Regulation 8 Notification of significant changes to ground control measures

(1)

This regulation shall apply to every mine of coal.

(2)

Not less than 28 days before making any significant change to any existing ground control measure in use at a mine, the manager of a mine to which this regulation applies shall–

(a)

notify the Executive in writing of the significant change proposed; and

(b)

supply the Executive with a copy of such parts of the assessment of ground conditions, the design document and the rules for that mine as may be relevant to the significant change proposed.

(3)

For the purposes of this regulation, a significant change to an existing ground control measure in use at the mine shall include any change which–

(a)

results in a ground control measure being used at the mine for the first time; or

(b)

would result in a departure from the support system standards specified in the Schedule to these Regulations,

but shall not include a temporary change to any existing ground control measure in use in part of a mine where that change is made for the purposes of health and safety in consequence of an emergency or some other circumstance which was not reasonably foreseeable.

(4)

In determining whether a ground control measure is being used at a mine for the first time, no account shall be taken of a ground control measure used temporarily in accordance with paragraph (3).

(5)

No person shall begin work to implement a significant change to any existing ground control measure in use at a mine until the 28 days referred to at paragraph (2) have elapsed unless the Executive agrees otherwise in writing.