Section 7950.

7950. This part shall be known and may be cited as “The Tom Carrell Memorial Tunnel and Mine Safety Act of 1972.” (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1430.)

Section 7951.

7951. As used in this part: (a) Tunnel shall include excavation, construction, alteration, repairing, renovating, or demolishing of any tunnel except tunnel work covered under the compressed air safety orders adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board and manhole construction. (b) “Tunnel” means an underground passageway, excavated by men and equipment working below the earth’s […]

Section 7952.

7952. There shall be within the division a separate unit of safety engineers trained to inspect all tunnel construction and mine operations. (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1430.)

Section 7953.

7953. Sufficient manpower shall be maintained to provide for four annual inspections of underground mines, one inspection of surface mines or quarries annually, and six inspections of tunnels under construction annually. (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1430.)

Section 7954.

7954. To assist the unit of safety engineers in determining the safety of tunnel construction and mine operation, the division shall make available at least one industrial hygiene engineer and one chemist. A laboratory for analysis of dust, gas, vapors, soil, or other materials shall be available to members of this unit. Contracts to provide […]

Section 7955.

7955. The division and the owner of a mine, if he is not the operator of the mine, shall be notified before any initial mining operation or construction may be started at any mines or tunnels. A prejob safety conference shall be held with an authorized representative of the division for all underground operations. Representatives […]

Section 7956.

7956. All personnel, including both employees working above ground and those in the tunnel or underground mine, shall be informed of the classification designated by the division for that job. A notice of the classification and any special orders, rules, or regulations to be used in construction, remodeling, demolition, or operation of the tunnel or […]

Section 7957.

7957. An emergency rescue plan shall be developed by the employer for every tunnel or underground mine. Such plan, including a current map of the tunnel or underground mine, shall be provided to local fire and rescue units, to the division, and to every employee at the place of employment. (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. […]

Section 7958.

7958. A trained rescue crew of at least five men shall be provided at underground mines with more than 25 men or tunnels with 10 or more men underground at any one time. Smaller mines shall have one man for each 10 men underground who receives annual training in the use of breathing apparatus. Two […]

Section 7959.

7959. Rescue crews shall be familiar with all emergency equipment necessary to effect a rescue or search for missing employees in case of an accident or explosion. Such rescue crews shall hold practices with equipment and using emergency rescue plan procedures at least once monthly during construction or operation of the tunnel or underground mines. […]

Section 7960.

7960. In any tunnel or underground mine classified as potentially gassy, tests for gas or vapors shall be made prior to start of work at each shift. If any concentration of gas at or above 10 percent of the lower explosive limit is recorded, the division shall be notified immediately. (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. […]

Section 7961.

7961. The division shall investigate immediately any notification of a gas reading 10 percent of the lower explosive limit or higher by an employer in a tunnel or underground mine classified as potentially gassy. If the inspection determines the likelihood of encountering more gas or vapor, the division may halt operations until the tunnel or […]

Section 7962.

7962. A safety representative qualified to recognize hazardous conditions and certified by the division shall be designated by the employer in any tunnel or underground mine. He shall have the authority to correct unsafe conditions and unsafe practices, and shall be responsible for directing the required safety programs. (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1430.)

Section 7963.

7963. All underground mines and tunnels with more than five men underground at one time shall have telephone or other communication systems to the surface in operation at any time there are persons underground. Such systems shall be installed in such a manner that destruction or removal of one phone or communication device does not […]

Section 7964.

7964. Whenever an access shaft is used as the normal means of entrance or exit to an underground mine or tunnel, it shall be constructed of fireproof material or fireproofed by chemical or other means. (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1430.)

Section 7964.5.

7964.5. Nothing contained in this part shall restrict the division in contracting with the Secretary of the Interior for an approved state plan for mines under P.L. 89-577 (30 U.S.C. 721 et seq.). (Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1430.)