MSHA Announces Emergency Temporary Rock Dush Standard

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that on Sept. 23 the Federal Register is expected to publish an emergency temporary standard that revises the existing federal standard on maintenance of incombustible content of rock dust.  The determination to create an ETS was based on MSHA’s review of accident investigation reports of mine explosions in intake air courses that involved coal dust, as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s report “Recommendations for a New Rock Dusting Standard to Prevent Coal Dust Explosions in Intake Airways,” which can be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2825.htm.