Mine Safety and Health Administration
Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978
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U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978 |
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December 18, 2007 The Technical Study Panel was created under Section 11 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act)(Public Law 109-236), and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the Technical Study Panel was to "…provide independent scientific and engineering review and recommendations with respect to the utilization of belt air and the composition and fire retardant properties of belt materials in underground coal mining." (MINER Act, Sec. 11) Dr. Jan M. Mutmansky, Professor Emeritus of Mining Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania was the Technical Study Panel's elected chairman. Other Panel members were: Dr. Jurgen F. Brune, Director, Spokane Research Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Dr. Felipe Calizaya, Associate Professor, University of Utah, Mining Engineering, Salt Lake City, Utah; Dr. Jerry C. Tien, Associate Professor, Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri; Mr. Thomas P. Mucho, Thomas P. Mucho & Associates, Inc., Mining Consultancy, Washington, Pennsylvania; and Dr. James L. Weeks, Director, Evergreen Consulting, LLC, Silver Spring, Maryland. Final Report This report, which is the final product of the Technical Study Panel, contains the Panel's consensus recommendations.
This proposal addresses the recommendations of the Technical Study Panel (Panel) on the Utilization of Belt Air and the Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in Underground Coal Mining. Section 11 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006 required that this Panel be established. MSHA proposes new standards for: Conveyor belt flammability; qualifying Atmospheric Monitoring System operators; levels of methane and respirable dust in belt entries; airlocks between air courses; minimum and maximum air velocities; approval for the use of air from the belt entry to ventilate working sections; monitoring and remotely closing point-feed regulators; smoke sensors; standardized tactile signals on lifelines; replacing point-type heat sensors with carbon monoxide sensors; and belt conveyor and belt entry maintenance. Consistent with the MINER Act, the proposal includes MSHA's response to the Panel's report. Request for Information Published 06/19/2008 MSHA is requesting information from the public on smoke density and combustion toxicity tests that may be used to evaluate the fire hazard of conveyor belting and similar materials used in underground coal mines. Belt Drive Fire Suppression Presentation Fire Suppression Committee Stakeholder Meetings in March 2008
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