.-(1) In any part of a coal-seam of the first degree gassiness,-(a)all cables shall be constructed, installed, protected, operated and maintained in such a manner as to prevent risk of open sparking;(b)at any place which lies in-bye of the last ventilation connection, all [signalling, telecommunication and remote control][circuits shall be so constructed, installed, protected, operated and maintained as to be intrinsically safe; [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ](c)all apparatus including portable and transportable apparatus including lighting fittings used at any place which lies in-bye of the last ventilation connection shall be flame-proof:[Provided that electrically operated or battery operated portable or transportable apparatus such as shuttle car, men or material transporting equipment of increased safety type "e" shall be permitted at any place with suitable monitoring devices for detection of gases, if any.](2)[ At any place which lies in any part of a coal-seam of second and third degree gassiness,-(a)all [signalling, telecommunication and remote control] circuits shall be so constructed, installed, protected, operated and maintained as to be intrinsically safe;(b)[ all cables shall be constructed, installed, protected, operated and maintained in such a manner as to prevent risk of open sparking; [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ](c)all apparatus, including portable and transportable apparatus used at any place within 90 metres of any working face or goaf in case of a second degree gassymine and within 270 metres of any working face or goaf in case of third degree gassymine or at any place which lies in-bye of the last ventilation connection or in any return airways shall be flame-proof;(d)all electric lamps shall be enclosed in flame-proof enclosures.(3)In any oil-mine or oil-field, at any place within the Danger Areas,-(a)all [signalling, telecommunication and remote control][circuits shall be so constructed, installed, operated, protected and maintained as to be intrinsically safe; [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ](b)all cables shall be so constructed, installed, operated and maintained as to prevent risk of open sparking;(c)all apparatus including portable and transportable apparatus shall be flame-proof;(d)all electric lamps shall be enclosed in flame-proof enclosures.(4)In any coal-seam of degree second and degree third gassiness or the danger zone of oil-mine the supply shall be discontinued,-(a)immediately, if open sparking occurs;(b)during the period required for examination or adjustment of the apparatus, which would necessitate the exposing of any part liable to open sparking;(c)the supply shall not be reconnected until the apparatus has been examined by the electrical supervisor or one of his duly appointed assistants until the defect, if any, has been remedied or the necessary adjustment made;(d)a flame safety lamp shall be provided and maintained in a state of continuous illumination near an apparatus (including portable or transportable apparatus) which remains energised and where the appearance of the flame of such safety lamps indicates the presence of inflammable gas, the supply to all apparatus in the vicinity shall be immediately disconnected and the incident reported forthwith to an official of the mine; [and such apparatus shall be interlocked with the controlling switch in such a manner as to disconnect power supply automatically in the event of percentage of inflammable gas exceeding one and one quarter in that particular district:]Provided that where [apparatus] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 45, dated 1.1.1993 (w.e.f. 23.1.1993).][for automatic detection of the percentage of inflammable gas or vapour are employed in addition to the flame safety lamps, such [apparatus] [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ][shall be approved by the Inspector of Mines and maintained in perfect order.(5)(i)In any part of a coal-seam of any degree of gassiness or in [any hazardous] [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ] [area of an oil-mine, if the presence of inflammable gas in the general body of air is found any time to exceed one and one quarter [per cent] [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ][, the supply of energy shall be immediately disconnected from all cables and apparatus in the area and the supply shall not be reconnected so long as the percentage of inflammable gas remains in excess of one and one quarter [per cent] [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ].[In an oil mine where concentration of inflammable gas exceeds 20% of its lowest explosive limit, the supply of electric energy shall be cut-off immediately from all cables and apparatus lying within 30 metres of the installation and all sources of ignition shall also be removed from the said area and normal work shall not be resumed unless the area is made gas-free:] [ Inserted by G.S.R. 45, dated 1.1.1993 (w.e.f. 23.1.1993).][Provided that such disconnection shall not apply to intrinsically safe environmental monitoring scientific instruments.] [ Inserted by G.S.R. 466, dated 18.7.1991 (w.e.f. 17.8.1991).](ii)[ Any such disconnection or reconnection of the supply shall be noted in the log-sheet which shall be maintained in the form set out in Annexure XII and shall be reported to the Inspector. [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ](6)The provisions of this rule shall apply to any metalliferous mine which may be notified by the Inspector of Mines, if inflammable gas occurs or if the Inspector of Mines is of the opinion that inflammable gas is likely to occur in such mine.Explanation .-For the purpose of this rule,-(1)The expressions "coal-seam of first degree gassiness", "coal-seam of second degree gassiness", "coal-seam of third degree gassiness" and "flame-proof apparatus", shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Coal Mines Regulations, 1957.(2)The following areas in an oil-mine or oil-field shall be known as [hazardous areas] [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ][, namely:-(a)an area of not less than 90 metres around an oil-well where a blow-out has occurred or is likely to occur, as may be designated by the engineer-in-charge or the seniormost official present at the site;(b)an area within 90 metres of an oil-well which is being tested by open flow;(c)an area within 15 metres of-(i)a producing well-head or any point of open discharge of the crude therefrom or other point where emission of [hazardous atmosphere][is normally likely to arise, or [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ](ii)any wildcat or exploration well-head being drilled in an area where abnormal pressure conditions are known to exist, or(iii)any exploration or interspaced well-head being drilled in an area where abnormal pressure conditions are known to exist; or(d)any area within 4.5 metres of-(i)any producing well-head where a closed system of production is employed such as to prevent the emission or accumulation in the area in normal circumstances of a [hazardous atmosphere]; or(ii)[ exploration or interspaced well-head being drilled in an area where the pressure conditions are normal and where the system of drilling employed includes adequate measures for the prevention in normal circumstances of emission or accumulation within the area of a [hazardous atmosphere] [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ]; or(iii)[ an oil-well which is being tested other than by open flow. [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ]Explanation .-For the purposes of clause (d) [hazardous atmosphere] [Substituted by G.S.R. 253, dated 19.2.1981 (w.e.f. 7.3.1981). ][means an atmosphere containing any inflammable gases or vapours in a concentration capable of ignition;(e)[ all appliances, equipments and machinery that are or may be used in zone 0, zones 1 and 2 hazardous areas shall be of such type, standard and make as approved by the Inspector by a general or special order in writing.Explanation .-(i) "Zone 0 hazardous area" means "an area in which hazardous atmosphere is continuously present."(ii)"Zone 1 hazardous area" means "an area in which hazardous atmo-sphere is likely to occur under normal operating conditions".(iii)"Zone 2 hazardous area" means "an area in which hazardous atmosphere is likely to occur under abnormal operating conditions".]
