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

MSHA PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL VOLUME V
these covers are removed.
These covers must also be provided with caution labels to warn
miners against entering these enclosures before deenergizing the
trailing cables to the equipment. The disconnecting device must
be capable of carrying the full-load current of the machine, and
of interrupting the full-load current of the machine unless the
device is interlocked to remove the load prior to opening. In
addition, if the device is intended to interrupt short circuit
current, it shall have a current interrupting rating greater than
the available fault current at the machine.
Permitting a disconnecting device installed on-board a machine to
be used as the visual disconnect for the equipment creates a
change in established electrical work procedures. As a result,
all miners who perform maintenance on this equipment must receive
task training as required by 30 CFR 48.7(a)(3). This training
must include clear instructions that the disconnecting device
will only deenergize the machine, and that the trailing cable
will remain energized.
75.512 Electric Equipment; Examination, Testing and
Maintenance
This Section requires that each individual piece of electric
equipment, including locomotives, personnel carriers, electric
track switches and derails, compressors, car hauls, conveyor
units, pumps, rock-dusting machines, battery-powered equipment
and permissible equipment, be examined and tested. The required
examinations and tests must be thorough enough to insure that the
electric equipment has not deteriorated through neglect, abuse or
normal use into an unsafe condition that could result in a shock,
fire, or other hazard to the miners.
The record of examinations of electric equipment required by this
Section shall list separately each individual piece of electric
equipment in the mine.
If the qualified person making the required examinations and test
finds any potentially dangerous condition, that person shall
immediately cause the defective equipment to be removed from
service until such condition is corrected.
If each individual piece of electric equipment is not listed
separately and identified with a serial or company number and the
location of each unit, and if all dangerous conditions and
corrective actions are not recorded, the records of weekly
examinations of electric equipment are incomplete and shall be
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