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

MSHA PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL VOLUME V
The environment in the storage location should be in
accordance with manufacturers' recommendations. Storage
plans should include provisions for segregating visitors'
self-contained self-rescuers from those provided for
employees at the mine. Each miner must be trained to know
the specific location of the self-contained self-rescuer that
is available for him/her.
6. Type of work performed by affected miners. Different plans
may be approved for various categories of miners, dependent
primarily upon the amount of travel required to perform their
work. Storage plans for section workers should rarely allow
for travel times greater than 5 minutes. Storage plans for
rovers may allow for travel time up to 10 minutes.
7. Degree of risk to which affected miners are exposed.
e amount of methane liberation and size and type of power
systems, i.e., battery, electrical (a.c. or d.c.) or diesel,
are some of the factors that should be considered when
evaluating the degree of risk. Another factor should be the
history of violations that could lead to the cause and effect
of fires, explosions, and inundations.
8. Potential for breaking into oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
When mining near abandoned areas, as described in Section
75.1701, or into areas having a high potential for outbursts,
storage of self-contained self-rescuers shall not be
permitted.
9. Type of risks to which affected miners are exposed.
The types of risks that should be considered when evaluating
storage plans are the risks associated with explosions,
fires, and inundations.
10. Accident history of mine. The types of accidents which
should be considered are those relating to explosions, fires,
inundation of gases, and outbursts.
11. Other matters bearing upon the safety of miners.
Storage plans should include a requirement for examination of
self-contained self-rescuers during the period of the
preshift examination or at the beginning of the shift. If
the self-contained self-rescuers are stored in substantially
constructed containers, or in another permanent manner, and
located so that the units are protected from damage,
inspection of the self-contained self-rescuers once each 24
hours should be sufficient to assure reliability of the
units. Plans should include a provision that would permit any
miner to wear or carry a self-contained self-rescuer. The
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