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Division of Labor Standards
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Mine Safety and Health - Training

New Miners - Surface Mines

COURSE/CLASS DESCRIPTION

Issue 2. Part 48, New Miner:Surface
Part 48, New Miner:Underground
Large and Small Coal And Metal Non-Metal Mines

Part 48, New Miner Surface, Coal and Metal Non-Metal Mines

DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE:

There is a constant demand for Part 48 New Miner Training in Missouri.  Each year the need for this particular training increases or decreases due to product demand and attrition of the workforce.  The coal, sand & gravel and limestone industry grows or downsizes depending on the infrastructure demands of not only Missouri but the states the product is exported to.  Many of the mines that operate intermittently lose their workforce due to the nature of their operations and need new employees trained.  Without proper introductory training the new employee is put at risk and faces the potential of accidental injury due to the lack of knowledge of the hazards of their new work environment.  The new miner does not fully understand the gravity and scope of the environment they are being thrust into.  The new miner does not get the full explanation of his or her rights as a miner.  Safety and health issues are not always given to the miner when they should be.

The larger operations in the state usually have a certified instructor to provide all the Part 48 New Miner Training but the smaller mines do not have the funds available to provide a safety and health professional to do this training.  New Miner Training gets our program a foot in the door for specialty training as well as for Annual Refresher Training.  In a large portion of the small mines we provide the only safety and health training the miner gets other than task training.

PROPOSED SOLUTION:

New Miner Training is the first step in the future safety and health of the miner.  Some companies do not fully understand their responsibility to the miner as an operator.  During the new miner class each stakeholder gains and garners new information from the New Miner class.

Joint efforts by MSHA inspectors, the Missouri Mine Safety and Health instructors, the Missouri Limestone Producers Association, the Southeast Missouri Mine Safety Association and the Mining Industry Council to provide information and training materials to the operator to aid in their portion of the Part 48 New Miner Training, has increased the knowledge and understanding of the miner and operator.

We feel New Miner Training is the most important step in the training a miner receives.  We have changed the class presentation to include more in-depth discussions on the specifics of the mine.  To accomplish this we conduct a pre-class inspection of the operation and a consultation with the operator.  If possible we conduct a walk around tour of the mine with the new miner to point out hazards the miner will face in their new occupation.  Any where we can we will have hands on training at highwalls and with powered haulage equipment and their travelways.

GOAL:

It is our goal to educate the new miner in the health and safety aspects of the new work environment he or she is being thrust into.  We will reducethe potential of an accident occurring to the new miner.  We will ensure that their rights as a miner are not infringedupon through lack of knowledge.

OBJECTIVE:

We will train the new miner in the required subjects as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 30, Part 48, Training and Retraining of Miners and other courses as may be required by the District Manager based on circumstances and conditions at the mine.  The classes presented will be modified to be adapted to the mine where the miners are to be employed.  A site specific inspection and audit will be performed at the mine and a discussion with the operator and miners' representative to determine the needs at the mine before the course is presented.  This will inform the instructor in the processes and problems encountered at the mine.  This process will enable the instructor to prepare his or her class to be mine specific.  We will provide eight of the required 24 hours training.  The company will be responsible for the remainder of the training.

OUTLINE:

  1. Statutory Rights of Miners and Their Representatives Under The Act
    1. Statutory Rights of Miners and their Representatives Under The Act.
    2. Discussion of Section 2 of The Act.
    3. The Line of Authority of Supervision.
    4. The Miners Representative.
    5. Responsibilities of the Supervisor and Miners' Representative.
    6. Introduction to Company Rules.
    7. The Procedures for Reporting Hazards.
  2. Self Rescue and Respiratory Devices
    1. Instruction in the use, care and maintenance of the type of devices used at the mine.
    2. Demonstration on the complete donning procedure.
    3. Fit Testing and the hazards if not done properly.
    4. Discussion of the hazards of and prevention of Silicosis.
  3. Transportation Controls and Communication Systems.
    1. Riding conveyances.
    2. Transportation of miners, materials and explosives.
    3. The use of mine communication systems.
    4. Warning signals, signs and directional signs used at the mine.
    5. Powered Haulage Safety tips
  4. Introduction to the Work Environment.
    1. Discussion of the processes and type of mining used at the mine.
    2. The company will be required to provide the majority of this subject.
  5. Escape and Emergency Evacuation Plans; Firewarning and Firefighting.
    1. Review of the escape procedures and routes.
    2. Review of the Firefighting and Emergency Evacuation Plans.
    3. Instruction in the firewarning systems.
  6. Ground Control; Working in areas of Highwalls, Water Hazards, Pits and Spoil Banks; Illumination and Night Work.
    1. Highwalls and ground control plans will be discussed.
    2. Procedures for working safely around highwalls.
    3. Procedures for working around water.
    4. Procedures for working around spoil banks.
    5. Night time hazards identified and procedures for working after dark.
    6. Site preparation and safety around highwalls.
  7. Health
    1. Instruction in how and why dust, noise and other health measurements are taken and what they mean to the miner.
    2. Discussion on the possible health hazards at the mine.
    3. Health controls in place at the mine are discussed.
      1. Silicosis
      2. Noise
      3. Winter Weather Alert
      4. Heat Stress
      5. Hygiene
    4. Health provisions of the act are explained.
    5. Warning labels and Material Safety Data Sheets explained.
  8. Hazard Recognition
    1. Normal mining hazards will be discussed.
    2. Explosives, their use and hazards discussed.
    3. The operator will provide the majority of this class.
  9. Electrical Hazards
    1. Recognition and avoidance of electrical hazards.
    2. High voltage dangers
    3. Power center dangers
    4. Grounding
    5. Ground fault interruption
    6. Sub-stations
    7. Disconnects
    8. Lock-out/Tag-out
  10. First Aid
    1. Primary survey
    2. Secondary survey
    3. CPR
    4. Bandaging and splinting
    5. Transportation
  11. Explosives
    1. Review and instruction in the use and danger of explosives.
    2. Hazards in the handling and transportation of explosives.
    3. Day boxes and Magazines
  12. Health and Safety Aspects of the Tasks Assigned
    1. This class will be provided by the operator.
  13. Such other courses as may be required by the District Manager based on the circumstances and conditions found at the mine.
    1. Powered Haulage Safety
    2. Fall Prevention
    3. Personal Protective Devices
    4. Health and Hygeine
    5. Confined Space Entry
    6. Hazardous Materials Handling
    7. Materials Handling

PART 48 NEW MINER:UNDERGROUND

OBJECTIVE:

We will train the new miner in the required subjects as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 30, Part 48, Training and Retraining of Miners and other courses as may be required by the District Manager based on circumstances and conditions at the mine.  The classes presented will be modified to be adapted to the mine where the miners are to be employed.  A site specific inspection and audit will be performed at the mine and a discussion with the operator and miners representative to determine the needs at the mine before the course is presented.  This will inform the instructor in the processes and problems encountered at the mine.  This process will enable the instructor to prepare his or her class to be mine specific.  We can provide 16 of the required 24 hours training.

OUTLINE:

  1. Statutory Rights of Miners and Their Representatives Under The Act
    1. Statutory Rights of Miners and their Representatives Under The Act.
    2. Discussion of Section 2 of The Act.
    3. The Line of Authority of Supervision.
    4. The Miner's Representative.
    5. Responsibilities of the Supervisor and Miners Representative.
    6. Introduction to Company Rules.
    7. The Procedures for Reporting Hazards.
  2. Self Rescue and Respiratory Devices
    1. Instruction in the use, care and maintenance of the type of devices used at the mine.
    2. Demonstration on the complete donning procedure.
    3. Fit Testing and the hazards if not done properly.
    4. Discussion of the hazards of and prevention of Silicosis.
  3. Entering and Leaving the Mine; Transportation; Communications.
    1. Procedures for entering and leaving the mine.
    2. Check in and check out system.
    3. Riding conveyances.
    4. Transportation of miners, materials and explosives.
    5. The use of mine communication systems.
    6. Warning signals, signs and directional signs used at the mine.
  4. Introduction to the Work Environment.
    1. Discussion of the processes and type of mining used at the mine.
    2. The company will be required to provide the majority of this subject.
  5. Mine Map; Escapeways; Emergency Evacuation; Barricading.
    1. Review and discussion of the mine map.
    2. Review of the escape procedures and routes.
    3. Review of the Firefighting and Emergency Evacuation Plans.
    4. Abandoned areas of the mine and their dangers.
    5. Methods of barricading used at the mine.
    6. Refuge chambers and their locations.
  6. Roof, Ground Control and Ventilation Plans.
    1. Roof and ground control plan will be discussed.
    2. Scaling techniques for the back, rib and pillars.
    3. Ventilation and its use in mining.
    4. Discussion of the mine ventilation plan.
    5. Roof bolts and their use.
    6. Examination of the working area.
  7. Health
    1. Instruction in how and why dust, noise and other health measurements are taken and what the results mean to the miner.
    2. Discussion on the possible health hazards at the mine.
    3. Health controls in place at the mine are discussed.
      1. Silicosis
      2. Noise
      3. Winter Weather Alert
      4. Heat Stress
      5. Hygiene
    4. Health provisions of the act are explained.
    5. Warning labels and Material Safety Data Sheets explained.
  8. Clean-up and Rock Dusting.
    1. Housekeeping and the importance of clean-up at the mine.
    2. The purpose of rock dusting.
    3. The methods used at the mine.
    4. The operator will provide portions of this class.
  9. Hazard Recognition
    1. Normal mining hazards will be discussed.
    2. Explosives, their use and hazards discussed.
    3. The operator will provide the majority of this class.
  10. Electrical Hazards
    1. Recognition and avoidance of electrical hazards.
    2. High voltage dangers
    3. Power center dangers
    4. Grounding
    5. Ground fault interruption
    6. Sub-stations
    7. Disconnects
    8. Lock-out/Tag-out
  11. First Aid
    1. Primary survey
    2. Secondary survey
    3. CPR
    4. Bandaging and splinting
    5. Transportation
  12. Mine Gases
    1. Properties of gases.
    2. Detection of and where to look for the various gases.
    3. Hazards of gases; toxicity, explosive nature and asphyxiation.
    4. Avoidance and removal through ventilation.
  13. Health and Safety Aspects of the Tasks Assigned
    1. This class will be provided by the operator.
  14. Such other courses as may be required by the District Manager based on the circumstances and conditions found at the mine.
    1. Powered Haulage Safety
    2. Fall Prevention
    3. Personal Protective Devices
    4. Health and Hygeine
    5. Confined Space Entry
    6. Hazardous Materials Handling
    7. Materials Handling

TIME:

Each class provided will be tailored to be mine specific and the time devoted will be allocated to give a complete representation of the subject covered.  Discussion time will cause the time devoted to fluctuate but in no case will there be less than one hour devoted to each subject.