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

MSHA PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL VOLUME V
travelway and the side of the block of coal from which
coal is being extracted; and
c. The control station and the headpiece and tail- piece of
the conveyor, and all surfaces within 5 feet
horizontally from the control station, head-piece and
tailpiece.
2. When shuttle cars are used to transport the coal from the
continuous miner to the section loading point, illumination
shall be provided in accordance with the following:
a. The face, ribs, roof, floor, and exposed surfaces of
mining equipment between the face and the outby edge of
the rear bumper of the continuous-mining machine shall
be illuminated by the stationary lighting fixtures in
accordance with the requirements of paragraph (e)(4) or
by lighting fixtures installed on the continuous-mining
machine in accordance with the requirements of paragraph
(e)(1).
b. The shuttle car roadway shall be illuminated by
stationary lighting fixtures in accordance with the
requirements of paragraph (e)(4) or by lighting fixtures
installed on the shuttle car in accordance with the
requirements of paragraph (e)(6).
Longwall Mining Equipment
Problems have been encountered in illuminating the coal face and face
conveyor to 0.06 footlamberts in longwall mining installations
operating in coal seams under 42 inches in thickness. The problems
have been caused by the lack of sufficient clearance between the
bottom of the roof support chocks and the side of the face conveyor,
leaving little or no space through which light fixtures installed on
the chocks can cast light on the face conveyor or the coal face.
Therefore, in determining compliance with the illumination
requirements for longwall mining installations operating in coal
seams less than 42 inches in thickness, measurements shall not be
taken on the face conveyor or the coal face. Measurements shall be
taken the entire length of the travelway and the area within a
distance of 5 feet horizontally from the control station, headpiece,
and tailpiece.
High spillboards are installed on many longwall face conveyors so
that the coal will be retained on the face conveyor to prevent
spillage. These spillboards are necessary to prevent spilled coal
and coal dust from accumulating along the travelway and between the
roof-support shields or chocks. In some instances, the roof-support
shields or chocks barely clear the spillboards.
February 2003 (Release V-33) 152