In every mine operated on two or more levels in which men are hoisted by cage, skip or other conveyance other than a bucket, such cage or other conveyance shall be operated under the charge of a person appointed as ____________, and no person other than him shall give the signal for the movement of the cage, skip or other conveyance during the handling of the men through the shaft.

• A. Tender
• B. Supervisor
• C. Signalman
• D. Deputy

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that hoisting operations in a multi-level mine require a single, clearly designated person to control the movement of the cage or skip. This person is known as the tender. By appointing a tender, the mine ensures one competent individual is in charge of the hoist, including giving the movements’ signals during the handling of men through the shaft. Centralizing this responsibility helps prevent miscommunication and timing errors that could lead to serious accidents when people are being hoisted.

A supervisor is more about overall management and may not be present at the hoist to direct operations; a signalman would imply a separate person responsible for signaling, which the rule explicitly avoids by designating the tender as the signaler; a deputy would be an assistant but not the person specifically in charge of the hoisting operation. Hence, the tender is the most appropriate choice.