MSHA Proposes More Than a Dozen New Rules
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The first day of July brought 18 proposed rules from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Three were reviewed by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs from June 18 to June 26. They would eliminate MSHA district managers’ roles in making changes or requiring additions to:
• Training and retraining programs for miners
• Approval criteria for roof control plans
• Approval criteria for ventilation plans
All three proposals state that current standards “may violate statutory authority; the appointments clause (of the U.S. Constitution), by vesting significant regulatory authority in district managers; and the Administrative Procedure Act, by skipping notice and comment.”
The other MSHA proposed rules address:
• Aerial tramways
• Approval of conveyor belts in underground coal mines
• Blacksmith shops at surface metal and nonmetal mines
• Diesel emission limits for equipment in underground coal and metal/nonmetal mines
• Inspections of drilling equipment and drilling areas in surface metal and nonmetal mines
• Mining of pillars
• Permissible electric equipment in coal seams above the water table
• Permissible lamps and flame safety lamps in underground coal mines
• Photometers
• Trolleys
Another proposed rule would allow electronic access to hazard communication information. MSHA also is proposing rules to allow the use of electronic surveying equipment in high-hazard areas of underground coal mines and nonpermissible powered air-purifying respirators in specific areas of underground mines. In both cases, the equipment would need to meet “certain technical specifications” and be “operated under specific conditions.”
MSHA works to prevent death, illness and injury from mining and promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S miners. The agency develops and enforces safety and health rules for all U.S. mines regardless of size or number of employees. MSHA also provides technical, educational and other types of assistance to mine operators. MSHA works cooperatively with industry, labor and other federal and state agencies to improve safety and health conditions for all miners in the U.S.
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