What population of miners is allowed to work if two emergency exits are not available?

In underground mining operations, adequate emergency exits are crucial for ensuring the safety of all personnel. The regulations stipulate that if two emergency exits are not available, the number of miners permitted to work in that area is limited to a maximum of 20. This restriction is designed to reduce the risk associated with potential emergencies where evacuation might be necessary.

The rationale behind limiting the number to 20 is to ensure that, in the case of an incident, there is a manageable number of miners who can be safely evacuated through alternative means or in a single exit scenario. Exceeding this number would increase the risks and may compromise the safety of the miners since there may not be adequate evacuation routes for a larger group in case of a fire, rock fall, or other hazardous situations.

This regulation reflects the mining industry's commitment to safety and underscores the importance of emergency preparedness in maintaining a safe working environment.