(1)The owner, agent and manager of every mine shall have a comprehensive programme in place to respond to any injury, illness or mine emergency that may occur at each mine including foreseeable industrial and natural disasters which shall include immediate first-aid treatment, medical treatment, transportation and evacuation of injured persons procedures to respond to emergencies that arise at the mine and arrangements for the rescue of persons incapacitated or trapped in coal mines.(2)The plan referred to in sub-regulation (1) shall cover mine evacuations and include-(a)establishment of individual responsibilities for administering actions identified to implement an emergency response;(b)establishment of emergency communication systems, procedures and individual responsibilities for carrying out emergency communications;(c)a system in place to provide immediate notification to all persons affected by the emergency, including alarms in place which shall be capable of being seen and heard by everyone affected.(d)a procedure to allow for the safe, orderly immediate withdrawal of persons from the mine or area of danger, including training on emergency escape routes and procedures;(e)procedures in place to be followed by workers who remain to perform critical operations before they evacuate, which include-(i)the selection of only those personnel who have received special training to respond to critical operations and mine emergencies, including mine tires and explosions;(ii)having procedures in place to ensure the locations that are safe for persons who would not be immediately withdrawn; and(iii)having the personnel equipped with the necessary gas-detection, equipment and other equipment or tools necessary to respond to the critical operation at hand;(f)providing persons with particular risks with the equipment necessary for escape, such as self-contained self-breathing devices etc.;(g)a response team that is trained and equipped and immediately available to respond to fires or other hazards that create mine emergencies;(h)procedures to account for all workers after the emergency evacuation is complete; and(i)providing relevant information and training all personnel, at all levels, including regular exercises in emergency prevention, preparedness and response procedures and periodic emergency drills.(2)The owner, agent and manager shall submit a copy of the emergency plan prepared by him to the regional inspector who may, by an order in writing approve such action plan, either in the Form submitted to him or with such additions and alterations as he may think fit, and the action plan so approved shall be enforced at the mine.(3)On receiving information of any emergency, the owner, agent and manager and in his absence the principal official present at the surface shall immediately put emergency action plan in operation.
