425Shafts and winding

425 Shafts and winding

The operator of a prescribed mine must—

(a) ensure that every winding system for a shaft at the mine includes—

(i) ropes that will enable the shaft conveyance to bear the weight that can reasonably be expected to be borne by the shaft conveyance; and

(ii) controls and limiting devices to prevent any shaft conveyance from being overwound or overrun or from travelling at an unsafe speed; and

(iii) devices that detect slack rope or drum slip conditions, or tail rope malfunctions; and

(iv) devices that cause the winder to stop when a condition or malfunction referred to in subparagraph (iii) is detected; and

(v) an appropriate means of communication to and from every entrance to the winder room that is in use; and

(b) ensure that the ropes in the winding system of any shaft are tested regularly to ensure the safe performance of the ropes; and

(c) if a shaft conveyance carrying persons and a shaft conveyance carrying material operate in the same shaft, ensure that the persons being carried are adequately protected from the shaft conveyance carrying material and from any material that might leave its shaft conveyance and cause injury; and

(d) if a shaft conveyance that combines a cage and skip is used, ensure that material is not carried in the skip while persons are being carried in the cage; and

(e) ensure that energy lockout devices are fitted to all mechanical and electrical plant associated with any shaft at the mine, including any mechanical and electrical plant associated with the operation, maintenance or use of the shaft; and

(f) ensure that material or plant being carried in shaft conveyances—

(i) does not protrude from the shaft conveyance while the shaft conveyance is moving; and

(ii) is so secured within the shaft conveyance that it cannot leave the shaft conveyance except by being removed deliberately; and

(g) ensure that, in relation to the automatic winding system for any shaft at the mine—

(i) the functions of the winder can be monitored from outside the winder house; and

(ii) warning systems are installed to alert persons at the mine of any emergency in the shaft; and

(iii) radio or other means of communication between the surface and any shaft conveyance carrying persons is provided and maintained; and

(h) ensure that facilities for loading material or plant onto or into a shaft conveyance are designed and operated so as to prevent spillage into the shaft.