§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the dimensions of a development roadway in a single entry system under the current mining regulations.
§ Mr. NichollsNo dimensions are specified for a development roadway in a single entry system under current mining regulations.
§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the minimum dimensions of a development roadway with only one means of entry and egress in the proposed changes in mining regulations.
§ Mr. NichollsThe proposed Mines (Safety of Exit) Regulations 1988, which were laid before Parliament on 29 November 1988 set out the facilities and conditions necessary for safe exit to the surface and include requirements on the construction and maintenance of roads in mines. Under these regulations the normal minimum height of a roadway along which persons walk to or from their places of work will be 1.7m but in certain circmstances this may be reduced to 1.2m.
§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many miners would be allowed in a roadway with only one means of entry and egress under the proposed changes in mining regulations.
§ Mr. NichollsThe proposed Mines (Safety of Exit) Regulations 1988, which were laid before Parliament on 29 November 1988, set out the facilities and conditions necessary for safe exit to the surface and includes requirements placing limits on the number of persons working in a place where there is only one way out.
The regulations allow for no more than nine persons to work in a place where it is not reasonably practicable to provide two different ways out. However, there are also strictly defined circumstances under which up to 18 persons may be allowed to work in a place with only one way out. In both cases, the mine manager has a duty to make suitable arrangements to ensure, so far as is practicable, that persons can leave the work place safely and that their safety is not endangered by the lack of two ways out.
§ Mr. Ronnie CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much air, oxygen, would be available(a) for 10 trapped miners in a situation such as occurred on 13 January at High Moor colliery and (b) if the maximum number of miners were present, under the proposed changes in mining regulations.
366W
§ Mr. NichollsThe volume of air available for trapped miners in a situation such as occurred at High Moor colliery would be equal to that volume of roadway between the inbye end of the fall and the face of the heading. In this particular case, it would measure approximately 7,350 cu m.
Under the proposed changes in mining regulations the maximum number of men allowed to be present without prior notice to an inspector of the mines and quarries inspectorate and workmen's representatives would be nine plus a maximum of three additional persons on limited inspection duties.