151. Duties of leader below ground.- (1) The leader

(i) shall not be engage in manual work.

(ii) shall give attention solely to directing the team and to maintaining its safety.

(iii) shall examine the roof and supports during the journey and if there is any likelihood of fall at any place along the roadway, then, the leader shall not proceed further until the team has made the place secure.

(2) The leader shall keep the team together and shall not allow any member of the team to stray.

(3) If the atmosphere is clear, the leader shall, when passing the junction of two or more roadways, clearly indicate the route by means of arrow marks in chalk.

(4) If the atmosphere is obscure, the leader shall see that a lifeline is laid in from the fresh air base and shall not allow any member of the team to move out of reach of that lifeline or if that course is impracticable, the leader shall not proceed until every roadway branching of from the route is fenced across the whole opening.

(5) When using rescue apparatus, the leader shall carry a watch, shall record the pressure of the compressed oxygen at every intervals of twenty minutes and shall commence the return journey in ample time.

(6) During travelling the leader shall adopt the pace of slowest member and if any member of the team is in distress, shall immediately return to the fresh air base with the whole team.

(7) The leader shall not permit any member of the team using breathing apparatus in a mine to remain at work at any one time for a period longer than one and half hours or such other period as may be specified by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator in respect of the breathing apparatus being used.