Transcript OPERATION OF MINES REGULATION

OPERATION OF MINES
REGULATION
PROPOSED MAJOR REVISIONS
Western Canadian Diamond Drillers Association
May 22, 2009
Preliminary Matters
• These regulations apply to mines
• WS&H regulations apply to mines
• If there is a conflict, these regulations
prevail
• The most recent edition of a publication,
code or standard is to be used
• Exemptions require approval of director
Definitions
• “Chief mines inspector” means the director
of the Mine Safety Branch
Duties of Employer and Worker
• Worker at any mine operation must be 18
years of age or older
• Exception requires acceptance by chief
mines inspector and Employment
Standards
Serious bodily injury
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
An injury resulting from electrical contact
Unconsciousness
A fracture of skull, spine, pelvis, arm, leg or foot
Amputation of an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger or toe
Extensive second or third degree burns
Permanent or temporary loss of sight
Serious internal hemorrhage
An injury caused directly or indirectly by explosives
Any other injury likely to cause permanent disability
Other reportable occurrences - additional
• A dangerous or careless act involving explosives as per
subsection 76
• An uncontrolled spill or escape of a hazardous substance that
requires reporting under the DGH&T Act
• The collapse or structural failure of a building, structure, hoist,
lift, temporary support system or an excavation
• Failure of an air supplying respirator that places a worker at
risk
• Loss of control of a remote controlled piece of equipment or
robot
• A near miss
• An unexpected explosion resulting from contact with molten
material and water
Determination of near miss
• “Near miss” means an occurrence that has
the potential to cause a serious bodily
injury or an illness to a worker
• be outlined in a written policy by the
employer in consultation with the
committee
• be acceptable to the chief mines inspector
General Workplace Requirements
• The employer must ensure, to the extent practicable,
that the safety and health of each worker is
protected by
(a) the design of the workplace or work process;
(b) the use of engineering controls; and
(c) the implementation of safe work procedures.
• An employer must ensure that a worker wears and
uses personal protective equipment
(a) during the period necessary to implement a
measure described in subsection (1); and
(b) if the measures taken under subsection (1) are
insufficient to protect the safety and health of the
worker.
Fall protection
• When the use of a guardrail system as noted in sections 62 and
63 is not reasonably practical or would not be effective, an
employer must ensure that the worker uses a full body harness
and is protected by at least one of the following fall protection
systems:
(a) a travel restraint system that prevents the worker from
reaching a free-fall situation, if the worker is exposed to a
hazard of reaching a free-fall situation;
(b) a fall arrest system, if the worker is exposed to falling
(i) a vertical distance of 3 metres or more,
(ii) a vertical distance of less than 3 metres where there is an
increased risk of injury as determined by a risk assessment by
the workplace safety and health committee,
(iii) into water or another liquid, and
(iv) into or onto a hazardous substance or object; or
(c) another fall protection system accepted by the director.
Exemption – fall protection
• The following are exemption from
subsection (6):
(a) In an underground mine a safety belt
may be used instead of a full body
harness as part of a travel restraint
system but not as part of a fall arrest
system.
Fire Protection
• An employer at a mine shall
(a) establish in writing a procedure to be followed that
effectively provides for the safety of all workers in
the event of a fire and the control of the fire whether
on surface or underground
(i) in consultation with the committee,
(ii) submitted for acceptance to the chief mines
inspector prior to commencing mine development
(c) at least annually instruct each worker
Thermal environment
• Where it is not reasonably practical to control
thermal conditions, and the nature of the work can
cause distress or illness to a worker, the employer
shall in consultation with the committee institute a
program to
(a) instruct workers in the possible adverse effects of
their working environment;
(b) instruct workers how to recognize symptoms of
heat or cold stress and what treatment should be
applied; and
(c) monitor thermal conditions to identify when
persons could be adversely affected by heat and
cold stress, and if protective measures are required
to adequately protect workers.
Small utility vehicles
• An employer shall ensure that all small
utility vehicles in use underground shall
have a suitable warning light that is
(a) flashing at all times; and
(b) connected electrically to the battery
isolation switch.
Safety precautions underground
• Before work is begun in a workplace in an
underground mine, the ground conditions of
the workplace shall be examined for dangers
and hazards and, if required, made safe.
• An employer must
(a) develop and implement safe work
procedures concerning activities relating to
scaling; and
(b) consult with the committee in the
development of the safe work procedures.
Cranes and Derricks
• Delete sections 241 through 252 and replace
with MR217/06 Part 23 CRANES AND HOISTS
with the following exceptions:
• 241.2 In reference to MR217/06 section
23.8(1) Logbook for cranes. In those areas
regulated by the Operation of Mines
Regulation, no logbook is required for all
hoists and cranes that are manually operated
in the vertical direction with the use of a
chain.
The Use of Electricity
• Subject to sections 259 and 260, every
employer shall ensure that each
electric installation at the workplace is
installed and maintained in accordance
with
(a) Canadian Electrical Code, CSA
Standard C22.1; and
(b) Use of Electricity in Mines, CSA
Standard M421.