U.S. Department of Labor

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

ISSUE DATE: October 14, 2003

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P03-25

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:     Withdrawal of MSHA Approval Numbers 8C-67-0 and 8C-67-1 for
                        Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) Five Star Alarms

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

Why is MSHA issuing this bulletin?
This bulletin informs the industry of the withdrawal of MSHA Approval Numbers 8C-67-0 and 8C-67-1 for the MSA Five Star Alarms. Five Star Alarms labeled with MSHA Approval 8C-67-2 remain approved and are not affected by the withdrawal action.

What is the background for this withdrawal action?
MSHA has discovered non-approved circuit boards in MSA produced Five Star Alarms with MSHA Approvals 8C-67-0 and 8C-67-1. The units were found to provide inaccurate readings after being dropped. These issues were the subject of previous Program Information Bulletins P03-06 and P03-07.

MSA has chosen not to continue to pursue the approval modifications and instrument retrofits necessary to restore Five Star Alarms with MSHA Approvals 8C-67-0 and 8C-67-1 to permissible condition. MSA has requested that MSHA withdraw these approvals.

What is the effect of withdrawal of the MSHA Approvals?
MSA Five Star Alarms labeled with MSHA Approval Numbers 8C-67-0 and 8C-67-1 are no longer approved. The instruments cannot be used wherever permissible equipment or an approved gas detection instrument is required. This includes those applications required under Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 57.22227 (Approved testing devices (I-A, I-B, I-C, II-A, II-B, III, IV, V-A, and V-B mines)), 30 CFR Section 75.320 (Air quality detectors and measurement devices), and 30 CFR Section 77.201-1, (Tests for Methane; qualified person; use of approved device).

What should owners of instruments with withdrawn approvals do?
MSA will be distributing users' notices detailing procedures for return and replacement of the instruments labeled with MSHA Approval Numbers 8C-67-0 and 8C-67-1. If you do not receive a notice, contact MSA at the number referenced below.

The user notices will contain additional information concerning equipment, which was approved at one time, for use with the Five Star Alarms:

1. Only battery packs having a date code of G03 or later must be used with Five Star Alarms labeled with MSHA Approval Number 8C-67-2. MSHA no longer approves the use of battery packs having a date code earlier than GO3.


2. Sampling pumps can no longer be used with the Five Star Alarms labeled with MSHA Approval Number 8C-67-2. MSHA no longer approves the use of the sampling pump with the device.