Mines and Quarries Act, 1965

Signalling shafts and outlets.

46.—(1) Where winding or rope haulage apparatus is installed in a mine shaft or unwalkable outlet, effective means of transmitting audible and visible signals from each entrance for the time being in use to the place where the apparatus is operated shall be provided and maintained in every case where the distance between the highest and lowest entrances for the time being in use in the shaft, or between the terminal surface and underground entrances to the outlet, exceeds fifty feet.

(2) Regulations may require means of transmitting signals between the entrances themselves to be provided and maintained.

(3) Regulations may require—

(a) the prescribed signals to be transmitted in a prescribed code;

(b) the manager of a mine to secure the attendance of persons, at prescribed times, for the purpose of transmitting and receiving signals.

(4) For the purposes of this section—

(a) so much of any superstructure at the top of a shaft as forms an extension thereof shall be deemed to form part of the shaft, and so much of a line of rails running through an outlet as lies between the point at which the outlet reaches the surface and the surface terminus of the line shall be deemed to form part of the outlet;

(b) “entrance”, in relation to an outlet, includes any place at which vehicles stop for the purpose of loading or unloading; and

(c) “terminal surface” and “underground entrances”, in relation to an outlet, mean, respectively, the surface entrance thereto or, if there is more than one, that one for the time being in use which is furthest from the point at which the outlet reaches the surface and the underground entrance thereto for the time being in use which is furthest from that point.