(1)All surface structures and supports within a horizontal distance of 10 meters from all entrances to a mine shall be of fireproof material:Provided that this sub-regulation shall not apply to temporary structures, supports and coverings at the top of a shaft which is in the course of being sunk and to the small lid of a shaft-covering operated by the rope cappel.(2)Shale or other carbonaceous material shall not be heaped or dumped, and dead leaves or dry vegetation shall not be allowed to accumulate or remain, and combustible materials other than materials required for use within a period of twenty- four hours, and inflammable materials shall not be stored within a distance of 15 meters from any entrance to a mine which is not effectively sealed off from the workings belowground:Provided that nothing in this sub-regulation shall prevent the dumping of coal raised from the mine, near the entrance of the mine.(3)In opencast working and in any ground broken by extraction of coal, all wild or herbaceous plants shall be removed and all dead leaves and dry vegetation cleared as often as may be necessary, to prevent an outbreak of fire.(4)No person shall deposit any heated material or ashes on any outcrop of coal seam or in any opencast working or on any ground broken by extraction of coal.(5)No person shall light a fire or permit a fire to be lighted in any opencast working or within a distance of 15 meters from any entrance to a mine, except by the permission in writing of the manager and only for a special purpose specified therein and all such permissions shall be recorded in a bound paged book kept for the purpose:Provided that this sub-regulation shall not apply to boilers other than vertical boilers.(6)A competent person shall, once at least in every seven days, inspect the top of all entrances to a mine, all opencast workings and any ground broken by extraction of coal in order to ascertain whether the precautions laid down under the regulation have been complied with, and for the presence of any fire that may have broken out or any indications thereof.(7)A record of every inspection made under sub-regulation (6) shall be maintained in a bound paged book kept for the purpose, duly signed and dated by the person making the inspection.
