(a) All mine main and booster fans installed and used to ventilate
the active workings of the mine shall be operated continuously while persons
are underground in the active workings. However, this provision is not
applicable during scheduled production-cycle shutdowns or planned or
scheduled fan maintenance or fan adjustments where air quality is maintained
in compliance with the applicable standards of subpart D of this part and all
persons underground in the affected areas are advised in advance of such
scheduled or planned fan shutdowns, maintenance, or adjustments.
(b) In the event of main or booster fan failure due to a malfunction,
accident, power failure, or other such unplanned or unscheduled event:
(1) The air quality in the affected active workings shall
be tested at least within 2-hours of the discovery of the fan failure, and
at least every 4-hours thereafter by a competent person for compliance with
the requirements of the applicable standards of subpart D of this part until
normal ventilation is restored, or
(2) All persons, except those working on the fan, shall be
withdrawn, the ventilation shall be restored to normal and the air quality in
the affected active workings shall be tested by a competent person to assure
that the air quality meets the requirements of the standards in subpart D of
this part, before any other persons are permitted to enter the affected
active workings.
