54.—(1) In any part of a mine, being a part in which the use of lamps or lights, other than permitted lights, is unlawful, no person shall fire a shot with horse killing apparatus unless immediately before firing he or a superior official of the mine has made tests for the presence of inflammable gas throughout every accessible place within thirty feet of the place where the shot is to be fired and it has been found safe for the firing of that shot.
(2) Every such test shall be made with a locked flame safety-lamp of a type approved by the Minister for the purpose of deputies' inspections, a methanometer of a type approved by the Minister or other apparatus of a type approved by the Minister for the purpose.
(3) No person shall fire a shot with horse killing apparatus if on any such test made with respect to that shot there has been found a firedamp content exceeding one and a quarter per cent. or an indication of gas on the lowered flame of a safey-lamp has been seen at any place in the general body of the air.