It shall be the duty of each inspector in each district to personally visit every active mine not less than once every 3 months or as often as he or she deems it is necessary to assure the safety of people employed in the mines and the general public in the vicinity thereof and to inspect and examine into the operation, workings, timberings, safety appliances, machinery, sanitation, ventilation, means of ingress and egress and means taken to protect the lives and insure the safety of the miners, together with the cause of accidents and accidental death therein; and in general to inspect and ascertain what means are taken to comply with the provisions of this Act. For the purpose of making such inspection and ascertaining the facts in connection with such examination, the inspector shall have full power and authority at all hours to enter and examine any part of any mine or mining plant within this State, or any part of the workings, thereof, but so as not to unnecessarily impede or obstruct the workings of the mine. All operators and their employees shall render to the inspector such assistance as may be necessary to enable the inspector to make such examination.