Conditional Operating Permit for Mining Enterprises
Official titleRegulation on the Amendment of the Regulation on the Stoppage of Work in Workplaces
By introducing new definitions regarding ventilation and backup power systems in underground mines, it has been stipulated that the absence of these systems shall be deemed a ground for "stoppage of work."
Before
Technical definitions regarding ventilation fans and backup power systems were lacking, and the requirement for automatic engagement was not specified this clearly.
After
Definitions for main/backup fans and backup power were established; the requirement for ventilation and evacuation systems to be connected to an automatic backup power source or a dual line was introduced.
Details of the Regulation
With this amendment to the regulation, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has raised occupational safety standards, particularly in underground coal mines. Through the new definitions added to the regulation, technical concepts such as main ventilation fan, auxiliary ventilation fan, backup power system, and backup ventilation fan have been placed on a legal footing. These definitions clarify during inspections which equipment deficiencies pose a vital risk.
With the legislative amendment made, it has been rendered mandatory for underground coal mines to have a backup fan that will immediately engage in the event that the main fan stops. Furthermore, it has been stipulated that these fans and evacuation systems must be connected to backup power systems that engage automatically so as not to be affected by power outages. Failure to comply with these conditions has been added to the Annex-1 list as a direct reasoning for the stoppage of work in mines.
In terms of the implementation schedule, a transition period until 30 June 2027 has been granted for the technical requirement regarding the automatic engagement of the backup power system (subparagraph c). The other definitions and the obligation to maintain a backup fan entered into force as of the date of publication.
Questions You Might Have
- Is pressing a button sufficient to run the fans when the power goes out?
- No, according to the new rule, the system is required to engage "immediately and automatically" without any human intervention.
- How much time do mining enterprises have to install these systems?
- The general rules are in force immediately; however, a period until 30 June 2027 has been granted for the requirement of the backup power system's automatic engagement.
- What happens if there is no backup fan?
- If there is no backup fan to sustain ventilation in the event that the main fan stops, work shall be stopped in that mine.
Key Terms
- Ana Havalandırma Fanı
- The highest-capacity ventilator system providing the general ventilation of the mine.
- Yedek Güç Sistemi
- An independent energy source (generator, etc.) that engages automatically when mains electricity is cut off.
- İşin Durdurulması
- The temporary prohibition of mining activities by authorized authorities due to occupational health and safety risks.
Affected Sectors
- Mine operation
- Occupational health and safety
- Electricity and energy systems
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REGAS Commentary
For mining enterprises, this amendment entails a substantial overhaul of the ventilation infrastructure. In particular, the "automatic engagement" requirement introduced to prevent endangerment to human life during power outages aims to eliminate delays stemming from manual intervention. Operators will need to modernize their power systems by the year 2027.