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

MSHA PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL VOLUME V
operator should be advised of the requirement. If the operator
removes such unsafe equipment or machinery from service immediately
it should be noted on the citation. If the operator does not
remove such equipment or machinery from service immediately,
another citation for such failure should be issued giving the
operator reasonable time to comply.
This Section in no way affects enforcement of other mandatory
safety standards and should be used only where such condition is
not covered by any other regulation. Lack of frame grounding,
improper protection, etc., are to be cited under the appropriate
sections in accordance with Section 104 of the Act allowing
reasonable time for compliance.
Loading machines and continuous-mining machines shipped from the
manufacturer after January 1, 1981, are required to be equipped
with load-locking valves in the boom and head lift cylinders.
Where it is determined that a unit of equipment was shipped after
January 1, 1981, and the load-locking valves are not maintained,
enforcement action should be taken under Section 75.503, for
failure to maintain the electric face equipment in permissible
condition. Load-locking valves provided on equipment shipped from
the manufacturer prior to January 1, 1981, also have to be
maintained. Appropriate enforcement action under this Section
should be taken if these load-locking valves are not being
maintained.
The tramming of solid-state controlled battery powered equipment
in the high-tram mode immediately upon energization of the tram
motors indicates that an electrical fault is present on the
equipment. When this occurs, the equipment is not in safe
operating condition and must be removed from service and properly
repaired.
Faulty equipment responds in two ways. First, the tram motors may
start in high tram and then immediately stop, which causes the
machine to "lurch" a short distance. This response indicates that
the protective circuits in the solid-state logic unit are sensing a
fault and are functioning properly. Second, the tram motors
immediately start in high-tram and continue to run in this mode.
This response indicates that an electrical fault is present on the
machine and that the protective circuits in the solid-state logic
unit are inoperative.
Proper functioning of temperature-sensitive switches or other devices
which shut down air compressor motors when overheating occurs is
essential to the safe operation of this equipment. Examinations and
testing performed on air compressors must include attention to
overtemperature devices, and whenever these safety features are not
functioning properly the equipment must be immediately removed from
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