MSHA said the new rule will be published in the Federal Register on January 15 and become effective 60 days thereafter.
Years of lobbying were behind this safety push with MSHA figure Joseph A Main saying lives will be saved.
“It already has the support of many in the mining industry,” he said.
“In fact, a number of coal companies installed proximity detection systems long before there was a legal obligation to do so.”
MSHA said each PDS must:
- Cause moving or repositioning continuous mining machines to stop before contacting a miner;
- Provide audible and visual warnings on the miner-wearable component and a visual warning on the machine before it stops;
- Provide a visual signal on the machine that shows the machine-mounted components are functioning properly;
- Prevent movement of the machine if any machine-mounted component is not functioning properly (except limited movement for repairs);
- Prevent electrical interference that adversely affects the performance of other electrical systems in the mine; and
- Be installed and maintained in proper operating condition by a trained person.
A phase-in period of 8-36 months is flagged to allow mine operators to meet the new rule.
MSHA estimated that 425 of the 863 continuous miners in US underground coal mines already have PDS equipped with most of these meeting the rule requirements with only minor changes “such as adding warning signals”.
It said 35 coal miners have died since 1984 by either being pinned, crushed or struck by continuous mining machines.
