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Roof Bolter Operator
Contact:  Palmer.Melvin@dol.gov

 Home 
 1. Start-of-Shift Activities 
 Self evaluation  
 Check in/Tag in 
 Change clothes 
 Get W-65 
 Get CSE SR-100 
 Obtain PPE 
 Get spotter 
 Obtain tools 
 Obtain supplies 
 Meet with foreman 
 Enter the mine 
 2. Arrive at workplace 
 Exit mantrip 
 Conduct work place examination 
 Conduct work place examination 
 3. Conduct dust parameter exam 
 Energize machine 
 Check dust boxes  
 Check water boxes 
 Check suction on drill head 
 Check cut ventilation 
 Report completion of exam to f...  
 4. Pre-op on Roof Bolter 
 Ensure everyone is clear of th...  
 Check fire suppression 
 Check panic strip 
 Check operational controls 
 Check Tram controls 
 Check lights 
 Check bolts/pins on canopies 
 Check slate bar 
 Check grease gun 
 Check for probe 
 Check for torque wrench 
 Check for pre-op sticker 
 Look for hydraulic fluid leaks 
 5. Untitled 
 Tramming 
 6. Drill test holes  
 Drill test hole at least 1 foo...  
 Watch for steel to jump 
 Look, listen, and feel for cha...  
 Measure test hole  
 Mark test hole 
 Determine the length of bolts 
 7. Drilling and installing roof b...  
 Advance bolter 4 foot from la...  
 Set ATRS  
 Swing booms out no more than 4...  
 Set foot jack 
 Set canopy 
 Examine roof 
 Place starter steel in drill p...  
 Raise boom, put steel against ...  
 Drop boom and add pusher to fi...  
 Get resin 
 Get bolt and plate 
 Insert resin into hole 
 Insert bolt with plate 
 Push bolt up with boom within ...  
 Rotate 3 to 8 seconds 
 Push bolt and plate against ro...  
 Hold until resin sets up 
 Drop boom  
 Swing boom in 4 to 5 feet 
 Repeat drilling process 
 Torque first and third bolt on...  
 Torque second and fourth bolt ...  
 Make gas test with probe  
 Advance line curtain as boltin...  
 Bolt as close to face as possi...  
 Place reflectors/streamers on ...  
 Clean dust box every second cu...  
 8. Service roof bolter 
 Grease pot 
 Grease leveling arm 
 Grease swing arm 
 9. End of shift activities 
 Report conditions to foreman o...  
 Hang reflectors  
 Properly dispose of damaged re...  
 Move the machine to the last o...  
 De-energize machine if necessa...  
 Go to mantrip, do a head count 
 Tag out 
 Place methane spotter on charg...  
 Place cap light on charger 
 Make notations on white board ...  
 Go home 
Roof Bolter Operator
Start-of-Shift Activities Arrive at workplace Conduct dust parameter exam Pre-op on Roof Bolter Untitled Drill test holes Drilling and installing roof bolts Service roof bolter End of shift activities
1. Start-of-Shift Activities
Self evaluation
Am I rested
Can I keep my mind on the work today Priority 2
Am I drug and alcohol free Priority 3
Check in/Tag in
Change clothes
Get W-65 Priority 3
Conduct visual examination Priority 3
Seal and dents Priority 3
Get CSE SR-100 Priority 3
Check indicators Priority 3
Conduct visual examination Priority 3
Seal and dents Priority 3
Obtain PPE Priority 2
Metacarpal Gloves
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
Metatarsal safety shoes
Leather boots strongly recommended
Respirator
Reflective material on clothing
Hard hat
Get spotter Priority 3
Check battery Priority 3
Zero out Priority 3
Obtain tools
Hammer
Channel locks
Cresent wrench
6" flat screw driver
Obtain supplies Priority 2
Bits
Inserts
Bit clips
Drill steel
Drill wrenches
Reflectors
Dust filters
Rope hangers
Meet with foreman Priority 2
Discuss roof control plan Priority 3
Bolted/unbolted areas
Attend safety talk Priority 2
Talk with previous shift bolter operator or check white board
Supplies
Condition of roof
Condition of bolting machine
Maintenance needed on roof bolter
Test holes
Entry width
Enter the mine
Get on mantrip Priority 2
Put on safety glasses Priority 2
Ensure everyone is seated before mantrip moves Priority 2
Ensure mantrip had been pre-oped
Ensure clearance is granted Priority 3
2. Arrive at workplace
Exit mantrip
Conduct work place examination Priority 2
Observe for mobile equipment Priority 3
Check for bad top Priority 3
Check for cracks, loose rock, taking on weight, water
Check for loose ribs Priority 3
Start at corner of last open crosscut
Check for cracks
Check for brows
Check for sloughage
Look for uneven bottom
Undulation
Check for slip/trip hazards
Look for crib blocks, rock, banding material, cable, bolts
Check ventilation Priority 2
Check fly pads Priority 2
Check line curtains Priority 2
Check for damaged bolts and bolt spacing Priority 3
Visually inspect roof bolter cable Priority 3
Check for flat places Priority 2
Check for torn jacket Priority 2
Ensure cable is hung properly Priority 2
Insulated hangers
Insulated wire
Correct and/or report any unsafe conditions Priority 3
Conduct work place examination Priority 2
Repeat examination for each cut bolted
Observe for mobile equipment Priority 3
Check for unsupported and bad top Priority 3
Check for cracks, loose rock, taking on weight, water
Scale loose top with slate bar, if necessary Priority 3
Spot bolt any area that can't be scaled Priority 3
Check for loose ribs Priority 3
Start at corner of last open crosscut
Cracks
Brows
Sloughage
Support or scale any loose ribs
Look for uneven bottom
Check for slip/trip hazards
Check ventilation before tramming through Priority 2
Check fly pads and line curtains
Curtain must be maintained within two rows of bolts at all times until it is within 10' of the face
Avoid standing behind line curtain
Check for methane with spotter Priority 3
1' from face/roof/rib
If magnet on head of miner is not used you must use a probe
Check for damaged bolts and wide bolt spacing Priority 3
Correct and/or report any unsafe conditions Priority 3
Ensure reflectors are installed on second row of bolts from face Priority 3
3. Conduct dust parameter exam
Energize machine
Check dust boxes Priority 2
seals
filters
latches
Check water boxes
Check suction on drill head Priority 2
Check cut ventilation Priority 3
Report completion of exam to foreman
Foreman is required to record
4. Pre-op on Roof Bolter
Ensure everyone is clear of the red zone Priority 3
Check fire suppression Priority 2
Check panic strip Priority 3
Check operational controls Priority 3
Make sure levers don't overlap or stick and proper "C" clips
Check boom up/down/rotation, foot jack, swing control, canopy jack, fast feed, torque valve, and boom extend
Check Tram controls Priority 3
Deck
Make sure levers don't overlap or stick and proper "C" clips
Check front lift
Check rear lift
Check cable reel take-up
Check panic strip Priority 3
Check right and left tram controls Priority 3
Check foot control
Inch Tram Priority 3
Make sure levers don't overlap or stick and proper "C" clips
Check the ATRS functions, ATRS up and down, ATRS extend, ATRS front lift, ATRS beam extend, and right and left tram controls
Check lights
Check bolts/pins on canopies Priority 2
Check slate bar Priority 2
Check grease gun Priority 2
Check for probe Priority 3
Check for torque wrench Priority 2
Check for pre-op sticker
Look for hydraulic fluid leaks Priority 2
5. Untitled
Tramming
Communicate to others before starting roof bolter Priority 3
Verbally
Get out of the red zone before restarting bolter Priority 3
Hang cable and tie off at last open break Priority 2
Use existing roof bolt
Walk to and examine new work area Priority 3
Ensure gas test is taken before tramming bolter to the face
Ensure quality work place exam is conducted
Ensure proper ventilation is provided
Tram bolter to next work place Priority 2
Swing booms in
Raise booms
Raise up foot jacks
Lower boom canopies
Ensure front of machine is off the bottom and the rear of the machine is not in the top
Ensure the ATRS is lowered
Disengage the reel valve
Allow the cable to free spool, if necessary
Make sure all levers in deck are centered
Tramming bolter from inch tram controls Priority 3
Engage the diversion valve
Push valve down from deck
Locate last row of bolts
Inch tram forward to last row of bolts
Off side operator must be at least two rows of bolts back
Extend ATRS boom out
Extend ATRS beam out
Set ATRS against roof
Engage inch tram diversion valve to begin drilling
6. Drill test holes
Drill test hole at least 1 foot deeper than the length of bolts installed Priority 3
Review approved roof control plan and/or mine policy for exact location of test holes
Watch for steel to jump Priority 3
This comes with experience
Look, listen, and feel for changes in the roof Priority 3
This comes with experience
Measure test hole Priority 2
Drag tip of tape measure against side of hole while withdrawing
Catches with the tip of the tape measure indicates separation or cracks
Mark test hole
Depth
Person who drilled the test hole
Paint test hole
Leave test hole open
Determine the length of bolts Priority 3
All bolts must anchor in at least 1 foot of solid roof at the end of the bolt
Notify section foreman to determine supplemental support if you are unsure
7. Drilling and installing roof bolts
Advance bolter 4 foot from last row of bolts Priority 3
Set ATRS Priority 3
Refer to drilling test hole
Swing booms out no more than 4 foot from rib Priority 3
Use 48" roof bolt to measure distance
Use marked drill steel
Set foot jack Priority 2
Set canopy Priority 3
Do not pressurize canopy against top
Examine roof Priority 2
Sight and sound, at each drill hole location
Place starter steel in drill pod
Hands off drill steels are used
Keep body from over the boom
Raise boom, put steel against the roof, begin rotation and up pressure to the right depth of the hole
Look, listen and feel
Discuss up pressure and rotation with trainee
Drop boom and add pusher to finish depth of hole to same length of bolt
Discuss methods of extracting steel from hole
Get resin
Get bolt and plate
Insert resin into hole
Insert bolt with plate
Push bolt up with boom within 1 inch of top of roof Priority 2
Rotate 3 to 8 seconds Priority 2
Rotation 35 revolutions
This mixes the resin
Push bolt and plate against roof Priority 2
Hold until resin sets up Priority 2
Follow manufacturer's directions
Drop boom
Keep body from under boom
Swing boom in 4 to 5 feet Priority 3
Repeat drilling process
Torque first and third bolt on the first row installed
Use torque wrench
Refer to roof control plan for torque specs and report torques that do no meet the minimum requirement
Torque second and fourth bolt on the fourth row than alternate every four rows after
If you follow this sequence, you check the mandatory 10 percent of all bolts installed
Make gas test with probe Priority 3
Before entering work place
Every 20 minutes thereafter
Advance line curtain as bolting progresses up to the second line of roof bolts outby Priority 3
Bolt as close to face as possible
Place reflectors/streamers on second row of roof bolts outby the face Priority 3
Clean dust box every second cut
In the last open line of breaks
Wear respirator
Keep air at your back
Remove pan and dump on ground
Clean filter
8. Service roof bolter
Grease pot Priority 2
Grease leveling arm Priority 2
Grease swing arm Priority 2
9. End of shift activities
Report conditions to foreman or next bolt crew
Problems
Supplies
Things that was done to correct problems
Hang reflectors Priority 3
Properly dispose of damaged resin
Move the machine to the last open crosscut
De-energize machine if necessary Priority 2
Go to mantrip, do a head count
Tag out
Place methane spotter on charger
Place cap light on charger
Make notations on white board as needed
Go home