[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 30, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 30CFR75.383]



[Page 514]

 

                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES

 

  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

 

PART 75_MANDATORY SAFETY STANDARDS_UNDERGROUND COAL MINES--Table of 

Contents

 

                          Subpart D_Ventilation

 

Sec.  75.383  Escapeway maps and drills.



    (a) A map shall be posted or readily accessible to all miners in 

each working section, and in each area where mechanized mining equipment 

is being installed or removed. The map shall show the designated 

escapeways from the working section to the location where miners must 

travel to satisfy the escapeway drill specified in paragraph (b)(1) of 

this section. A map showing the main escapeways shall be posted at a 

surface location of the mine where miners congregate, such as at the 

mine bulletin board, bathhouse, or waiting room. All maps shall be kept 

up to date, and any changes in route of travel, locations of doors, or 

directions of airflow shall be shown on the maps by the end of the shift 

on which the changes are made, and affected miners shall be informed of 

the changes before entering the underground areas of the mine. Miners 

underground on a shift when any such change is made shall be immediately 

notified of the change.

    (b) (1) At least once every 90 days, each miner, including miners 

with working stations located between working sections and main 

escapeways, shall participate in a practice escapeway drill. During this 

drill, each miner shall travel the primary or alternate escapeway from 

the miner's working section or area where mechanized mining equipment is 

being installed or removed, to the area where the split of air 

ventilating the working section intersects a main air course, or 2,000 

feet outby the section loading point, whichever distance is greater. 

Other miners shall participate in the escapeway drill by traveling in 

the primary or alternate escapeway for a distance of 2,000 feet from 

their working station toward the nearest escape facility or drift 

opening. An escapeway drill shall not be conducted in the same escapeway 

as the immediately preceding drill.

    (2) At least once every 6 weeks and for each shift, at least two 

miners on each coal producing working section who work on that section, 

accompanied by the section supervisor, shall participate in a practice 

escape drill and shall travel the primary or alternate escapeway from 

the location specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, to the 

surface, to mechanical escape facilities, or to an underground entrance 

to a shaft or slope to the surface. Systematic rotation of section 

personnel shall be used so that all miners participate in this drill. An 

escapeway drill shall not be conducted in the same escapeway as the 

immediately preceding drill.

    (3) At least once every 6 weeks, at least two miners on each 

maintenance shift and a supervisor, shall participate in a practice 

escape drill and shall travel the primary or alternate escapeway from 

the location specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, to the 

surface, to mechanical escape facilities, or to an underground entrance 

to a shaft or slope to the surface. Systematic rotation of maintenance 

personnel and working sections shall be used so that all miners 

participate in this drill and the escapeways from all sections are 

traveled. An escapeway drill shall not be conducted in the same 

escapeway as the immediately preceding drill.

    (4) Before or during practice escapeway drills, miners shall be 

informed of the locations of fire doors, check curtains, changes in the 

routes of travel, and plans for diverting smoke from escapeways.



[61 FR 9829, Mar. 11, 1996; 70 FR 36347, June 23, 2005, as amended at 71 

FR 12269, Mar. 9, 2006]