R 408.41472 Shafts; supports; inspections; lifelines.

Rule 1472. (1) A shaft that an employee is required to enter shall be provided with steel casing, concrete pipe, timber, or other material that is strong enough to support the surrounding earth. (2) A shaft that is more than 5 feet in depth shall be braced to support the surrounding earth. The bracing shall be provided the full depth of the shaft, or, if rock is encountered, to not less than 5 feet into solid rock, and shall extend not less than 1 foot above the ground level. (3) After a blasting operation, the bracing shall be inspected. If the bracing is found to be unsafe, then corrections shall be made before the shift operations are continued. (4) A shaft or caisson shall be protected with a guardrail system as prescribed in Construction Safety Standard Part 45 “Fall Protection,” as referenced in R 408.41410, or barricaded as prescribed in Construction Safety Standard Part 22 “Signals, Signs, Tags, and Barricades,” as referenced in R 408.41410. A gate opening into the shaft shall be provided and shall be closed at all times, except when necessary to enter or leave the shaft or caisson.