Oklahoma § 45-416 - Health of employees - Underground excavations Ventilation

§ 45-416. Health of employees - Underground excavations Ventilation

The Mine Inspector is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed

to thoroughly inspect all underground excavations in all said mines

as often as he may deem proper, from and after the passage and

approval of this act, and ascertain the condition of such

underground excavations, and, if after such examination, the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 45. Mines and Mining

Inspector shall find in any such mine or mines that the health of

the employees is impaired by reason of there not being sufficient

circulation of air or ventilation for such employees, it shall be

the duty of such Inspector to immediately notify the operator of

such mine or mines, in writing, specifying the underground

excavations so found to be unhealthful, and direct such operator of

such mine to, within fifteen (15) days after receiving such written

notice, commence to drill a sufficient number of holes to such

underground excavation, or to sink a shaft to connect with such

underground excavation, or to make drift connection with a

contiguous mine, as may furnish a sufficient ventilation for such

mine or mines and to prosecute the work of correcting such defect in

ventilation, with all due diligence until completed. And the

Inspector shall have the power where and when the condition as

aforesaid is such as to be injurious to the health of said

employees, if he deems it for the best interest of the employees

engaged in working in such underground excavations, so affected by

such notice, to require all work and operations in such mine or

mines to cease until such defect in ventilation shall have been

corrected, or until further notified by such Inspector. During the

process of shaft sinking fresh air shall be supplied from the

surface. During the process of drifting or development for

ventilation, forced ventilation shall be provided and sufficient

ventilation shall be supplied in all dead ends. Where operations

are carried on at a shaft not connected with any mine or shaft,

ventilation shall be supplied from the surface by means of a fan

through a conductor down the shaft or down one or more drill holes

connected with the underground workings.

Laws 1929, c. 42, p. 47, § 6.