Disclaimer: This resource has been prepared to help the workplace parties understand some of their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and regulations. It is not legal advice. It is not intended to replace the OHSA or the regulations. For further information please see full disclaimer.
To provide best practice recommendations for workplace parties to consider when fulfilling their responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and Regulation 854 regarding underground refuge stations.
Section 26 of Regulation 854 (Mines and Mining Plants) under the OHSA covers the important requirements.
In the event of a fire or other disaster, refuge stations should be located in all areas underground where there is a possibility that persons may not be able to reach a mine exit in a reasonably short time. A refuge station should be located in a fresh air circuit and away from extreme hazard areas such as diesel repair stations and oil, fuel or explosives storage areas. All persons who are in parts of an underground mine where there are refuge stations should be familiar with the location of those stations.
As per section 26 of Regulation 854, all refuge stations must:
In addition to what is required by the regulation as set out above, there are additional considerations or acceptable practices that may apply. These include that refuge stations should:
Note: Heat Stress should also be considered when developing fire procedures for mines where increasing temperatures inside a refuge station may pose a risk to workers.
Call 1-877-202-0008 any time to report critical injuries, fatalities or work refusals. Call 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday for general questions about workplace health and safety. Always call 911 in an emergency.
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Disclaimer: This web resource has been prepared to assist the workplace parties in understanding some of their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the regulations. It is not intended to replace the OHSA or the regulations and reference should always be made to the official version of the legislation.
It is the responsibility of the workplace parties to ensure compliance with the legislation. This web resource does not constitute legal advice. If you require assistance with respect to the interpretation of the legislation and its potential application in specific circumstances, please contact your legal counsel.
While this web resource will also be available to Ministry of Labour inspectors, they will apply and enforce the OHSA and its regulations based on the facts as they may find them in the workplace. This web resource does not affect their enforcement discretion in any way.
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