Coal Miner Seeks Safety Rule Tweak, Yawns Ensue
Published Date: 3/20/2025
Notice
Summary
ACI Tygart Valley, a mining company, asked to change some safety rules to use a different method that keeps miners just as safe. This petition could affect coal miners and aims to keep safety strong while possibly making operations smoother. Everyone has until April 21, 2025, to share their thoughts, and no extra costs are expected from this change.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Request to use two new PAPRs within 150 feet
ACI Tygart Valley asked MSHA for permission to let miners at Leer Mine use the 3M Versaflo TR-800 and the CleanSpace EX powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) as an alternative to 30 CFR 75.1002(a). The petition would allow these PAPRs to be used within 150 feet of pillar workings or longwall faces, and MSHA must inspect the equipment and grant a Proposed Decision and Order (PDO) before they are put into service.
Methane limit and continuous monitoring required
If these PAPRs are allowed, they must be deenergized and not used when methane is detected at or above 1.0 percent. A qualified person must continuously monitor methane immediately before and during PAPR use, and all hand-held methane detectors used must be MSHA-approved and provide visual and audible warnings at or above 1.0 percent.
Training, certification, and posting rules
Before any 3M Versaflo TR-800 or CleanSpace EX can be used within 150 feet of pillar workings or longwall faces, all affected personnel must be trained on the PDO terms and conditions and complete training in accordance with 30 CFR (including Form 5000-23). The operator must submit proposed revisions to its training plan within 60 days after the PDO becomes final, provide the required training before use, give annual retraining, and post the PDO on bulletin boards for at least 60 consecutive days.
Battery, charging, inspection, and logbook requirements
The petition would require use of specific battery units that meet lithium battery safety standards (UL 1642 or IEC 62133), charging only on the surface in areas free of combustible material with specified chargers (e.g., 3M TR-641N or TR-644N chargers, CleanSpace Battery Charger EX PAF-0066), weekly examinations by a qualified person recorded in a logbook, pre-use inspections, and adherence to manufacturer servicing schedules. Batteries must be changed out in intake air outby the last open crosscut and examination entries are expunged after one year.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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