Petition for Modification
July 12, 2000
In the Matter of
Climax Molybdenum Company
Docket No. M-98-03-M
30 CFR §57.12016
BACKGROUND
On April 20, 1998, Climax Molybdenum Company, filed a petition for modification of 30 CFR §57.12016, (Electricity, Distribution Boxes), at Petitioner's Henderson Operations Mine (I.D. No. 05-00790) located in Empire, Clear Creek County, Colorado. The mine is an underground molybdenum operation using conventional mining methods to recover the ore.
The relevant standard, 30 CFR §57.12016, provides:
Work on electrically-powered equipment.
Electrically powered equipment shall be deenergized before mechanical work is done on such equipment. Power switches shall be locked out or other measures taken which shall prevent the equipment from being energized without the knowledge of the individual working on it. Suitable warning notices shall be posted at the power switch and signed by the individuals who are to do the work. Such locks or preventive devices shall be removed by the persons who installed them or by authorized personnel.
The Petitioner has proposed utilize remote lockout procedures for the 2000 belt conveyor system. The reasons given for the remote lockout were the long length of the conveyor system and the difficult travel conditions along the belt. As an alternative to compliance with 30 CFR §57.12016 the petitioner proposed the following:
1. All lockout steps will be performed in the crusher control room except the lockout conveyor of the conveyor belt pull cord.
2. The crusher operator will remotely open two power contactor/breakers for each drive motor, turn the VFC (variable frequency controller) off and disable all local control power for these contactor/breakers. An auxiliary on each breaker or contactor will indicate whether each device is opened.
3. Mill operator control will be disabled.
4. Potential network hardware will be disabled.
5. Persons desiring a lockout will activate a pullcord switch and lock the switch with a lockout lock.
6. The crusher operator will receive an indication of the last pull cord switch which has been deactivated.
7. The crusher operator will try to start the belt to insure that starting is not possible before declaring the belt system is locked out.
8. The crusher operator will physically guard the Allen Bradley PLC (programmable logic controller) in the control room or lock the control room with a lockout lock.
The petitioner stated that the above procedures would facilitate a user friendly lockout, which personnel would use for short duration tasks. The proposed alternative method would provide a measure of protection equal to or greater than that of the standard.
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) investigators conducted an investigation relevant to the merits of the petition and filed a report of their findings and recommendations with the Administrator for Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health. After a careful review of the entire record, including the petition and MSHA's investigative report and recommendations, this Proposed Decision and Order is issued.
FINDING OF FACT AND CONCLUSION OF LAW
The Petitioner asserts that the remote lockout system as proposed would be a suitable alternative to compliance with the standard. MSHA has determined that unless the power supply to electrically powered equipment is disconnected and locked while person's are working on the equipment, the equipment can be inadvertently started by others or by control circuits shorting, thus endangering the persons working on the equipment. The requested modification would not provide protection equal to or greater than the protection provided by compliance with the standard.
ORDER
Wherefore, pursuant to the authority delegated by the Secretary of Labor to the Administrator, and pursuant to Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. Section 811(c), it is ordered that a modification of the application of 30 CFR §57.12016 to Climax Molybdenum Company is hereby DENIED, because the Petitioner has not established that the proposed alternative method of compliance is as safe as compliance with the mandatory standard.
Earnest C. Teaster, Jr.
Administrator for
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health