SAFETY IN MINES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 5 March 1912, Page 2

SAFETY IN MINES.

COMMISSION'S REPORT. .SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS: The report of the Mines Commission (of which. Mr Evans* S.M.. was chairman), has been presented to Parliament. The majority of the commissioners find that full advantage has not .always been taken of the safety precautions already existing. The necessity of existing extreme caution in this respect is urged by the commission, and it is believed that if the recommendations of the commission are given effect to mining conditions will be greatly improved and accidents minimised. The report i 6 an extremely lengthy document, running into 40 pages of closely-printed foolscap sheets, and deals with. : t. Tho prevention of accidents in milteSi 2. The ventilation of mines. 3. The underground sanitation of mines, 4. Change and bath houses for miners. 5.. What steps should he taken to guard against miners' phthisis. 6. The profitable utilisation of the soft bituminous and lignite coals of the Wesiport district of New Zealand. * The commission is of opinion that where definite provisions can b e applied they should be embodied in Statute. _ In pome cases, however, such_ provisions might be oppressive or prohibitive. To meet the requirements of local conditions the commission recommends that a. committee should be set up at each mine, with power to make and alter additional special rules and regulations. INSPECTION. As to the inspection of min.es. tho commission recommends: — 1. That Government inspectors be required to pass a special examination, higher than that of a mine manager. 2. That inspectors of mines be given summary power of prosecuting in all cases affecting the safety of working in mines, and that the inspector should consult the inspecting engineer of mines before taking proceedings. 3. That inspectors of mines be given power to withdraw men from dangerous working places. 4. That all deputies be required to examine the roof and sides of mines during their rounds. 5. That is be made compulsory for examining deputies to remain at a convenient station where- e aeh man can obtain information before proceeding to work. 6. That a miner shall have experience in coal hewing before he has charge of a nlace. 7. That workmen's inspectors have authority to inspect a mine once in every fortnight, and at all reasonable times on complaint. HAULAGE. As to haulage in coal mines the Commission recommends :

1. That the use of chains should- be prohibited on all but face-jigs, and that wire-ropes be substituted therefor. 2. That provision be made for anchor chains to be supplied and their use made compulsory on all face-jigs. This simple method of preventing runaway tubs, where such occurrences are not infrequent, is likely to reduce the percentage of accidents under this head. 3. That all haulage inclines, self-acting inclines, and all the jigs except facejigs, be fitted with bells or adequate signalling appliances. 4. That special rule i.9 under the Coal Mines Act. 1908, be amplified to i include the compulsory provision and i use of adequate stop-blocks on all workin- jigs. ' 5. That a backstay or trailer, should be attached to each ascending tub or set of tubs on every inclined haulageroad where mechanical haulage other other than endless rope or chain is used. 6. That in all mines where cages are used by the men travelling in or out of the mine the € neine-driver should always be within hearing of the signals when men are underground, and that this should bo provided for in both the Coal Mines Act and the Mining Act. The Commission further recommends that the use of water should be eompul-. sorv in all dry mines.to allay dust, "that section of the British Statutory _ Rules and Orders relating to explosives in coal mines should be adopted, power for inspectors to prohibit the use of electricity where such would be dangerous, and numerous other minor recommendations. METALLIFEROUS MINING. Amongst the recommendations of the Commission relating to metalliferous mining are the following: — 1 That the maximum height of stopes shall be Bft 6in, .measured from the ordinary level of the working floor of that stope. 2. That all ladderways in constant nse for travelling, where it is difficult to carry an open light, shall be lighted by fixed lights, if in the opinion of the Inspector of Mines such is Tequwed. 3. That sufficient space be made in all levels at convenient intervals for men passing trucks. ' 4. That it be compulsory for chambermen and bracemen to be always at their posts ; but this is not to be construed as requiring a chamberman at e acli level. 5. That speaking tubes, or some approved method of communication, be required between levels and shafts and levels and stopes, if over 50ft in height. 6. That all ladders in mines extend for at cast above the top of the shaft., platform, or landing place. 7 That the provisions for two outlets from a. mine to the surface, as recommended by the Transvaal Mining Commission, 1910, be adopted to the following extent: — 8 That shift bosses bo required to examine "backs" and sides of working P sT'That the use of all tamping other than plastic clay or water be prohlbrted. 10. That the use of instantaneous fuse be prohibited. . , , 12 That the practice of charging a number of holes, when it is uitended U>. fire only a few at a time, shouM be proin straight drives where firing is in vogue the inspector be empowered to order barriers or other sufhc ent cover to protect the men when blasting.. 14. Tint in all shatts in course of

from the shaft bottom ; in the case of ! steeply inclined shafts not more than 100 ft from the shaft bottom. ■GENERAL CONDITIONS. The Commission recommends that regulations be framed' under the Mining Act and the Coal Mines' Act providingfor the supply and maintenance of ambulance appliances at mines, and is in favour of men' being given facilities for practice with same; also that first-aid lectures be instituted in all mining centres. They also recommend that the constitution of the Court of Enquiry (into accidents) be amended as follows: —The warden, with one mine manager and one representative of the miners as assessors, under both the Coal Mines and the Mining Acts. The board of examiners for mine managers and other officials should be . reconstituted, and, consist as follows: — One representative of owners of mines, being a mining engineer, one representative of the workmen employed in. mines, the Inspecting Engineer of Mines, the Director-of Geological Surveys of New Zealand, and the Surveyor-General of New Zealand, both under the Mining and Coal' Mines Acts. TEMPERATURES AND VENTILATION. To secure a continuous distribution of the air in metal mines adequate to reducing the temperature in hot working places within reasonable limits, a. standard or fixed temperature of 80deg. l<_ahwet bulb, should not be exceeded,.unless it is not reasonably practicable to maintain the air at such standard, m-, which, case a reduction of the hours of employment should be provided for. It was found ;that the majority of the collieries of the Dominion were well ventilated. To a -certain extent this opinion is substantiated by the fact that during the past 15 years only one life has been lost as the result of an. explosion of firedamp. The principal defect noticed was JJi■ulenuate distribution of the air -by'splitting ihe insufficient use of air-stoppings and brattice, and the - installation of ten* of'insufficient pow;er W s ° f**:" tension of the workings or during emeige"Cy" AGAINST DISEASE. The renort also contains extensive recomn endXns for Ration m mine, for change, and and for provision against mmeib pi