MSHA STATE GRANT PROGRAM FOR MICHIGAN
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MSHA TIDBITS& FREQUENTLY MISUNDERSTOOD REGULATIONSHere are some answers to help you. This information has been provided to the MTU Mine Safety Training Program by Paul Blome, the new supervisor of the Marquette MSHA Field Office. This information is second-hand and If you have any questions regarding this information, contact Paul Blome at (906) 228-6805.
DID YOU KNOW THAT-------- FOR NATURAL GAS, there is NOT an approved “hose.” Natural gas will defuse and deteriorate any hose because of its’ small molecular structure. Semi-flexible or rigid hose/piping designed for natural gas must be used. LP/PROPANE-APPROVED HOSE is labeled for that purpose and is the only hose that should be used for LP/propane. SEAT BELTS may not be complete if the tether strap connections have been removed (or are not connected) on certain pieces of mobile equipment. They, then, may not meet SAE J386 approval. The SAE J386 in effect prior to Oct, 1988, did not address tether straps. If in doubt about your specific piece of equipment, contact your manufacturer. DRILLS (quarry, underground, etc.) must always have a method being used to control the drill dust; such as use of water, dust collector, etc. Drilling with no controls is a violation. Natural water in the hole is not considered a compliance measure. HARD-SURFACE WELDING is lethal to an employee if not provided with localized ventilation. Localized ventilation is the removal of contaminants BEFORE they enter the employee’s breathing zone. All welding is required to be well ventilated (inside or outside) and shielded from flashburn hazard to others in the area. ANY MINE DUST, GASES, FUMES, etc. that affect the SAME organ of an exposed employee during his work shift is considered an additive-mixture of contaminant and the exposure is calculated and compared with “unity of 1”. Over “unity of 1” represents an over-exposure (violation). Formula: conc. conc.
conc. TLV=Threshold Limit Value, EF=Error Factor applied CHECK AN OHMS READING ON YOUR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FRAME- GROUND WIRE. If the reading is 2 ohms or greater, the breaker may not trip out fast enough to prevent electrocution. As a “rule of thumb”, anytime the resistance is divided into the voltage-to-ground and the current is less than 5 times the breaker rating, the grounding path is ineffective. The correction is to check for loose, corroded connections in the ground wire and get the resistance as close to “zero” as possible. NO MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, OR TOOLS can be used beyond the design intended by the manufacturer. ACCIDENTS WHICH ARE REPORTABLE also include application of sutures, positive X-rays, chiropractors, prescriptions for the eyes, light duty, diagnosis of silicosis/pneumoconiosis (even after termination of employment as the mine operator becomes aware). ALL EMPLOYEES AND WORK HOURS REPORTED TO MSHA are those which employees WORKED ON mine property and are exposed to the mine environment including office workers ON mine property. (Not sick leave, vacation days, etc.) ALL ROLL-OVER-PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES (ROPS) are required to have a legible certification label. They should not be covered up, sand-blasted off, painted over, or removed. THE NO. 1 MSHA VIOLATION in the nation is lack of “GUARDING”. THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH in surface mines/facilities are accidents involving HAULAGE TRUCKS and other MOBILE EQUIPMENT. BEFORE USING SELF-PROPELLED MOBILE EQUIPMENT, the operator is to INSPECT it for safety defects BEFORE putting it to use. Defects must be corrected in a timely manner; or recorded if not repaired immediately. Items not repaired immediately must not pose a safety hazard if operation continues (such as wipers and it’s not raining, or lights and it is daylight). WORKING PLACES are required to be EXAMINED during each shift by a competent person to eliminate hazardous conditions that could adversely affect safety and health of miners and examinations RECORDED and kept for one year. BEFORE STARTING CRUSHERS OR MOVING SELF-PROPELLED MOBILE EQUIPMENT, persons exposed to a hazard from the equipment must be warned of the impending movement. THE PURPOSE OF STANDARD 56/57.14109 is to prevent persons from falling ON OR AGAINST an unguarded moving conveyor belt. Emergency stop cords need to be positioned in such a manner that the emergency stop switch will deactivate the conveyor if an employee were to fall on or against the moving conveyor; or the railing (option) will prevent the employee from falling on or against the moving conveyor belt. MSHA REGULATIONS serve as a minimal guideline standard of safety protection for employees. Mine operators are encouraged to exceed those standards of safety. COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS NOT SECURED or the cylinder valves not protected as required in 56/57.16005 and .16006 are common VIOLATIONS in laboratories on mine properties. COMPRESSED-AIR RECEIVER TANKS AND OTHER PRESSURE VESSELS must not be used until they are inspected for the appropriate required safeguards and construction by inspectors holding a valid National Board Commission Boiler and Pressure Vessel card/authority. Inappropriate tanks used for compressed-air or other pressured purposes can explode and cause serious injury or death to persons. A WRITTEN AND IMPLEMENTED RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM consistent with the requirements of ANSI Z88.2-1969 is required if MSHA finds an over- exposure to a contaminant which requires the use of respiratory protection as an interim protection while feasible engineering controls are being pursued. ALL SAFETY FEATURES that the manufacture provided for the small BOBCAT, GEHL, UNI-LOADER, (the small cleanup loaders) must all be maintained. This is true for any safety features provided by the manufacturers. MILL HOURS HAVE BEEN MISREPORTED ON MSHA 7000-2 Quarterly Employment Report Forms by mine operators by misunderstanding the code areas. Stripping, open pit mining, or quarrying should be reported under “Code 03” on the form. Hours spent in milling (crushing, screening, prep plants, breakers, or their associated shops and yards) should be reported under “Code 30”. The exception is that sand and gravel sizing operations are reported under “Code 03”; (or “Code 06” if it is a Dredge operation). Call your local MSHA office if you want the brochure, “Instructions for MSHA Form 7000-2”.
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For Mine Safety Training in Michigan - Contact Dave Carlson at dcarlson@mtu.edu
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