§ 45-417. Dust - Water lines - Sprinkling attachments.

The Mine Inspector is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to thoroughly inspect all underground excavations in all such mines as often as such Inspector may deem proper, for the purpose of ascertaining or discovering in the air in any such mine or mines the presence of dust in such quantities as shall be injurious to the health of the employees engaged in working in such underground excavations; and upon finding dust in the air of any such mine or mines in quantities exceeding three hundred particles per cubic centimeter, as shall tend to injure the health of the employees of such mine, such Inspector shall immediately notify the operator of such mine or mines, in writing, specifying the underground excavation so found to contain dust particles in excessive amounts, as aforesaid in the air thereof, and such operator of such mine or mines shall within fifteen (15) days after receiving such written notice, provide, install, and equip, and thereafter at all times maintain in such mine, a water line fully equipped, and in good serviceable working order and repair, leading up to the face of any and all drifts where dust is produced, or so close to the face of said drifts so that by the use of a suitable hose extension or sprinkling attachments to be supplied by the owner or owners of said mine, the mineral or earth in and adjoining the face of the drift or drifts of such mine can be sprinkled or wet by water from said pipeline; thereupon and thereafter, every person drilling, squibbing or blasting in said mine shall keep the face, surface, and drill holes in said drifts or drift wet or moist by the use of water from said water line to such an extent in such a way as shall prevent, as far as possible, any dust raising from the working of any such face, or from the drilling, blowing, or shooting of any hole or holes; and the ground foreman in charge of the underground workings in any such mine or mines, so equipped with a water line, shall require all ground or dirt after being shot or blasted to be thoroughly wet or sprinkled to such an extent as shall prevent, as far as is practicable any dust from arising therefrom, while the employees are at work therein.

Laws 1929, c. 42, p. 48, § 7.