MSHA final rule amends testing and approval for electric motorized mine equipment

Washington — A Mine Safety and Health Administration final rule “offers more flexibility” for testing, evaluating and approving mine equipment and accessories powered by electric motors intended for use in gaseous environments.

Published Dec. 10, the rule permits mine operators to use equipment and accessories that satisfy eight voluntary consensus standards as alternatives to existing MSHA approval requirements.

The American National Standards Institute, the International Society of Automation and UL LLC established the voluntary standards. Equipment included:

• Remote-control units for mining machinery
• Longwall mining systems
• Portable oxygen detectors
• Miner-wearable components for proximity detection systems
• Powered air-purifying respirators

MSHA is excluding six International Electrotechnical Commission voluntary consensus standards outlined in a November 2020 proposed rule because of concerns that “IEC standards may not provide sufficient protection against fire or explosions,” the agency says.

MSHA first listed the regulation in the final rule stage in the Department of Labor’s Spring 2021 regulatory agenda.

“This final rule was based on input from the mining community and will promote the use of innovative mine safety and health technologies while maintaining existing safeguards that protect miners from explosions and other potential hazards in gassy mines,” MSHA head Chris Williamson said in a Dec. 9 press release. “Putting this rule into effect shows how MSHA uses all of its tools to advance miner safety and health.”

The rule is set to go into effect Jan. 9.