Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996) Notices Guideline for the Compilation of a Mandatory Code of Practice for the Prevention of Flammable Gas and Coal Dust Explosions in Collieries Part A : The Guideline 4. Definitions and Acronyms

 

In this guideline for a COP or any amendment thereof, unless the context otherwise indicates:

 

means an area where coal mining or stonework has, temporarily or permanently, been stopped but which has not been sealed off.

 

means all workings other than:

 

means coal in which the percentage by mass of volatile matter content calculated on a dry ash-free basis, exceeds 14%.

 

means a fan that is designed to circulate air around a defined ventilation district of the mine in parallel or semi-parallel configuration with the surface fans.

 

means Chief Inspector of Mines.

 

means any metal object or cable that is connected to a source of electrical energy that has a potential to transmit electrical current.

 

means a seal which is designed to withstand a static pressure of 140 kPa.

 

means continuous electronic monitoring or regular monitoring with handheld gas testing or other instruments.

 

means any device for the creation of any spark or flame and / or any pipe, cigar, cigarette or tobacco other than chewing tobacco, but excluding any device designed specifically for the intentional creation of a spark for the lighting of welding or cutting torches taken underground with the written permission of the employer.

 

means Code of Practice.

 

means Department of Mineral Resources.

 

means electrical equipment, switchgear and reticulation systems that are flame-proof and distribution, control and communication systems that is intrinsically safe. Reference in this respect must be made to the use of such equipment in hazardous areas as defined under SANS 10108 and the SANS 60079 series of standards related to the use of equipment in hazardous atmospheres.

 

means a seal which is designed to withstand a static pressure of 400 kPa.

 

means the range between Lower Explosive Limit and Upper Explosive Limit of a flammable gas [or a mixture thereof] which is determined by an appropriate methodology which is fit for purpose such as USBM triangle, Coward triangle, and/or Le Chatelier’s rule.

 

means an area within 180 m from the coal face being worked.

 

means either methane, hydrogen, hydrocarbons or a mixture of any of these gases.

 

means a portable battery operated, continuous-duty device designed to give a clearly audible and a clearly visible alarm, should it be placed in an atmosphere containing a concentration of flammable gas, which equals or exceeds the set alarm level. The device may not have a facility allowing the user to turn the device off or to disable its operation in the working place and must be able to monitor and alarm even if the lamp, if fitted, is turned off.

 

means flammable gas measuring instruments and flammable gas warning devices and instruments which comply with the South African Bureau of Standards specification SANS 1515.

 

means coal dust consisting of particles of coal that can pass through a sieve having an aperture of 100 micrometres.

 

means any point outside a radius of 500mm away from the source if the velocity is more than 0.1m/s past the point of emission of flammable gas.

 

means the planned collapse of roof strata which normally occurs due to pillar extraction or high extraction rates.

 

means the closest access to the working faces between two companions, that carry a unidirectional flow of air from the intake to the return.

 

means Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29 of 1996) as amended.

 

means a robust airtight wall constructed of bricks and cement or similar materials.

 

means South African National Accreditation System.

 

means an area which is isolated from the ventilation district with containment walls or explosion proof seals in accordance with this mandatory COP.

 

means a device which does not generate more than 1.5 Volts, 100 mA and 25 mW as per SANS IEC: 1999 60079-11 as amended.

 

means an intrinsically safe instrument that complies with the requirements of SANS 1515.