The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has received a petition from Blue Diamond Mining, LLC, to modify a safety standard for using unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) in specific areas of their mine. They wish to allow the use of certain PAPRs, like the CleanSpace EX and 3M Versaflo TR-800, which are not approved by MSHA but are considered safe by the manufacturer. The company argues that these respirators offer effective and comfortable protection, especially for workers with facial hair or those unable to wear tight-fitting respirators. The proposed modification includes detailed inspection, training, and maintenance protocols to ensure safety measures are upheld.
Simple Explanation
A company wants to use special masks in their mine that are comfy and work well, but these masks haven't been officially approved by the safety bosses. They promise to check and clean the masks a lot and teach the workers how to use them safely.