MSHA HANDBOOK SERIES - PH13-V-1 - Mine Safety and Health ...

COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
GENERAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES HANDBOOK CHAPTER 3
10. Location of Last Open Crosscut. The inspector shall determine the location of
the last open crosscut on each working section identified by a permanent
reference correlated to the mine map (e.g., survey spad number, crosscut
number, etc.).
Installation of Permanent Stoppings on Working Sections
Inspectors shall determine if the requirements of §§ 75.333(b)(1), and (b)(3),
75.350(c), and 75.380(g) regarding the installation of these permanent
ventilation controls and each standard states a specific location where they
shall be built and maintained. Unless the mine operator can provide a valid
justification for the District Manager to approve a greater number of open
crosscuts in the mine’s ventilation plan, permanent stoppings installed to
separate intake and return aircourses must be completed in the third crosscut
outby the face by the time the face crosscut is cleaned, bolted, and ready for
travel. Permanent stoppings installed to separate an intake air course or the
primary escapeway from the belt haulage way are to be completed as part of
the belt move and prior to the resumption of mining.
Documentation Required: The location of the last open crosscut of a MMU should
be determined and documented in the inspection notes. The inspector should clearly
mark only once the location of each MMU that contributes to the E01 inspection by
date and initials on the mine tracking map. The documentation should be by MMU
number and permanent reference to a location that will be included in the operator’s
mine map submitted to the District Manager.
11. Mining/ Work Cycle. The inspector shall observe the complete mining cycle
on each active producing working section. The physical condition of the
working section (roof and rib conditions, cleanup/rock dusting, ventilation
controls, haulage practices, approved plan compliance, etc.) shall be carefully
evaluated during these inspection activities.
The inspector shall measure the air quantity in the last open crosscut in each
set of entries or rooms on each working section, the quantity of air reaching the
intake end of a pillar line, at the end of the face ventilating device (if required)
where equipment is being operated, the air velocity at each end of the longwall
face and the quantities approved in the ventilation plan. The inspector will
assure that the face ventilation control devices are installed and maintained in
accordance with the approved ventilation plan and visually check that water
sprays used for respirable dust suppression are properly maintained and
functioning each time the mining/work cycle is observed. This evaluation is
in addition to Item 4 of this chapter (Dust Control Parameters).
Documentation Required: Inspector observation of the complete mining/work cycle
should be documented in the inspection notes to show the MMU number, the method
Release 1 (February 2013) 3-60