§ 75.1101-23 - Program of instruction; location and use of fire fighting equipment; location of escapeways, exits and routes of travel; evacuation procedures; fire drills.

(a) Each operator of an underground coal mine shall adopt a program for the instruction of all miners in the location and use of fire fighting equipment, location of escapeways, exits, and routes of travel to the surface, and proper evacuation procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency. Such program shall be submitted for approval to the District Manager of the Coal Mine Health and Safety District in which the mine is located no later than June 30, 1974.

(1) The approved program of instruction shall include a specific fire fighting and evacuation plan designed to acquaint miners on all shifts with procedures for:

(i) Evacuation of all miners not required for fire fighting activities;

(ii) Rapid assembly and transportation of necessary men, fire suppression equipment, and rescue apparatus to the scene of the fire; and,

(iii) Operation of the fire suppression equipment available in the mine.

(2) The approved program of instruction shall be given to all miners annually, and to newly employed miners within six months after the date of employment.

(b) In addition to the approved program of instruction required by paragraph (a) of this section, each operator of an underground coal mine shall ensure that:

(1) At least two miners in each working section on each production shift are proficient in the use of all fire suppression equipment available on such working section, and know the location of such fire suppression equipment;

(2) Each operator of attended equipment specified in § 75.1107-1(c)(1), and each miner assigned to perform job duties at the job site in the direct line of sight of attended equipment as described in § 75.1107-1(c)(2), is proficient in the use of fire suppression devices installed on such attended equipment; and,

(3) The shift foreman and at least one miner for every five miners working underground on a maintenance shift are proficient in the use of fire suppression equipment available in the mine, and know the location of such fire suppression equipment.

(c) Each operator of an underground coal mine shall require all miners to participate in fire drills, which shall be held at periods of time so as to ensure that all miners participate in such a drill no later than January 31, 1974, and at intervals of not more than 90 days thereafter.

(1) The operator shall certify by signature and date that the fire drills were held in accordance with the requirements of this section. Certifications shall be kept at the mine and made available on request to an authorized representative of the Secretary.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph (c), a fire drill shall consist of a simulation of the actions required by the approved fire fighting and evacuation plan described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.