The State Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety agreed to propose for public comment an Administrative Rule requiring proximity detectors on place-change continuous mining machines along with a number of additional safety standards for underground section haulage equipment and equipment operators.
Before adoption of the proposed rule, a number of changes were made which are highlighted in the below summation.
The proposed rule sets forth a comprehensive approach to address haulage accidents by requiring the following:
1. Proximity detection systems on all “newly purchased” place-change, continuous miners within 6 months of the effective date of the rule;
2. Proximity Detection Systems on all “rebuilt” place-change miners within 12 months of the effective date;
3. Proximity detection systems on all place-change continuous miners within 36 months of the effective date of the rule;
4. Cameras, proximity detection systems or other approved alternatives on scoop cars and battery-powered section haulage equipment within 36 months of the effective date of the rule;
5. The Office of Miners’ Health Safety & Training to visit each mine in the state and host regional workshops to discuss the new requirements and disseminate information on Proximity devices and the use of cameras on underground equipment (production shut down was deleted);
6. Individual machine operators to ensure their personal safety and the safety of the equipment entrusted to them and others who may be working in the same area of a mine by performing equipment inspections, checking roadways and sounding alarms.
7. A minimum of 100 square inches of highly visible or reflective clothing to be worn by all underground employees.
8. The Use of strobes lights, warning cones or extension rods to be used at hazardous work sites
9. Places a responsibility of the OMHST Director to coordinate the expeditious approval of extended-cut mining plans with MSHA to reduce instances of unnecessary equipment moves underground;
10. Restates a number of underground haulage safety found in various rules currently in effect (section 13); and
11. Mine site safety meetings to review the provisions of the rule.
The comment period will be extended throughout the month of February and will afford the industry the opportunity to make further comment and recommendations to the proposed rule. The rule should be officially proposed and disseminated to mining companies the end of January.