(1)On the appearance in any part of a mine, of smoke or other signs indicating that a fire or spontaneous heating has or may have broken out, all persons other than those whose presence in the mine is deemed necessary for dealing with the fire or heating shall be immediately withdrawn from the mine.(2)No person, other than those required for dealing with or sealing off the fire or heating refereed to in sub-regulation (l), shall be admitted in the mine until the fire or heating has been extinguished or effectively sealed off and an examination has been made by the manager or by the assistant manager and the mine has been declared to be safe and a report of every such examination shall be recorded in a bound paged book kept for the purpose duly signed and dated by the person making the examination:Provided that the Regional Inspector may, by an order in writing and subject to such conditions as he may specify therein, permit the employment in the mine, of persons other than those required to deal with the fire or heating.(3)The examination required under sub-regulation (2), shall be made with an approved flame safety lamp and other means of detecting carbon monoxide gas approved by the Chief Inspector.(4)During the whole time that any work of dealing with or sealing off a fire or heating belowground is in progress, -(a)a competent person shall be present on the spot throughout;(b)adequate precaution shall be taken to prevent danger to persons from any noxious, asphyxiating or inflammable gases, flame, steam and ejected or rolling down hot material, explosion of water gas, falling into crevices or pot holes, that may occur in the area on fire; and(c)there shall be kept available, at or near all places belowground:(i)adequate number of self-rescuers and at least two smoke helmets or other suitable apparatus for use in emergency;(ii)an apparatus for detecting carbon monoxide gas approved by the Chief Inspector; and(iii)a flame safety lamp or other means of detecting carbon dioxide gas and oxygen deficiency, approved by the Chief Inspector.(5)The manager of every mine shall prepare and establish a detailed scheme for-(a)the provision and maintenance of suitable fire-fighting arrangements;(b)the prevention, detection, dealing and control of any heating or fire;(c)the examination and maintenance of the protective measures taken to control or isolate a fire or heating;(d)ensuring safety of persons engaged in the said operations, and the scheme shall be suitably modified and kept updated as the situation warrants.
