Search Results for keywords:"Mine Safety and Health Administration"

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received a petition from Kanawha Eagle Mining, LLC, requesting a change to current safety standards. The petition seeks to use the CleanSpace EX and 3M Versaflo TR-800 Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) that are not currently MSHA-approved, but provide an alternative method of protection for miners. These PAPRs offer constant airflow and are said to be more comfortable, particularly for miners who have facial hair or cannot wear tight-fitting respirators. The proposed modification includes specific conditions for training, maintenance, and use to ensure safety is not compromised.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received a petition from Wolf Run Mining, LLC, to modify existing safety standards for their Leer South Mine in West Virginia. Wolf Run Mining wants permission to use alternative respiratory protection equipment, the 3M Versaflo TR-800 and CleanSpace EX Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), instead of currently approved devices. The company argues that these new devices provide the same level of safety because they are lighter and have features suitable for a mining environment, despite not being MSHA-approved as permissible. The proposed change includes specific safety and training measures to ensure the equipment's safe use, including regular inspections and training for workers on the new equipment.

ACNR Holdings, Inc. has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a change to existing safety standards for mining equipment. They want to use a new type of air-purifying respirator, the 3M Versaflo TR-800, in their mines to protect workers from dust. The request is specific to certain mines in West Virginia and suggests that the new respirator meets necessary safety requirements for areas with potential methane gas. Miners will be trained to use and maintain the equipment safely.

Kanawha Eagle Mining, LLC has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to modify existing safety standards at its North Eagle Mine in West Virginia. They want approval to use two types of powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) that are not currently MSHA-approved but are deemed intrinsically safe. These respirators include the 3M Versaflo TR-800 and CleanSpace EX. The company argues that these PAPRs will provide miners with better respiratory protection, particularly for those with facial hair who struggle with fit requirements of other masks, and they propose thorough training and inspection protocols to ensure safety. The public can comment on this petition until January 6, 2025.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has received a petition from Peabody Midwest Mining, LLC requesting a change to existing safety rules. The petition seeks permission to use battery-powered radios in mining operations, arguing these radios provide the same level of safety as the current standards. Peabody explains that the previously approved radios are no longer available, hence the need to use alternative radios that are safe and practical for the work environment. Comments on this petition are being accepted until January 6, 2025.

Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company, LLC submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) seeking permission to use certain battery-powered vibration analyzers and data collectors at the Enlow Fork Mine in Pennsylvania. These devices, the SCOUT100EX, SCOUT140EX, and vb7 models, are intended to replace a discontinued model and help prevent equipment failures in hazardous areas within the mine. Consol argues that these devices provide an equivalent level of safety as required by current standards, even though they are not MSHA-approved. The alternative method proposed by Consol is to ensure miners' safety while using these devices under specific conditions, including regular inspections and training.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received a petition from Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company to allow the use of specific battery-powered vibration analyzers and data collectors that are not currently approved under MSHA standards. The company argues that no approved devices are available for purchase since older models have been discontinued. They propose using SCOUT100EX, SCOUT140EX, and vb7 devices to maintain safety in their operations, asserting that their proposed methods provide equal if not greater safety for miners. The petition outlines specific conditions and procedures for using these devices to ensure mine safety, emphasizing the need for monitoring, training, and compliance with methane detection protocols.

Blue Diamond Mining, LLC has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) seeking to modify existing safety regulations. They propose using certain powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs), which are not currently MSHA-approved, near pillar workings or longwall faces in their Bear Branch 2 mine in Kentucky. The company argues that these PAPRs offer effective and comfortable protection against coal dust and are necessary as other approved options are unavailable. They commit to training miners, maintaining safety records, and inspecting equipment to ensure safety compliance.

The Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is seeking public comments on its information collection efforts regarding the use of explosive materials and blasting units in specific mines. The focus is on Category III metal and nonmetal mines, which are considered potentially gassy and require safe blasting practices. MSHA wants feedback on the necessity of the information collected, its burden on respondents, and methods to improve data quality and submission efficiency. Public comments will help MSHA reassess and potentially extend the current data collection practices.

The Department of Labor, specifically through the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is asking for public comments on a proposed information collection regarding Roof Control Plans in underground coal mines. These plans aim to prevent accidents from roof collapses, which are a significant risk in mining. They require approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The public has until January 17, 2025, to submit comments on the necessity and efficiency of this information gathering.