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PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P07-31 FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN  Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health MARK E. SKILES  Director of Technical Support SUBJECT: Use of Fall Protection In, Around, or Over Any Shaft and Conveyance Safety Measures Who needs this information? This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) is intended for coal mine operators, independent contractors, miners' representatives, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personnel, and other interested parties. What is the purpose of this bulletin? This PIB informs the mining community of the fall hazards present during shaft construction, repair, or inspection activities and the necessary precautions to prevent injury or death. Information For purposes of this PIB, conveyances include skips, buckets, cages, platforms, or any other device that transports personnel in a shaft. Personnel riding in conveyances should wear a full body harness with a short, shock absorbing lanyard, and be properly tied-off to a designated attachment point. Additionally, when personnel are riding in conveyances, no ropes, chains, slings, or lanyards should be attached to, or otherwise hang from the underside or the outside of the conveyance. Any of these items could inadvertently foul or tip the conveyance causing persons or material to fall into the shaft. The mine operator or contractor must ensure that conveyances can travel in the shaft without tipping or becoming fouled. In addition, where persons are required to embark or disembark from a conveyance suspended over or within a shaft, a loading platform must be installed to ensure safe footing. Designated attachment points should be provided on the conveyance for the safety lanyard. The location of the attachment point should be carefully selected to prevent the lanyard from getting snagged or entangled when the conveyance is moving. Before a signal is provided to the hoist operator to move the conveyance, all personnel should ensure that they and all other personnel are tied-off. The hoist operator should confirm that all persons are tied-off prior to moving the conveyance. What is the background for this PIB? Recently, three persons were fatally injured when they fell from the bucket in which they were riding. The bucket became fouled and tipped over while they were being lowered down the shaft. The victims fell approximately 500 feet and narrowly missed several workers at the bottom of the shaft. None of the victims were tied-off to prevent them from falling. What is MSHA's authority for this PIB? The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 801, et seq.; 30 C.F.R. §§ 77.1908(b), (e), (o). Is this PIB on the Internet? This PIB may be viewed on the World Wide Web by accessing the MSHA home page at www.msha.gov and then choosing "Compliance Info" and "Program Information Bulletins." Who are the MSHA contact persons for this PIB? Coal Mine Safety and Health Mike Kalich, 202-693-9714 E-mail: Kalich.Michael@dol.gov Technical Support, Approval and Certification Center Juliette E. Hill, (304) 547-2063 E-mail: Hill.Juliette@dol.gov |
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