Program Policy Manual - VOLUME V - Mine Safety and Health ...

MSHA PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL VOLUME V
75.1600 Communications
The communication systems that are now in use at each mine will
be acceptable at the present time. However, there must be at
each mine an operative means of communications between each
working section and the surface when the working section is more
than 100 feet from the portal.
75.1600-1 Communication Facilities; Main Portals;
Installation Requirements
The second sentence requires that at least one such
communication facility be located where there is a responsible
person who is always on duty when miners are underground and can
hear the communication and respond.
A telephone or equivalent facility at a central location which
may be greater than 500 feet from any portal will satisfy the
requirements of the second sentence of this section, as it
applies to multiple portals of any one mine or a number of mines
within a reasonable geographical area, provided that a
responsible person at the central location can hear the
telephone and respond immediately.
February 2003 (Release V-33) 133