U.S. Department of Labor

Mine Safety and Health Administration 1100 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939

ISSUE DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P03-20

FROM:           MARK E. SKILES  
                        Director of Technical Support

                        RAY McKINNEY  
                        Administrator for
                             Coal Mine Safety and Health

                        ROBERT M. FRIEND  
                        Administrator for
                             Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health

SUBJECT:     Approval Status of Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) FiveStar Alarm

Who needs this information?
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel, coal and metal and nonmetal mine operators, miners' representatives and repair shops.

Why is MSHA issuing this bulletin?
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the industry of recent changes to the approval status of MSA FiveStar Alarm.

The Approval and Certification Center issued an extension of approval to the FiveStar Alarm on July 24, 2003. This MSHA Approval Number is 8C-67-2. MSA is currently supplying instruments labeled with this approval number to mining customers. At this time, only the FiveStar Alarm with MSHA Approval Number 8C-67-2 is permitted to be used in underground mines.

What is the background for this notification?
FiveStar Alarms labeled with MSHA Approval Numbers 8C-67-0 and 8C-67-1 were the subject of Program Information Bulletins (PIBs) PIB 03-06 and PIB 03-07. These PIBs directed users to discontinue use of the FiveStar Alarms. MSA has applied for the approval modifications necessary to correct the problems described in the bulletins. When these modifications are approved, MSA will inform instrument users of the retrofit actions required to bring these instruments into compliance with the modified approvals. The approval status and need for retrofit of these instruments is not affected by issuance of MSHA Approval Number 8C-67-2.

What steps should be taken?
If you are using a FiveStar Alarm with MSHA Approval Number 8C-67-2, no action is necessary. If you are using a FiveStar Alarm with either MSHA Approval Number 8C-67-0 or 8C-67-1 and have not previously been in contact with MSA concerning your instruments, you should contact MSA Customer Service at 1-800-MSA-2222. MSA will use information from customer service contacts to inform instrument users of future retrofit actions.

Who are the contact persons for this bulletin?
Technical Support, Approval and Certification Center
Bill Beasley (304) 547-2050
E-mail: beasley.william@dol.gov

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division
Erik Sherer (202) 693-9523
E-mail: sherer.hubert@dol.gov

Metal and Nonmetal Safety and Health, Safety Division
Thomas Loyd (202) 693-9645
E-mail: loyd.thomas@dol.gov

Is this information bulletin on the Internet?
This Program Information Bulletin may be viewed on the World Wide Web by accessing the MSHA Home Page (http://www.msha.gov) and then choosing Compliance Assistance and Program Information Bulletins.

What is the authority for this Bulletin?
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 30, Part 22

Who will receive this bulletin?
Program Policy Manual Holders
Miners' Representatives
Underground Mine Operators
Repair Shop Facilities
Special Interest Groups