Dec 61-2006 Health & Safety Regs (Mining) (Engl)

8/7/2019 Dec 61-2006 Health & Safety Regs (Mining) (Engl)

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REPUBLIC OF MOAMBIQUE

COUNCIL OF THE MINISTRIES

DECREE Nr 61/2006, of December 26

TECHNICAL SAFETY AND HEALTHREGULATION IN

GEOLOGICAL AND MINING ACTIVITIES


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TECNHICAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATION IN GEOLOGICAL AND MINING ACTIVITIES

TECHNICAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATION

IN GEOLOGICAL AND MINING ACTIVITIES

NDICE PageCHAPTER I............................................................................................................................ 6

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS..............................................................6

CHAPTER II........................................................................................................................... 7

GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................................................................... 7

Exploitation Plan.................................................................................................................. 7

CHAPTER III........................................................................................................................14

WORKINGS WITH EXPLOSIVES.......................................................................................14Section I....................................................................................................................................16Storage and Transportation of Explosive Products....................................................................16

Section II...................................................................................................................................18Works with Explosives...............................................................................................................18

Round Plan/Blasting Diagram.......................................................................................... 18

Preparation of the Primers................................................................................................18

Detonators and Detonating/ Cords.................................................................................. 19

Return of Explosives and Detonators to the Magazine................................................. 24

CHAPTER IV....................................................................................................................... 28

CIRCULATION AND TRANSPORTATION.........................................................................28

Section I....................................................................................................................................28Workers.....................................................................................................................................28

Circulation in Emergency Ways....................................................................................... 32

Section II...................................................................................................................................32Equipments, Ore and Materials.................................................................................................32

Regulation and Signalling.................................................................................................32

CHAPTER V........................................................................................................................ 39

RECONNAISSANCE, EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES............................................................................................................................................. 39

Section I....................................................................................................................................39Exploration Works.....................................................................................................................39

Section II...................................................................................................................................40Exploration Trenches, Shafts and Adits.....................................................................................40

Section III..................................................................................................................................41Mechanical Drilling.....................................................................................................................41

Protection against Confined Waters................................................................................41

Draft 1 Revision 1 (English version)

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Signalling of the Works..................................................................................................... 44

CHAPTER VI....................................................................................................................... 45

SURFACE/OPEN CAST MINING OPERATIONS.............................................................. 45

Mining Plan......................................................................................................................... 45Section I....................................................................................................................................46Exploitation/Production..............................................................................................................46

Section II...................................................................................................................................50Extraction and Haulage ............................................................................................................50

Signalling of the Extraction.............................................................................................. 51

Works Signalling................................................................................................................ 53

Section III..................................................................................................................................53Dimension/Ornamental Stones..................................................................................................53

CHAPTER VII...................................................................................................................... 56

UNDERGROUND MINING.................................................................................................. 56

Section I....................................................................................................................................57Maps and Sections ...................................................................................................................57

Section II...................................................................................................................................59Shafts........................................................................................................................................59

Tests and Life Time............................................................................................................72

Section III..................................................................................................................................76Ground Control..........................................................................................................................76

Application Conditions for Backfilling Material..............................................................77

Section IV..................................................................................................................................81Lighting......................................................................................................................................81

Section V ..................................................................................................................................82Precaution against Waters Irruption...........................................................................................82

Section VI..................................................................................................................................83Fire-Damp and Explosive Dusts................................................................................................83

Warning on Grisu and Explosive Dust............................................................................ 85

Section VII.................................................................................................................................85Fire Prevention and Extinction...................................................................................................85

Section VIII................................................................................................................................88Machines and Equipments........................................................................................................88

Section IX..................................................................................................................................90Ventilation..................................................................................................................................90

Section X...................................................................................................................................98Underground Crushing..............................................................................................................98

Section XI..................................................................................................................................99Mine Safety Guarantee..............................................................................................................99

Section XII...............................................................................................................................101


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Lamphouse, Lanterns and Lamps...........................................................................................101

CHAPTER VIII................................................................................................................... 103

ARTISANAL MINING........................................................................................................ 103

CHAPTER IX..................................................................................................................... 109EXPLOITATION OF MINERAL WATER...........................................................................109

Section I..................................................................................................................................109Exploration, Research and Evaluation.....................................................................................109

Workers Safety................................................................................................................. 109

Section II.................................................................................................................................110Captation and Bottling of Waters.............................................................................................110

Workers Safety................................................................................................................. 110

CHAPTER X...................................................................................................................... 114INSTALLATIONS, MINERAL PROCESSING AND INDUSTRIAL ANNEXES................114

Section I..................................................................................................................................115Crushing, Grinding and Milling Installations.............................................................................115

Section II.................................................................................................................................118Concentration Installations......................................................................................................118

Section III................................................................................................................................120Industrial Annexes...................................................................................................................120

CHAPTER XI..................................................................................................................... 125

HEALTH AND SAFETY.................................................................................................... 125Section I..................................................................................................................................125First Aid...................................................................................................................................125

Section II.................................................................................................................................129Health and Safety Services......................................................................................................129

Section III................................................................................................................................130Health and Safety Committees................................................................................................130

Section IV................................................................................................................................132

Section V.................................................................................................................................133

Aptitude and Qualification of the Workers................................................................................133CHAPTER XII.................................................................................................................... 134

WORKERS PROTECTION...............................................................................................134

Section I..................................................................................................................................139Preventive Measures...............................................................................................................139

Section II.................................................................................................................................142Social Installations...................................................................................................................142

Section III................................................................................................................................143Personal Protective Equipment................................................................................................143

CHAPTER XIII................................................................................................................... 146


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MINE CLOSURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION............................................. 146

CHAPTER XIV................................................................................................................... 149

DIVERSE PRECEPTS.......................................................................................................149

Section I..................................................................................................................................149Discipline of the Mining Activity................................................................................................149

Section II.................................................................................................................................151Final Dispositions.....................................................................................................................151

Delegation of Powers...................................................................................................... 151

FINAL NOTE OF THE TRANSLATORS..................................................................................152

ANNEX I: GLOSSARY...................................................................................................... 153

ANNEXE II ACCIDENT COMMUNICATION ACCIDENT REPORT FORM..................164


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Verso10a de 6 de April de 2005

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONSArticle 1

Objective

The objective of this Regulation is to define measures that will improve workers healthand safety conditions, including the application of measures for the prevention ofaccidents, the professional risks and hygiene at work place in the mining sector.

Article 2

Application Extent

1. This Regulation applies for all activities of reconnaissance, exploration,evaluation and mining of mineral resources.

2. Activities related to reconnaissance, exploration, evaluation and production of oil,natural gas and hydro-soluble minerals are excluded from the present Regulation.

Article 3

Definitions

The meaning of the terms and the expressions herein used are included in the annexeI, which is an integrant part of this Regulation.

Regulation Moz 6


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CHAPTER II

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 4

Exploitation Plan

1. All mining activities in compliance with the Article 5 of the Mining Law and its relevantregulations are to be conceived, planned, equipped, developed and kept valid forthe best available techniques in safety and hygiene.

2. The exploitation plan consists of mining plan, activities schedule, health and safetyplan, mine closing plan, and environmental management rules, according to Article38 of the Mining Law, and shall evidence the applicability of the mining methods andequipment, in the interest of good mining practice, which should lead to minimumloss of the mineral resources.

3. The mining plan must be updated whenever there are significant changes on themethods and progress of works, or in the safety and hygiene conditions of themining area.

Article 5

Health and Safety Plan

1. All mines must be preceded by a technical safety and health plan, containing thefollowing information:

a) Evaluation of the risks to which the workers are exposed when performingtheir tasks, namely the prevision of fire and explosion sources, the use andmaintenance of the equipment and the specific conditions at work places;

b) Definition and application of the adequate measures in the prevention ofrisks, work accidents and professional diseases.

2. The preparation of the health and safety plan must take into account the event of

other activities and the presence of elements already existing on site and at thesurroundings, which direct or indirectly, may danger or restrain the safety of thework and workers.

3. In the existence of more than one company working simultaneously at the same site,the technical safety and health plan must identify the company, which will coordinatethe application of the safety measures and health, without exempting theresponsibility of the other companies, in what concerns to its workers and in theprinciple of collective responsibility.


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h) Attend the health and safety committees, and the safety technicians and officers,on the matters of their competence;

i) Freely supply the workers, and others, with the personal protective equipment

considered necessary for the work to be done, adapted to the work conditions,being ensured its hygiene, maintenance and use;

j) Guarantee that first aid services are created and kept in function, and wheneverneeded, the medical services;

k) Keep in good hygienic and functioning conditions the sanitary installationsrequired by law.

Article 7

Workers Obligations/Duties

Workers obligations/duties are:

a) Follow the internal regulations of the company concerning the professional risksand the maintenance of hygiene at work places, carrying out the dispositions ofthe present Regulation as well as other applicable precepts, and also thedirections given by the entity that leads them;

b) Acquire knowledge about hygiene, first aid and safety at work place, which aretransmitted by the mining titleholder or by the Labour Health and Safetycompetent entity in this area;

c) To use properly the provided individual protection equipment, and maintain themin good conservational conditions;

d) Strictly follow the norms and instructions about safety, in general andindividually, and abstain from any actions that may cause dangerous situations,such as modifying, displacing, removing, damaging or destroying the safetydevices or any other protection systems;

e) Immediately communicate to the hierarchical superior abnormal situations,equipment failures or imperfections and the instability of work places, susceptible

of causing accidents;

f) Take care of their personal hygiene, in order to preserve health and also to avoidthe spread of contagious diseases amongst the other workers.

Article 8

Workers Rights

1. The workers have the right to:


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4. The training and instructions transmission language must be the official one, whichmust be also coupled with the predominant language in the mining area.

Article 10

Risks and Emergencies

1. The mining titleholder or mining pass holder must prepare a plan containing a set ofmeasures, namely the following:

a) In the case of risk of flooding related to the weather conditions, or in the case ofintersected hydrostatic water level the plan must have a pumping system withenough capacity, and measures to prevent accidents such as evacuation planand the energy supply control;

b) In the case of unstable rock formations the plan must contain the type oftimbering, method of application and controlling systems;

c) The scaling method of the working faces, the safety measures and control of thisoperation must be part of the program;

d) In areas susceptible to intense thunderstorms the underground or open castmining operations, must be protected by lightening-conductors system controlsfor electrical charges.

2. In the imminence of serious risk situations for the workers life or health, the miningtitleholder or mining operator must immediately communicate this fact to theInspeco Geral dos Recursos Minerais (Mineral Resources General Inspection),so that they may determine the immediate suspension of the works directly orindirectly related to these risks.

3. In case of the suspension of work according to the terms of the previous number, therestart of activities will require an expressed authorization of the competent entity,after verifying the applied correct measures for reduction of the serious or imminentrisks as defined by the program referred to in n.1 of the present article.

Article 11

Accidents

1. The mining titleholder or operator must communicate to the Inspeco Geral dosRecursos Minerais (Mineral Resources General Inspection), the occurrence of anymaterial incident, namely important collapses, extraction ropes failure, flood, fire,explosion or other occurrences of identical nature.

2. Without prejudice of the notifications due to the other applicable legislation, themining titleholder or mining operator must communicate to Inspeco Geral dosRecursos Minerais (Mineral Resources General Inspection), within 24 hours time,all accidents which result in death or serious injury of the workers, or, if


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independently, of personnel injuries, resulting in extremely dangerous situations tothe health and safety of the workers.

3. After the occurrence of such situations as referred to in the previous number, all work

shall be suspended if susceptible to destruct or change the traces left at the site,without prejudice to the assistance to the victims.

4. In the situation of fire, explosion, or in the presence of irrespirable or noxiousatmospheres, the mining titleholder must, immediately, evacuate the workers fromthe affected places and communicate these facts in the terms, and within the timereferred to in n. 2 of the present article.

Article 12

Inquiry

1. The condition of the site where an accident has occurred, which resulted in death orserious injury of workers, cannot be changed until an inquiry is conducted by thecompetent entities, unless for motives of personnel rescue or site safety.

2. The competent entity must indicate, in each case, the conditions to observe whenreinstate the work.

Article 13

Accidents Statistics

1. The mining titleholder, mining pass holder or mining operator must send a monthlydescription of the accidents occurred to Inspeco Geral dos Recursos Minerais(Mineral Resources General Inspection), reporting the number of victims withpermanent or partial disability.

2. The information referred to in the previous number must be sent to the competententity and in the reports form which is included as an annex of this Regulation (accidentreports form as in annex II).


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Article 14

Annual Report

Beyond the required information as in Article 54 of the Mining Law Regulations and forsafety purposes, an annual report must be sent to the competent entity, with thestatistics of accidents, number of fatalities, as well as information related tooccupational diseases.

Article 15

First Aid and Rescue

1. The mining titleholder or mining operator must provide first aid and rescueservices in compliance with chapter XI of this Regulation, about safety and healthorganization.

2. The mining titleholder or mining operator must prepare and execute a trainingprogram on rescue and evacuation.

3. The mining titleholder or operator should have available first aid and rescueequipment ready to function in case of an emergency which must be kept inaccessible places.


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CHAPTER III

WORKINGS WITH EXPLOSIVES

Article 16

Use of Explosives and Black Powder

1. Without prejudice to specific legislation applicable to transporting, storage and useof explosives, the mining titleholder or mining operator is subject to the rules of thepresent Regulation.

2. In mining and quarrying, and other activities covered by the present Regulation, theuse of explosives must be approved according to the applicable legislation.

3. Persons duly authorised under the terms of the applicable legislation should do theissuing from magazine, transportation, storage, distribution and return of non-usedexplosives.

4. The handling and use of explosives can only be done by duly qualified persons.

5. The cartridges of the explosives cannot be cut or broken, except for restricted andclearly defined uses, casuistically authorised by the technical director.

6. The use of explosives in bulk is permitted when technical/economical circumstancesadvise so, and by means of authorisation of the competent entities under the terms

of the applicable legislation.

7. The black powder should only be utilised in the form of cartridges.

Article 17

Opening of Explosives Packages

1. In the opening of packages containing explosives, the operator is only allowed touse wooden chisels and mass hammers, being the use of other materials subject toapproval, according to the specific legislation.

2. The carton packages, which carry explosives, may be opened with metallicinstruments, but in such case, the opening tool must not touch the metallic clips.

Article18

Frozen or Deteriorated Explosives

1. Gelignite and other explosives, frozen, exuded or deteriorated, cannot be utilised,nor even go into the working places.

2. The defrosting of explosives must be done outside of the mine workings and out ofthe magazine, after special precautions are taken.


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3. Explosive products that are not in perfect conditions must be immediately unutilizedoutside of the mine workings, according to the specific legislation.

Article 19

Restrictions on the Use of Explosives

1. It is prohibited:

a) To introduce in the same blasting hole, more than one primer (chargedcartridge), except under special conditions, clearly justified and authorized by thecompetent entity;

b) To introduce in the same blasting hole, simultaneously, explosive and blackpowder;

c) The handling or even the presence of workers near the explosives, during theforthcoming or eminence of thunderstorms and lightning.

d) To use of normal electric detonators, within minimum protection distances fromradio and TV stations, cellular phones, telephone lines and high voltage powerlines must respect the relevant legislation.

e) To smoke during the handling of explosive products in the mining operations.

2. For the purpose of the disposed in the paragraph c) of the previous number, the twowires of an electric detonator must be kept connected one to the other in short-circuit in the cases of charged holes or in cases where detonators stay out of thecontaining packages, aiming at guaranteeing its isolation against induced currents;

3. During the handling of explosives or at any time of its transportation and chargingphases, is not allowed to make fire or use artefacts and equipments that canproduce sparks, fire or the rise of temperature.

4. During the handling of explosives and detonators the use of mobile telephones orother high frequency communication equipments is not allowed.

Article 20

Training of Operators

Whenever the mining titleholder or mining operator has an intention to use explosives,he must promote at his own expenses the training of the explosive operators.


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Article 21

Technical Characteristics

1. The explosives to be used during the stoping works or in the opening of other miningworks must be chosen in order to the technical requirements needed.

2. In mining wet working conditions where the water quantity makes it difficult to cleanthe blasting holes, the technical director must decide for a water resistant explosives(i.e. gelamonite (gelignite), water based emulsion, or impervious explosivecartridges).

Section I

Storage and Transportation of Explosive Products

Article 22

Storage

1. The explosive cartridges, detonating cord and detonators, as well as the firing cord,must be kept in separate and carefully locked in appropriate magazines used onlyfor that purpose, until the moment to be used.

2. The explosives must be kept far from fire and any easy corroding and flammable

substances, as well as out of places where blasting may occur, and be protectedfrom humidity, shocks and electric currents.

3. Whenever consumption is justified, the mining titleholder or mining operator canapply for the installation of two different magazines for explosives and detonators.

4. The licence for construction and use of explosives and detonators magazines isgoverned by specific legislation.

Article 23

Distribution

1. The explosives must be distributed only and directly to the final use working facesand in the exact quantities needed to perform the referred operations.

2. The explosive products of each category, as much as possible, must be distributedaccording to the date of arrival and storage in the magazine.

3. Only the necessary quantity of explosives must be delivered to the explosiveoperators for specific activity.


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Article 24

Transportation of Explosives

1. The explosives must be transported, from the magazines to the charging orpreparation places or stoping area, in wooden boxes, or leather, or other resistantand impermeable bags.

2. Materials that can produce sparks are not allowed in the manufacturing of thewooden boxes and bags.

3. The explosives boxes and bags must be equipped with safe lockers and suspendingbands.

4. The explosives can alternatively be transported to the charging sites in the originalpackages, if the quantity to be used exceeds 50 Kg:

5. In cases where trolleys are used for the transportation of explosives quantitiesexceeding 50 Kgs, special rules and procedures must be made and approved by thecompetent entity.

6. The detonators must be transported in specific boxes, exclusively committed to thisuse.

7. Black powder and explosives, or detonating cords and detonators, must always betransported separately.

Article 25

Manual Explosives Transportion

1. The workers in charge of the manual transportio of explosives must be informedabout the inherent risks related to the operation.

2. The maximum load allowed for manual transport is fixed at 30 Kg, and must be doneby using the type of devices described in the previous article.

3. Detonators and detonating cord must be transported in specific packages apart fromexplosives.

Article 26

Mechanical Explosives Transportion

1. In mechanical transportation of explosives and detonators, those must betransported in separate vehicles

2. The transportation of explosives and/or detonators in heavy equipments, such asconveyer belts and dumpers is expressly forbidden.


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Section II

Works with Explosives

Article 27

Round Plan/Blasting Diagram

1. Whenever needed the use of explosives, the technical director must study, plan andapply a round plan/blasting diagram, adapted to the rock mass characteristics and tothe intended result, namely the area and volume to be blasted and productcharacteristics to get off.

2. The round plan must take into account the rock type and structure, the productioncapacity, the economy of the processes, the blasting and the local and

environmental conditionings.

3. The round plan must define the drilling pattern, the diameter, inclination, length andnumber of holes, the type and quantity of explosive, total and per drillhole, the typeof detonators and respective delay time, global resistance of the circuit and thetolerance.

4. Protective measures against projections, noise and vibrations, must be defined inthe round plan.

5. In underground mining, apart from the conditions described in the previous

numbers, additional consideration must be taken relating the ventilation plan as wellas with ensuring the fast exhaust of fumes.

6. In underground mining, whenever the existence of gases or explosive dust isforeseeable, only safety detonators and explosives are allowed, approved by thecompetent entity.

Article 28

Drilling

1. In the beginning of drilling, the use of sockets of drilled holes and misfires of theprevious blast is not allowed.

2. The drilling operation must never be done simultaneously along with the chargingoperation.

Article 29

Preparation of the Primers

1. The preparation of primers must be done in a proper dedicated site for that effect or,if not possible, at a sheltered place, well lighted and interdicted to the

presence/circulation of personnel.


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2. In the cases of deficient natural illumination during the preparation of primers (theintroduction of the firing cord in the detonator and the introduction of this one in theexplosive) adequate electric light or a flame-protected lamp must be used.

3. For the purpose of the number 1 of the present article, the site for preparation of theprimers must be well ventilated, free from combustible materials and interdicted toother persons presence and circulation.

4. During the preparation of the primers the presence of people not committed to theoperations is not permitted.

Article 30

Detonators and Detonating/ Cords

1. The detonator to be used in an operation must be strong enough to ensure thedetonation of the primer, even in open air.

2. The detonator to be used in explosives of normal sensibility is number #8, whetherelectric or pyrotechnical.

3. The detonator to be used with black powder, which can explode by a simple flame,must be number #6 being interdicted to cause its explosion by other than by adetonator.

4. The detonators and the detonating cord must be inserted in the explosive onlyimmediately before its utilization.

5. The detonator must be introduced into the respective cartridge through a hole donewith an appropriate piercer without forcing its penetration.

6. The removal or opening of a detonator, either pyrotechnical or electrical, it isforbidden.

7. The use of electrical detonators of different makes, even being of the same type(instantaneous, slow detonator or micro delay), is interdicted in the same blastingoperation.

8. It is also interdicted the combined use of detonators of different type in the sameblasting operation, namely:

a) Electrical and pyrotechnic detonators;

b) Normal electrical detonators and slow electrical detonators;

c) Slow electrical detonators and micro delay electrical detonators.


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Article 31

Fuse/Firing Cord

1. The burning speed of the fuse/firing cord must not exceed 1 meter per minute.

2. The burning speed must be verified whenever a new delivery of firing cord occurs orwhenever its permanence in the magazine is over three months.

3. The firing cord must be cut to square angle and fixed to the detonator withappropriate pliers for this operation.

4. The firing cord used with black powder or with explosives must have a minimumlength of 5,0 meters and must allow an end with a minimum length of 0,20 metersremaining out of the hole.

5. It is not permitted to tie up knots with the firing cord.

Article 32

Charging up

1. Before being charged up the drillholes must be cleaned removing the water anddrilling detritus.

2. The drillhole diameter must be larger than the one of the cartridges, which is to be

verified by using a sized charging stick/stemming rod.

3. The cartridges must be inserted in the drillhole and, if necessary, slowly pushed withthe appropriate charging stick/stemming rod avoiding shocks and abruptmovements.

4. The stemming rod must be wooden made or of other adequate materials, whichcannot produce sparks or electrical discharges when in contact with the inner wall ofthe hole.

5. The stemming must be made with water, clay, or non-flammable and exempt of free

silica pulverulent material or other material duly approved by the competent entity,and which length should not be shorter than 0,20 meters.

6. The primer must always be placed at one of the ends of the charge, top or bottom,with the detonators bottom turned to that end.

7. When bulk explosives, powder or slurry are used, the charging method must ensurethe continuity of the charge in the hole, using, if possible, appropriate chargingequipment.


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8. In wet terrains or aquiferous hydrogeological systems the explosive cartridges mustbe made of impermeable material and its blasting must be carried out as soon aspossible.

9. In flooded drillholkes, powder and bulk explosives shall not be used.

10. In flooded ground conditions and if bulk explosives are likely to be used, the slurryexplosives with watery base must be adopted.

Article 33

Electric Connections and Ignition

1. The wire points of the detonators and the fire cable ending points must be kepttogether in short-circuit till the moment of connection;

2. The operator of explosives must ensure the possession of the electric starter keyduring the charging and connecting phase untill the detonation.

3. The connections between the detonators and the firing cable must be made in sucha way that it guarantees the minimum electrical resistance and must be protectedagainst contact with the earth and/or other conductors.

4. The firing cable connection to the electric starter can only be made after themeasurement of the resistance of the circuit and its confirmation with the valueforeseen in the round plan.

5. The ignition of the blasting circuit only can be made after the operator of explosivehas verified that all the workers are properly protected, the accesses duly controlledand having no risks to third parties.

Article 34

Fuse or Pyrotechnic Ignition

1. In fuse/pyrotechnic ignition with firing cord, the way out to be covered by theexplosive operators, after the ignition, must be clean and free of all obstacles thatcan provoke falls or cause difficulties in withdrawals or evacuation.

2. When the number of holes per blast is higher than 5, an electric ignition, detonatingcord or firing cord with its appropriate ignition device must be used, not allowing thenumber of firings to be superior to 5.

3. The use of the firing cord as a means of an ignition system is forbidden, when:

a) There is a danger of explosions provoked by flammable gases, explosive dust or byfires.

b) The pathways are difficult or with the risk of falling down;


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c) The ground is too wet and slippery.

4. In underground works the blasting cannot be done before all workers are in a safeplace, outside or at underground, but always outside of the blasting area.

Article 35

Electrical Ignition

1. The electrical ignition must be used on shaft sinking, pit or raise opening and in allcases where the safety of the workers recommends it.

2. In electric ignition the fire cables and the connections with the detonators must beconveniently insulated.

3. The fire cable lines must be placed in a way not to be in contact with power lines,metallic pipes or other electrical conducting materials.

4. Only the explosives operator is authorized to connect the fire lines to the detonatorsand this operation only can be performed if the operator has the electric starter keywith him.

5. The connection to the electric starter cannot be done before the control of theresistance of the circuit with an ohmmeter and with the workers duly sheltered.

6. The explosives operator must carry out, periodically, revisions and verifications ofelectric starters and keep the records of these operations.

7. The individual resistance of one detonator only can be controlled with an ohmmeterhomologated by the competent entity.

8. In electrical ignition it is not permitted to blast when the number of holes is higherthan the nominal capacity of the electric starter

Article 36

Nonel System

In blasting, whenever it is intended, significant risk reduction or an improvement on theperformance of the bulk explosives, the nonel system can be used for blasting.

Article 37

Blasting in Surface/Open Cast Mining

1. In open cast/surface mining, before blasting and with the required antecedence,acoustical and visual signals must be used to efficiently prevent accesses in thevicinity of working places.


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2. The acoustic signals must signalize the beginning and the end of the operation asan indication for the signalmen to open or close the traffic and the circulation ofpeople.

3. Whenever it is necessary to put the signalmen on public roads during the blastingoperation, they must wear adequate clothing that identify the operation and use redflags with the dimension 0,40 X 0,30 meters and they must have a position at thepassage ways that permits its visibility, at least 150 meters from the site

4. When there are curves that can difficult the visibility, the signalmen must stay in aposition that can be sighted at least at 150 meters.

5. Whenever there are contiguous quarries or other close mining works usingexplosives, the respective operators must coordinate the blasting hours and theposition of the signalmen and other workers in charge of the safety.

Article 38

After Blasting Control

1. Before the work is started, the explosives operator must be sure of the absence ofany risk, namely the misfired holes, explosives or detonators dispersed in theblasted broken rock.

2. After blasting it is forbidden the access of persons in the blasted area before theexplosives operator, responsible for blasting, verifies the safety conditions.

3. The signalmen on duty must keep in their vigilance position and cannot givepermission to the people and vehicles to go until the signal end of danger hasbeen given by the explosives operator

Article 39

Restarting the Work after Blasting

1. In the case where one or more holes have not exploded, the access to the workingface will be interdicted for a period of 5 minutes or 1 hour according to the use ofelectric or fuse ignition, respectively.

2. The face must be carefully scaled by skilled people, and, if possible sprinkled withwater to settle down dust and blasting gases.

Article 40

Control of the Misfired Holes

1. Whenever there are misfired holes, after the blasting, those must be marked andkept under surveillance till they are rendered safe.


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2. When the misfired holes result from pyrotechnical blasting, it is not allowed, toreinflame the fuse to try its explosion.

3. It is not allowed to remove the explosives and detonators by pulling the electric

wires.

4. The misfired holes must be washed with a water jet to take off the stemming andthen must be detonated with a new primer, except in fiery mines where it isapplicable the disposed in number 6 of the present article.

5. If the situation referred to in the previous number is verified, after the charge andblasting of the explosive, the loading operation must be carefully done.

6. In fiery mines, a parallel hole to the misfired one must be drilled at a safe distance toavoid the possible contact, but with sufficient proximity to ensure the sympathy

detonation by effect of the misfired charge.

7. Other procedures can be used if authorized by the competent entities.

Article 41

Marking of Holes

The remaining portion of the holes (sockets) at a stoped face after blasting must be dulymarked and cannot be utilized for deepening/re-drilling and re-use.

Article 42

Return of Explosives and Detonators to the Magazine

After blasting, the explosives operator must organize and promote the return anddevolution to the magazine, of the remaining explosives and detonators not used andnot detonated.

Article 43

Destruction of Explosives

1. Explosives with evidences of damage or exudation, or resulting of misfiring ofcharged holes, cannot be re-used in the blasting works, nor even handled bypersonnel not qualified for the use of this type of explosives.

2. The explosives and detonators resulting of misfired holes must be removed andplaced in appropriate recipients and stored in an identified place for posteriordestruction.

3. Adequately skilled people must do the removal of the apparently deterioratedexplosives and detonators from the respective magazines.


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4. The destruction of explosives and detonators must be done according to theprecepts of the specific legislation.

Article 44

Protection against Electrical Currents

1. Whenever existing, the possibility of inducted currents at the electric blasting firelines, caused by high or very high tension power lines, faulty/defective alternatingcurrent or high frequency installations, only high resistance detonators that cannotspontaneously detonate can be used.

2. With the purpose of avoiding the induced currents at the fire cables that can provokea uncontrolled blast, the fire cables must be placed at a distance not less than 0,5meters of other metallic conductors and at least at 1 meter of other cables, or

electric devices.

3. For the purpose of the rules of the above numbers, and if it is not possible to use,without any risk, electric detonators, then, the nonel system or pyrotechnicdetonators with or without detonating cord must be used.

Article 45

Electrical Ignition in Underground Works

1. In underground works, when the electrical ignition is done from surface, the firecables must have a cross-section big enough to assure the intensity of thenecessary current for the ignition of all detonators, which cannot have mends andmust stay far off of other conductors.

2. In underground works, the ignition by radiofrequency must be made by means of adevice with sufficient power to assure the blasting.

3. The ignition equipment for underground blasting must have enough capacity for thatpurpose, must be protected against moisture and periodically verified, and thevalues of the verification registered in the appropriate book.

4. In the presence or if there is an expected threat of a thunderstorm, it is not allowed

to ignite an underground blasting from surface.

5. The ignition of an underground blast from surface can only be done after the exit ofall workers from the mine.

Article 46

Verification of Induced Currents

The blast/firing circuits with induced currents or static electricity, must be controlled atleast every six months and the values must be registered in the appropriate book.


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Article 47

Workings with Fire and/or Explosion Dangers

1. In mine workings, susceptible to fire or explosions risks, the maximum charge perhole must be fixed in accordance to the technical parameters of the explosive andafter safety tests being carried out.

2. The explosives and detonators to be used in explosive atmospheres must berecommended by the manufacturer and expressly authorized in compliance with theapplicable legislation in force.

3. In the definition and calculation of the round plan and in the choice and applicationof the detonators, safety explosives must be used, assuring an interval of less than200 milliseconds between the first and the last delay time of the detonators.

4. In the round plan it must be regarded the distance between holes, which cannot beless than 0,50 meters.

5. Is not allowed to blast uncovered/exposed explosives even if they result frommisfired holes.

Article 48

Use of Explosives in Fiery Mines

1. Before charging the holes, a control of methane and of explosive dusts content,

must be done, at least as far as 20 meters back off the face.

2. The control referred to in the previous number must be repeated immediately beforethe ignition.

3. Whenever the methane content is over 1% in volume or the weight of dust is higherthan 5 mg/m3, the blasting is not allowed and the face must be kept undersurveillance and under reinforced ventilation.

4. In underground mines with drifts/galleries driven in counter-attack (convergingmining) and the danger of fire or explosion exists, the control referred to in number 1

must be done in the two working faces.

5. The blasting in long wall stoping faces is only permitted if the control of the methanein all surrounding area, in a distance of 20 meters, shows a value less than 1% involume.

6. In long wall stoping, where the charging of a blasting front is being prepared to befired, the face must be carefully sprinkled to suppress the suspended dust to valuesnot susceptible to cause explosion.

7. Without prejudice of the previous number, it is allowed to blast since the dusts are

previously neutralized with inert powder.


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Article 49

Special Conditions

In duly settled special and conditions, the use of explosive products in differentconditions than the established in the present chapter can be authorized by thecompetent entity.


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CHAPTER IV

CIRCULATION AND TRANSPORTATION

Section I

Workers

Article 50

Ways of Circulation

1. The personal ways of circulation, also called man ways, at surface or undergroundworks, including the emergency access ways must be duly marked with signs and

free of obstacles or waste debris that can reduce the safety conditions.

2. In the case of conjoint circulation ways where it is not possible to define apassageway for personal (man way), the conditions of utilization must be regulatedfor people and for equipments.

3. All access ways, ladders, platforms, equipments and installations used forcirculation and transportation of personal, must warrant safe conditions and beregularly checked in order to ensure its maintenance safety, preservation andcleanness conditions.

4. The mining titleholder or mining operator must prepare an internal regulation whereit is stated the periodicity of the inspections referred to in the previous number,referring:

a) The circuits path and the means of transportation that can be used by theworkers;

b) The maximum number of workers per each of the means of transportationand the rules for its use;

c) The maximum allowed speed for those means of transportation.

5. The information referred to in paragraphs a) and b) of the previous number must beclearly displayed in the embarking and disembarking places.

Article 51

Conjoint Circulation

1. The conjoint circulation of people and equipment or materials at the beginningand end of the shifts is not allowed.


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2. Without prejudice of the disposed in the previous number and where the specialconditions of the ways of circulation permit, the technical director can authorize theconjoint circulation of workers and materials.

Article 52

Interdicted Circulation

The mining areas interdicted to the circulation of the people and equipments must beduly marked and solidly fenced.

Article 53

Pedestrian Circulation

1. In drifts with double track and without space for the pedestrian circulation,persons/workers must use the side facing the opposite traffic.

2. On pathways with slopes greater than 20 special measures must be adopted,namely:

a) Through the installation of cables or handrails;

b) Construction of solid fences between both pathways of the joint circulationbetween workers and equipments, to assure the workers protection.

3. Whenever stairs are used, they must obey to the following requirements:

a) Be of solid construction;

b) Have a minimum width of 0,30 meters;

c) The separation between the steps must not be higher than 0,30 meters;

d) Permit a firm support for the feet;

e) In cases where the treads/steps are made of crossbeams, the distancebetween them and the wall must be at least 0,15 meters.

4. Whenever the slope is greater than 45 or in slipping floor, the existence of stairsseparated by platforms at every 30 meters is compulsory.

5. The ascension or the descent in sub vertical stairs must be done facing the stairs.

Article 54

Transportation in Shafts

1. The transportation of people in shafts shall be done using cages or skips, dulyapproved by the competent entity.


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2. In the case of shaft opening, maintenance works, or during rescue operations,other means of transportation can be used, after the technical director hasestablished the necessary preventive measures to guarantee the maximum safety ofthe workers.

Article 55

Circulation in Underground Works

1. The workers circulation in the underground workings must obey to the followingconditions:

a) The parts of the drifts which are used for circulation by groups of 15 ormore workers, at the beginning and the end of shifts, they cannot havedimensions smaller than 2,20 meters wide and 2,0 meters high;

b) In the case where, at the beginning or at the end of the shifts, equipmentand workers can circulate simultaneously, this operation must be done in aneasy and safe way, if necessary, opening refuge chambers with minimum 6 m2

and spaced at least 30 meters;

c) The distance between the circulating equipment and the wall of the driftscannot be less than 0,60 meters;

d) All access ways of circulation must be kept free of any materials that cancause obstruction or derailment;

e) The mobile equipments must be equipped with bumpers that exceed itsstructure by at least 0,20 meters.

2. In specific cases, in compliance with the mine characteristics, the type of circulatingmaterial, the traffic density, and the number of workers, the competent entity candeterminate other circulation conditions.

Article 56

Workers Transportation

1. It is not allowed the transportation of the workers in compositions or mechanicaltransporters, assigned for minerals or materials, except in special cases dulyauthorized by the technical director.

2. Whenever necessary, the transport of workers in trains without the suitablewagons for this purpose, duly prepared wagonettes can be used, and this must obeyto the following conditions:

a) To be prepared in such a way that can provide a safe and comfortabletransportation;

b) To be equipped with safety coupling;


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c) Have the head protection (FOPs) mounted in a solid structure.

3. The operator of the transportation equipment is responsible for the complacenceof the provisions presented in the previous numbers.

4. The conditions for transporting workers in dumpers or other similar type ofvehicles used normally in transportation of materials must be foreseen in the internalregulation.

5. The transportation of workers in not prepared wagonettes is not allowed except:

a) To transport sick or injured workers and patients;

b) When they are used for the transport of workers in charge of maintenance,examination, tests or measurements, which by its nature needs such equipmentit must be authorized.

6. The workers transportation in the bucket of the loaders is not allowed, except inthe conditions of the previous number.

7. All equipments used in the workers transportation must be verified at thebeginning of each operation.

Article 57

Conveyor Belt Transportation

1. The transportation of workers by means of conveyor belts needs a projectapproved by the competent entity and must obey to the following conditions:

a) The belt must be incombustible;

b) The minimum width of the belt must be 90 cm;

c) The maximum speed must be previously authorized by the competententity and shall not exceed 2,0 meters per second;

d) End course devices, namely ejectors, automatic electric circuit breakers

and anti-sliding systems must be mounted and kept in operational conditions;

e) A device that cuts the energy to the head motor must be mounted, whichmay be put in to action at any place of the conveyor belt by any transportedworker;

f) An intercommunication system must exist at contact points located andspaced at distances less 100 meters;

g) The dimensions, shape, side protection devices and the position of theplatforms must be included in the approved project.


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2. The embark and disembark of the workers must be processed in the bestconditions of safety, from platforms prepared for that purpose and under the controlof a responsible worker specially appointed by the technical director.

Article 58

Circulation in Emergency Ways

1. The circulation of workers in the emergency pathways must be processed inaccordance with the working plans prepared by the technical director and thecirculating conditions must be included in the Safety and Health Plan.

2. Whenever it is foreseen the existence of inadequate breathing atmosphere, theworkers must use autonomous respiratory equipments placed at easy accessiblepoints dully marked.

3. The workers must be instructed about the adequate measures to be taken incase of emergency.

Section II

Equipments, Ore and Materials

Article 59

Regulation and Signalling

The mining titleholder or the mining operator must establish through an internalregulation, the norms for the circulation, signalling and safety in the geological andmining works under his responsibility.

Article 60

Stop and start

1. At the end of each shift or when a stop occur during a shift, the operator mustcut the power to the machine and verify whether the braking is correctly made andthe parking brake is pulled up.

2. The restart of the movement can only be done after checking that themachine is fully operational and the workers in the surroundings are safelyprotected.

Article 61

Conditions for Manual Transportation in Drifts/Galleries

For manual transportation, the drifts must be developed at equal resistance profiles,unless special reasons exhort against, being, in this case, subject to permission by the

competent entity.


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Article 62

Workers Safety during the Manual Transportation

1. The workers that push wagons must keep a distance of at least 10 metersbetween them in drifts of equal resistance and 25 meters in inclined drifts, except inthe stations and charging, discharging and switching points.

2. The workers in charge of pushing the wagons at low profile drifts must have theirhands protected with appropriate personnel protective equipment.

3. In inclined galleries, the workers cannot put themselves at the front of thewagons to moderate the speed or abandon them.

4. The workers must carry its own personal lamp, putting it in manner that assurebetter illumination of the space before him.

Article 63

Mechanical Transportation on Railways

1. The train engines (locomotives) must be equipped with brakes that can be put inaction by direct intervention of the operator, existing or not, another device toactivate the brakes.

2. The train engines and the other units forming the locomotives, cannot be keptworking or in movement, if any kind of deficiencies are identified.

3. All circulating material that derailed cannot be put in, without taking thenecessary precautions, through braking devices to avoid the ungoverned motion.

4. The last unit of the train must be signalized by a clearly visible red light.

5. Unless in case of manoeuvre, or with the expressed permission of the competententity, the locomotives must be always put in front of the train.

6. The number of units in each train must allow a safe stop in the desirable spaceaccording to the specifications of the manufacture.

7. Whenever two or more trains circulate in the same railway and in the samedirection they must keep among them a minimum distance of at least 100 m.

Article 64

Coupling and Uncoupling of Wagons

1. The places where the coupling and uncoupling of wagons is done shall behorizontal.


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a) Have at least two exit ways;

b) Be ventilated with an airflow, enough for diluting and making harmless thegases normally produced there, and the polluted flow driven out directly to the

exhaust ventilation shafts or raises;

c) Be equipped with incombustible materials;

d) Have an antisliding floor surrounded by a small wall to retain theeventually spills of fuel;

e) Have a fire fight system;

f) Be provided with fixed illumination;

g) Have adequate signing that forbids smocking or making fire.

Article 67

Batteries

The batteries of the locomotives only can be recharged or replaced in speciallyconstructed charging stations, equipped for this purpose, located at a site dulyventilated and marked and, preferably on surface.

Article 68

Trolley cable

The trolley cable installations must obey the specific norms approved by the competententity.

Article 69

Mechanical Transportation on Wheels (Tyres)

1. Vehicles mounted on wheels and used in mining operations, must obey thegeneral norms imposed on the circulation of these types of vehicles, and must be in

accordance with following conditions:

a) Have a lighting system that permits a good visibility of at least 80 meterswhen working underground;

b) Have a double brake system with independent activating system, beingone of them used for blocking the traction;

c) Have an automatic system to stop the machine, if the operator losescontrol over the commands (dead man pedal)


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2. The circulation of cargo and transport vehicles must obey to the rules included inthe internal regulation or, in its absence, to the circuits and dispositions imposed bythe technical director.

3. The load of the charging and transport vehicles cannot exceed the nominalcapacity, either the borders of the container or of the bucket.

4. The circuit of the cargo and transport vehicles must be conveniently marked andthe circulation on foot must be interdicted, except for the workers dully authorizedand at the fulfilment of his mission.

Article 70

Fixed Mechanical Conveyors

1. In the installation of the fixed mechanical conveyorsunderground, it must be left:

a) Enough free space surrounding the conveyors;

b) Free passage at least 0,60 meters wide between the conveyor and one of thewalls.

2. On the fixed mechanical conveyors an adequate system of signalization must be installed for the emission of sound warnings to the operator orcontroller.

3. The fixed mechanical conveyors shall always have at all length,devices either automatic or manual that can stop the engine system in the case ofemergency or deficient running.

4. The fixed mechanical conveyors installed in a sloping plane, musthave:

a) A system that impede the return of the motor drum:

b) A system that stop the motor in case of belt sliding;

c) An emergency stop system that can be operated at all lengths of the conveyor;

d) An auto-alignment system or lateral rollers that impede the belt to slide off the structure.

5. The system considered in the precedent number must stop theconveyor when it arrives at the point of maximum displacement.

6. The mechanical conveyor belts must normally be of theincombustible type. If they are not an automatic fire fighting system must bemounted.


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7. It is not allowed the storage or use of combustible materials at adistance less than 4 meters, in the place where the motors of the mechanicalconveyors are installed.


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Article 71

Inclined / Slope Planes

1. At the sloping planes with mechanical or gravity transport, devices permitting theexchange of clear and normalized signs between all charging points and themachinist must exist.

2. The fixed elements of an auto motor plane or winch must be installed withpermanent character and equipped with safety devices that assure its permanentfixation.

3. It is not allowed, in the loading of chariots or wagons, to exceed the maximumweight established in the internal regulation and the values must be placed in visibleway at all loading points.

4. The workers circulation at sloping planes during the transport operation is notallowed, except if adequate measures have been taken.

5. It is not allowed to use chariots or wagons for personal transportation.

6. The transportation of personnel at sloping planes must be authorized by thecompetent entity.


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CHAPTER V

RECONNAISSANCE, EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION OF MINERAL

RESOURCESArticle 72

Working Program

The execution of the reconnaissance, exploration and evaluation works must obey tothe prescriptions under the Mining Law and its Regulations.

Section I

Exploration Works

Article 73

Seismic Exploration

1. The explosives used for seismic exploration must obey all theprinciples included in the specific regulations for use of explosives.

2. The execution of seismic profiles must take into account andrestrict the presence of strange people in the working area.

3. Whenever earth moving is necessary for the execution of profilesand accesses, the earth material must be put back in accordance with theenvironmental management instruments referred to in the Environmental Regulationof the Mining Activity and other applicable legislation.

Article 74

Electric Exploration

1. In the execution of profiles or drillings in electric exploration using electric methods,the possibility of electrocution of animals or strange people on the works must be

prevented.

2. For the purpose of the previous number, the mining titleholder or mining operator,must:

a) Stick out the profiles with pickets and signing ribbons, put on both sides ofthe profile at minimum spacing distance of 20 meters.

b) Before injecting the electric current, signalize acoustically, with a longsound according to the internal regulation.


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c) To signalize acoustically with 3 short sounds at the end of the work andmove out the sticks.

Section II

Exploration Trenches, Shafts and Adits

Article 75

Methods and Techniques

1. The trenches and shafts of up to 10 meters depth, and the drifts up to 20 meters inlength, must be opened using the adequate technology and with protection againstcollapses or sliding.

2. In the drifts and shafts with dimensions larger than those considered in the previousnumber, good practice rules for underground works as established in the chapter VIIof this Regulation must be applied.

Article 76

Differentiation of Technologies

1. In the working programs it must be proposed the execution technologies to de usedfor:

a) Trenches depth, width, timbering, earth extraction, deposition ofextracted products, explosives to be used;

b) Shafts transversal section, depth, timbering, number of workers andmaterials circulation, protection against persons and materials falls, productsextraction and use of explosives;

c) Drifts or adits - transversal section, length, people and materialstransportation, ventilation, use of explosives.

2. The shafts and drifts collar must be protected against the fall of surroundingmaterials, people and animals and timbered at the length enough to assure theprotection against falling or sliding.

Article 77

Abandonment of the Working Areas

The exploration woks, namely trenches, drifts, adits and pits, must be closed andprotected for future observation or backfilled in accordance with the closure program ofthe mined area in compliance with the mining legislation.


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Section III

Mechanical Drilling

Article 78

Working Plan

1. The mechanical drilling plan, without prejudice of the disposed in the article 72 ofthe present Regulation, must contain the drilling location and the protection measuresof the existing installations, either at surface or underground.

2. The mechanical drilling that are executed in the areas that were subject of old mineworkings, must be executed with especial measures for the protection of workers and

equipment in order to assure that they will not be affected by any slippage orsubsidence.

Article 79

Protection against Gases

1. Whenever it is predictable the possibility of existence of gas pockets safetymeasures must be adopted to minimize the inherent risks.

2. In the mechanical drilling installations it is advised to use equipments driven by

internal combustion engines, and the working places must be localized in such away that the possibility of intoxication by the exhaust gases is avoided.

3. The exhaust of internal combustion engines in the mechanical drillinginstallations must be localized in such a way that prevents the risk of fires.

Article 80

Protection against Confined Waters

1. Whenever it is predictable the possibility of existence of under pressure confinedwaters under pressure, the necessary safety measures in order to minimize theinherent risks must be anticipated and put in practice, namely the installation ofautomatic safety retention valves.

2. The drilling working sites with the risk of water eruption caused by water underpressure cannot be placed in the area under direct influence of the eruption.

Article 81

Protection against Storms

1. In the case of approaching storms or thunderstorms, the workers must stand

under a shelter or a protected place against floods and lightening.


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2. Whenever a storm approaches and an electric discharge is predictable, to thetower or drilling masts, all intervention works in the tower or masts, or in itsproximity, must be interdicted.

Article 82

Lighting

1. The counters and all verification and control instruments must be mounted in agood visible place or have its own light.

2. In the case of night or underground work, the lighting system must assureenough luminosity that permits the circulation and work without risk to all concerneddrilling area.

Article 83

Work with Suspended Charges

1. When in the work place suspended charges exist, only the workers directlyrelated to the drilling operation can stay.

2. After the work and whenever it is possible, the suspended charges must be puton the ground and the chains and ropes eventually under tension must be released.

Article 84

Drilling Masts

1. The drilling masts used in the execution of drillholes, must be calculated havingin account the stability and the predictable static and dynamic charges.

2. When it is not possible to present the calculations referred to in the previousnumber, the masts must be submitted to a resistance test with a charge of 1,3 timesthe nominal permitted charge.

3. The resistance tests must be made annually and the results of the testsregistered in the appropriate book that must be kept during a period of at least 5

years.

4. The masts higher than 10 meters must be equipped with lightening-rods ofproved efficiency and the top of the drill rod should not pass the top of the tower.

5. Whenever there are maintenance works at drilling towers or masts, a safety beltmust be used by the workers.


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Article 85

Hawser Ropes

1. When the drilling work is done in the vicinity of power lines, the hawser ropesmust be installed, in order to prevent any electric discharge through them.

2. The resistance and the preservation of the hawser cables must be annuallycontrolled, or less, as defined by the technical director.

3. The results of the hawser cables control must be registered in the appropriatebook, referred to in number 3 of the previous article.

Article 86

Static Charge Control

1. Whenever the predictable static charge is over 10 tonnes the mast must beequipped with a charge control device.

2. The control system of charges referred to in the previous number, must beverified by the person responsible at the beginning of each shift and whenever it isproceeded with the mounting and dismounting of the drilling rods.

Article 87

Ropes and Pulleys

1. The ropes of the drilling equipment must be subject of daily verification and bereplaced if the safety factor is under 2,5.

2. In percussion drilling with cable, its safety factor cannot be lower than 4. Therope blocks and pulleys mounted on the mast must be equipped with devicesimpeding the cable to misalign and coming out of the pulleys groove.

3. The person in charge for the drilling works must fix the periodicity and the type oftests for controlling the ropes and connections conditions, and the maintenance of

the drilling equipment.

4. The results of the tests must be registered in the appropriate book.

Article 88

Drilling Casing and Rods

The responsible for the drilling works must define the conditions for the tests,transportation and storage of drilling pipes and rods.


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Article 89

Injection Pumps

The injection pumps must be equipped with safety devices that can react when thepressure is bigger that the nominal pump pressure, multiplied by 1,1.

Article 90

Deviation Control and Verifications

1. In all drillholes, convenient and necessary measurements must be made toassure a correct correlation of the geological data.

2. The drillholes must be followed and supervised by the person in charge of the

drilling works or by an assigned technician for the geological area.

Article 91

Signalling of the Works

During the mechanical drilling works, adequate signs must be installed announcing theexistence of the works, and alerting for the possibility of accidents or risk of accidents,calling its attention to the compulsory use of the individual protection equipment in allthe area of influence.

Article 92

Abandonment of the drillholes and Drilling Platforms

1. At the end of geological works and if future utilization is not predictablethe holes must be filled up with concrete.

2. The filling up referred to in the previous number must be made in such away that there is not reactivity between the filling concrete material and theintersected geological formations and the drill site, type and cement injectionoperations must be conveniently documented and registered in the drilling book.

3. The drilling platforms must be environmentally recovered and integratedinto the landscape according to the approved exploration-closing program.

4. In the case of the drillhole intersects ground water, under pressure, thedrillhole must be marked on a map, cased with steel pipe and top screwed valve forfuture control and utilization.


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CHAPTER VI

SURFACE/OPEN CAST MINING OPERATIONS

Article 93

Mining Plan

1. Without prejudice to article 44 of the Mining Law Regulation, the mining workingplan must specify the stoping method, which being by benching, must show:

a) The height and the slope of the working fronts (benches);

b) The banks width;

c) The blasting diagram pattern;

d) The type, dimension, adaptability and situation of the stoping machines,related to the working front, and its circulation conditions;

e) The driveways and circulation conditions of the machines for theremoval of the products;

f) The pathways and circulation conditions of the workers;

g) The excavation shape during and at the end of the works, which musttake into account the stability of the slopes and faces/benches.

2. Besides the disposed at the previous number, the following must be taken intoaccount:

a) Geological mapping showing the possibility of producing ornamentalstones/aggregates/ore mineral;

b) Hydrogeological survey showing the groundwater circulation on the rock mass to

be mined out and its relation with the stability of the mining operations;

c) Average size of the medium sized blocks, benches height, slope of faces,stoping method, blocks and waste evacuation, accesses ways for people andequipments.


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Section I

Exploit

Documents

Dec 61-2006 Health & Safety Regs (Mining) (Engl)