The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received a petition from Mingo Logan Coal, LLC, seeking to use new respirators for miners at the Mountaineer II Mine in West Virginia. The company wants to use the 3M Versaflo TR-800 and CleanSpace EX Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) near certain mining areas as these new models offer better protection and comfort for miners working in dusty conditions. The petition includes detailed procedures to ensure safety standards are maintained, even though the respirators are not approved by MSHA. Mingo Logan Coal claims that the new respirators offer the same level of safety as existing standards.
Simple Explanation
Mingo Logan Coal wants to use new kinds of respirators to help keep miners safe from dust while they work. They think these respirators are just as good as the old ones, even if they haven't been officially approved yet.