Escapeway routes; examination; escapeway maps; drills.

(a) In mines and working sections opened on and after January 1, 1974, all travelable passageways designated as escapeways in accordance with §75.1704 shall be located to follow, as determined by an authorized representative of the Secretary, the safest direct practical route to the nearest mine opening suitable for the safe evacuation of miners. Escapeways from working sections may be located through existing entries, rooms, or crosscuts.

(b) In mines and working sections in existence prior to January 1, 1974, all travelable passageways designated as escapeways in accordance with §75.1704 shall, no later than June 30, 1974, be located to follow, as determined by an authorized representative of the Secretary, the safest, direct practical route to the nearest mine opening suitable for the safe evacuation of miners. Escapeways from working sections may be located through existing entries, rooms and crosscuts.

(c)(1) All escapeways shall be examined in their entirety at least once each week by a certified person. Such weekly examination need not be made during any week in which the mine is idle for the entire week, except that such examination shall be made before any miner other than the certified person returns to the mine. The phrase "once each week" shall mean at intervals not exceeding seven days.

(2) The certified person making such examination shall place his initials, the date, and time at various locations along the passageways and, if any hazardous conditions are found, such conditions shall be reported promptly to the operator. The results of the examinations shall be recorded in the book specified in §75.1801 relating to the examination of emergency escapeways. Any hazardous conditions observed shall be corrected immediately.

(d) A map of the mine, showing the main escape system, shall be posted at a location where all miners can acquaint themselves with the main escape system. A map showing the designated escapeways from the working section to the main escape system, shall be posted in each working section, in order that the miners in the section can acquaint themselves with the designated escapeways from the section to the main escape system. All maps shall be kept up to date, and any changes in routes of travel, location of doors, or direction of air-flow shall be promptly shown on the maps when the changes are made and shall be promptly brought to the attention of all miners.

(e) Practice escapeway drills shall be conducted so that all miners are kept informed of the route of escape, any necessary ventilation changes, the location of fire doors, check curtains, or smoke-retarding doors, and plans for diverting smoke from escapeways. Such practice drills shall ensure that each miner travels the escapeways through his respective working section up to the main escapeways at least once every 90 days, and that at least two miners, including the supervisor, on each producing section travel through the main escapeways up to the portal at least once every six weeks.

(f) The practice escapeway drills may be utilized to satisfy the evacuation specifications of the fire drills required by §75.1101-23.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1219-0052)

[38 FR 30000, Oct. 31, 1973, as amended at 47 FR 14706, Apr. 6, 1982]

EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: At 57 FR 20914, May 15, 1992, §75.1704-2 was redesignated as §75.382, effective August 16, 1992. The text remaining in effect until August 16, 1992, is set forth above.