The Coal and Other Mines (Locomotives) Order 1956

Exhaust gases

29.  The manager of every mine in which any diesel locomotive runs shall ensure that no such locomotive runs therein if—

(a) in the case of a locomotive in a mine of stratified ironstone or of shale, being a locomotive which was in use before the first day of May, nineteen hundred and forty-nine or was required to be delivered under a contract made before that date, gas emitted from its exhaust contains more than 0.4 per cent. by volume of carbon monoxide or 0.15 per cent. by volume of oxides of nitrogen; or

(b) in any other case, gas emitted from its exhaust contains more than 0.2 per cent. by volume of carbon monoxide or 0.1 per cent. by volume of oxides of nitrogen.

30.—(1) No person for the time being operating any diesel locomotive in a mine shall keep the engine running when that locomotive is stationary except—

(a) during brief halts while the locomotive is in use; or

(b) while the locomotive is being tested.

(2) If at any place in a mine in which a diesel locomotive runs there is found in the general body of the air an amount of carbon monoxide exceeding 0.005 per cent. by volume, the manager shall forthwith take such steps as are necessary so to improve the ventilation at that place that that percentage of carbon monoxide is not exceeded.

(3) If at any place in a mine in which a diesel locomotive runs there is found in the general body of the air an amount of carbon monoxide exceeding 0.01 per cent. by volume, the manager shall ensure that no engine of a diesel locomotive is run at that place or at any other place at which such running could affect the ventilation at the first mentioned place until it has been determined that the amount of carbon monoxide in the general body of the air at the first mentioned place does not exceed 0.005 per cent. by volume.

31.—(1) The manager of every mine in which any diesel locomotive runs shall make and secure the efficient carrying out of arrangements whereby samples are taken by a competent person appointed for that purpose by him and analysed in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) At intervals not exceeding ninety days separate samples of the gas emitted from the exhaust of every diesel locomotive in use in the mine shall be taken when the engine of the locomotive is—

(a) developing maximum power; and

(b) idling with the locomotive stationary.

(3) At intervals not exceeding thirty days separate samples of the general body of the air shall be taken at places and times appointed by the manager so as to secure the detection of any harmful concentration of carbon monoxide produced by any diesel locomotive. An inspector may by notice served on the manager require him to appoint any place specified in the notice either instead of or in addition to any place already appointed by the manager.

(4) Every sample taken in pursuance of paragraph (2) of this regulation shall within four days of the taking thereof be analysed to determine the percentages of carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen therein and every sample taken in pursuance of paragraph (3) of this regulation shall within that period be analysed to determine the percentage of carbon monoxide therein and particulars of each such analysis shall be recorded forthwith in a book provided for that purpose by the owner of the mine. In reckoning a period of four days for the purposes of this paragraph no account shall be taken of any Saturday, Sunday or day of general holiday.