Anything with a battery is Verboten in a coalmine,
even a wrist watch.
One
of the few exception is the sealed / gas proof, miner
lamp. John
Cornwall,
whose books of mining photos are well known, used an
"Engineers' Mining
Lamp". A seach light, connected to heavy duty nickel
alkaline battery.
Heavy being a good description. Using a time exposure
he managed to
light
up long headings, etc.
Not quiet accurate Tony, test instruments that are
intrinsically safe have batteries, ie electronic
"meggers", ohmeters used by shotfirer's and
methanometers used by Deputies. Also some equipment
used for convergence monitoring and logging equipment
is allowed underground, albiet under strict guidlines.
Wasn't it the old NCB who deemed all their pits be
classified as "Safety Lamp Mines"?? I seem to recall
being told this during my apprenticeship in the 60's.
There were lots of pits at nationalisation that used
naked flames as no gas had been detected at them.
NSW in Oz, has two criteria, class "A" mines and "B"
coal mines. Also have hazardazous zones, designated as
100 metres from a working face, where all equipment
must be certified as flameproof and intrinsically
safe. All outbye intake roadways have standard heavy
duty electrical equipment installed. AL returns are
classed as hazardous zones.
Incidently, my photos were taken when no one was
around, just in case anyone was wondering!
Before the new Coal Mines Regulation Act came into
force in NSW during the mid 1980's, oxy burning and
welding was allowed on a coal face under strict rules
laid down by the local chief district mines inspector.
John Waudby
Cheers - Tony Oldham
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