairs that the operator considers

to be minor if the repairs can be made without hazard, or

(

b) if repairs that the operator considers to be major are

required, prevent the repairs being made until the explosives are

transferred to another vehicle or are removed from the vehicle and placed

under proper security at a safe distance from the track, road or any

highway and at least 300 metres from any inhabited premises.

Operational Precautions

Manufacturer's specifications

130(1) An employer shall ensure that explosives are handled, stored, used

and destroyed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.

(2) A worker who is involved in the handling, storing, use and

destruction of explosives shall comply with the manufacturer's

specifications.

Unsafe explosives

131 No blaster shall use, or permit the use of, a deteriorated, damaged

or otherwise unsafe explosive.

Blasting apparatus and keys

132 The employer shall ensure that no worker, except a blaster or other

competent worker, as designated by the employer, possesses

(

a) a blasting apparatus, or

(

b) a key to a case, canister, storage box or magazine referred to

in this Part or prescribed by this Regulation.

Blast area control

133(1) An employer shall ensure that the blast area is under the direction

and control of a designated blaster.

(2) If there is more than one blaster present at a blasting area, the

employer shall designate one blaster to be the blaster-in-charge of all

blasting operations.

Entering blasting areas

134 No worker shall approach, enter or remain in a blasting area unless

permitted by the blaster.

Duties of a blaster

135 A blaster shall

(

a) have direction and control of the blasting area and shall

ensure that the blasting operation and related activities are carried out

safely,

(

b) ensure that all primers are only made up at the blasting area,

(

c) ensure that workers not required for a blasting operation are

not in the blasting area during a blasting operation,

(

d) ensure that only sufficient primers for the number of shots to

be fired are made up prior to the loading,

(

e) ensure that no explosive is forcibly pressed into a hole of

insufficient size,

(

f) ensure that before a charge is fired, explosives not required

for the blast are removed from the blasting area,

(

g) ensure that the firing lines and lead-in lines in electric

detonation are in good condition,

(

h) supervise, where applicable, the connecting of

(

i) the detonator to the detonating cord,

(ii) the blasting cable to the detonator wires, and

(iii) the non-electric lead-in line detonator to the

blast pattern,

(

i) before the blast is fired, ensure that all workers are out of

danger from the effects of the blast,

(

j) before blasting, cause all entrances or approaches to the place

where the blasting is to be done to be effectively guarded to prevent

access to the blast area,

(

k) give due warning of a blast,

(

l) ensure guards remain in position until the blast area has been

cleared and work can safely be resumed,

(

m) after the blast has been fired, examine the area, including

blasting cables affected by the blasting and take whatever action is

necessary in order that work can be safely resumed, and

(

n) keep in a book, which is kept at the mine for that purpose, a

daily record at the end of his shift showing

(

i) the number of holes charged,

(ii) the number of detonators used,

(iii) the number of holes blasted,

(iv) the kind and amount of explosives used,

(

v) the kind and quantity of explosives taken from the

magazines,

(vi) the number and location of misfires,

(vii) the kind and quantity of explosives returned to the

magazines, and

(viii) the number and location of any charges left

unfired.

Non-sparking tools

136(1) An employer shall ensure that tools made of non-sparking material

are provided to workers for

(

a) opening explosives containers or packages,

(

b) the preparation or cutting of explosives, and

(

c) the loading of holes with explosives.

(2) A worker shall only use tools made of non-sparking materials for

(

a) opening explosives containers or packages,

(

b) preparing or cutting an explosive, and

(

c) loading a hole with an explosive.

Blasting wires

137 If a worker drives over or otherwise damages blasting lead wires or

lines, that worker shall immediately advise the blaster or employer.

Blasting machines control

138 An employer shall ensure that while in the blasting area the blasting

machine is under the direct supervision and control of a blaster.

Undetonated or Abandoned Explosives

Unused explosives

139 An employer shall ensure that

(

a) no explosives are abandoned, except in accordance with this

Regulation,

(

b) unused explosives are returned to their magazines, or destroyed

in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, and

(

c) before a blasting area is abandoned, all portions of charges

that have been blown from the blasting area are treated as misfired and

that all wrappings or containers used in the handling of the explosives are

destroyed.

Misfires

140 A blaster shall ensure that no misfire that can be safely detonated

or removed from its hole is abandoned.

Misfire procedures

141 An employer shall develop safe work procedures for the handling of

misfires.

Explosive found

142(1) A worker who finds an abandoned explosive or misfire shall

(

a) take all reasonable action to ensure that other workers who may

be exposed to the hazards of the abandoned explosive or misfire are made

aware of the hazards, and

(

b) report the find to his employer or to the blaster.

(2) An employer to whom an abandoned explosive or misfire has been

reported shall

(

a) take immediate steps to ensure that workers are protected from

the hazards associated with the abandoned explosive or misfire, and

(

b) notify the Director of an abandoned explosive.

Drilling precautions

143(1) An employer shall ensure that drilling is not done in or adjacent

to a previously drilled hole or remanent of a hole that contains or may

contain an explosive that could be detonated by the drilling operation.

(2) A worker shall not drill in or adjacent to a previously drilled hole

or remanent of a hole that contains or may contain an explosive that could

be detonated by the drilling operation.

Equipment for testing and initiation

144 An employer shall ensure that when initiating and testing a blasting

circuit

(

a) only explosive initiating and testing devices designed and

manufactured for that purpose are used, and

(

b) in a location where an explosion or fire hazard exists or may

exist, only explosive initiating and testing devices that are approved by

CANMET, or by the Director, for use in coal mines are used.

Blasting apparatus

145(1) An employer shall ensure that each blasting machine is clearly

marked with the capacity of the machine.

(2) A blaster shall ensure that the blasting machine is tested before any

blast that may require the maximum output of the machine.

Circuit testing

146(1) A blaster shall ensure that

(

a) all workers are outside the blasting area before testing the

electrical blasting circuit, and

(

b) an electrical blasting circuit is tested with a suitable device

prior to firing to confirm that the circuits are complete.

(2) If electric blasting is done with delay-action detonators, no worker

shall return to the scene of the blasting operation within 10 minutes after

the blasting circuit was closed.

Circuit requirements

147 A blaster shall ensure that

(

a) power circuits to be used for blasting purposes meet the

requirements of

section 3.7 of the CSA Standard CAN/CSA-M421-93 Use of

Electricity in Mines,

(

b) circuits supplying electricity for blasting are fed from

(

i) a blasting machine,

(ii) an isolating transformer, or

(iii) a power source that does not supply any other

equipment,

(

c) the blasting machine or power source has adequate capacity for

the number of detonators involved,

(

d) lead wires between the blasting machine and the zone of

blasting operations

(

i) are not less than No. 16 AWG in size,

(ii) are readily identifiable as being for blasting use,

(iii) are waterproofed,

(iv) consist of 2 insulated conductors,

(

v) are used only for blasting,

(vi) are kept at a safe distance, but not less than 150

centimetres, from any power or lighting cable, and

(vii) are not installed in contact with any pipes, rails

or other electrically conductive materials,

and

(

e) if expendable connecting wires are used from the lead wires to

the leg wires of the blasting caps, they are not less than No. 20 AWG in

size.

Secondary blasting

148 If secondary blasting is practiced, the blaster shall ensure that

(

a) blockholes are used whenever practicable,

(

b) the holes are deep enough to accommodate both the charge of

explosive and sufficient stemming to confine the charge, and

(c) 2 or more charges are not used on the same boulder unless the

charges are detonated simultaneously.

Surface Mines

Blast area

149 An employer shall ensure that the blast area is