Mich. Admin. Code R. 408.41467 - Fire prevention and protection

Rule 1467.

(1) The applicable requirements for fire prevention and protection as prescribed in Construction Safety Standard Part 18. "Fire Prevention and Protection," as referenced in R 408.41410, shall be complied with in all tunnel and shaft operations.

(2) Smoking and open flames are prohibited. An employer is responsible for collecting all personal sources of ignition, such as matches and lighters, from all persons. Welding and cutting, where required, shall comply with the provisions of subrules (9) to (14) of this rule. A fire watch shall be maintained when hot work is performed.

(3) Not more than a 1-day supply of diesel fuel shall be stored in a tunnel or shaft. Gasoline or liquefied petroleum gas shall not be taken in a tunnel or shaft. Acetylene or methylacetylene propadiene stabilized gas may be used underground solely for welding, cutting, and other hot work and only as prescribed in Construction Safety Standard Part 7. "Welding and Cutting," as referenced in R 408.41410.

(4) The piping of diesel fuel from the surface to an underground location is permitted only if all of the following provisions are complied with:

(a) Diesel fuel is contained at the surface in a tank with a maximum capacity that is not more than the amount of fuel required to supply, for a 24-hour period, the equipment that is serviced by the underground fueling station.

(b) The surface tank is connected to the underground fueling station by an acceptable pipe or hose system that is controlled at the surface by a valve and at the shaft bottom by a hose nozzle.

(c) The pipe is empty at all times, except when transferring diesel fuel from the surface tank to a piece of equipment in use underground.

(d) Hoisting operations in the shaft are suspended during refueling operations if the supply piping in the shaft is not protected from damage.

(e) Acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas, and methylacetylene propadiene stabilized gas may be used underground only for welding, cutting, and other hot work and only in accordance with subrules (9) to (14) of this rule.

(f) Not more than the amount of fuel gas and oxygen cylinders necessary to perform welding, cutting, or other hot work during the next 24-hour period shall be permitted underground.

(5) Leaks and spills of flammable or combustible fluids shall be cleaned up immediately.

(6) Oil, grease, or diesel fuel that is stored in a tunnel or shaft shall be kept in tightly sealed containers in fire-resistant areas at safe distances from explosives, magazines, electrical installations, and shaft stations. Electrical installations in underground areas where oil, grease, or diesel fuel are stored shall be used only for lighting fixtures. Lighting fixtures in storage areas, or within 25 feet (7.62 meters) of underground areas where oil, grease, or diesel fuel are stored, shall be approved for class I, division 2 locations.

(7) Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids shall be used in hydraulically actuated underground machinery and equipment. For the purpose of this requirement, a fire-resistant hydraulic fluid means any liquid which has a flash point above 200 degrees Fahrenheit and which has a vapor pressure of not more than 40 p.s.i. (absolute) at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

(8) An approved 4A:40B:C rating fire extinguisher or equivalent protection shall be provided at the drive pulley of an underground conveyor and at 300-foot intervals along the belt. A minimum of 2 2A-10BC approved fire extinguishers shall be provided at the tunneling machine.

(9) Internal combustion engines, except diesel-powered engines on mobile equipment, are prohibited underground.

(10) Mobile diesel-powered equipment used underground in atmospheres other than gassy operations:

(a) Shall comply with MSHA provisions in 30 CFR 57.5067; or

(b) If purchased on or before July 15, 2019, may alternatively comply with MSHA provisions under 30 CFR part 32 (revised as of July 1, 1996) (formerly Schedule 24), or be demonstrated by the employer to be fully equivalent to such MSHA-approved equipment, and be operated in accordance with that part.

(11) For purposes of subrules (9) and (10) of this rule, when an applicable MSHA provision uses the term "mine," use the phrase "underground construction site." (Each brake horsepower of a diesel engine requires at least 100 cubic feet (2.832 m³) of air per minute for suitable operation in addition to the air requirements for personnel. Some engines may require a greater amount of air to ensure that the allowable levels of carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide are not exceeded.)

(12) Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids shall be used in hydraulically-actuated underground machinery and equipment unless such equipment is protected by a fire suppression system or by multipurpose fire extinguisher or fire extinguishers of sufficient capacity for the type and size of hydraulic equipment involved, but rated at least 4A:40B:C.

(13) A noncombustible barrier shall be installed below welding or burning operations.

(14) In an underground operation, local gas checks shall be made before and during a welding or cutting operation and during a drilling operation that would penetrate the tunnel.

(15) Whenever 5% or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in any underground work area or in the air return, an employer shall take steps to increase ventilation air volume or otherwise control the gas concentration, unless the employer is operating in accordance with the potentially gassy or gassy operation requirements. Such additional ventilation controls may be discontinued when gas concentrations are reduced below 5% of the lower explosive limit, but shall be reinstituted whenever the 5% level is exceeded.

(16) Whenever 10% or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in the vicinity of welding, cutting, or other hot work, such work shall be suspended until the concentration of such flammable gas is reduced to less than 10% of the lower explosive limit.

(17) A fire watch shall be maintained around welding and cutting operations until all possibility of fire is eliminated. The fire watch shall be provided with a minimum of 1 approved 2A-10BC fire extinguisher.

(18) Flammable materials or supplies, other than those used during 1 shift, shall not be stored within 100 feet (30.48 meters) of any tunnel or shaft opening. If this is not feasible because of space limitations on the jobsite, then such materials may be located within the 100 foot limit, if both of the following provisions are complied with:

(a) The materials are located as far as practicable from the opening.

(b) A fire resistant barrier of not less than a 1-hour rating is placed between the stored material and the opening or additional precautions are taken that will protect the materials from ignition sources.

Notes

Mich. Admin. Code R. 408.41467

1993 AACS; 2003 AACS; 2013 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2021 MR 4, Eff. 3/2/2021