Mine Rescue Requirements
30 CFR Part 49
Mine Rescue Teams
A.2.c
The Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977, Section 115(e),
requires that every operator of an
underground mine assures the
availability of mine rescue
capability for purposes of
emergency rescue and recovery
Availability of mine rescue teams
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Every operator of an underground mine must:
– Establish two mine rescue teams available when miners are
underground
– Enter into an agreement for mine rescue services
Each team must consist of at least 6 members
Potential team members must have at least 1 year of underground
employment within the last 5 years
Transportation for team and equipment must be available in advance
Availability must be present before any mine is started or re-opened
Teams must be on-site or within 2 hours ground travel time from the station
to the mine
Travel time requirement is only measured from the station to the mine, not
from the home location or work site of the team members
The mine operator shall notify the District Manager, in writing, of the means
of services, whether self-provided or contracted
Alternative Mine Rescue Capability
for small and remote mines
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“Small and remote” means the total underground employment of the
operator’s mine and any surrounding mine within 2 hours ground travel is
less than 36
The mine operator must submit an application to the district manager which
contains:
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The number of miners employed on each shift
The distance from the 2 nearest rescue stations
Total employment of mines within 2 hours ground travel
The operator’s mine fire, ground and roof control history
The mine’s escape and evacuation plan
A statement to evaluate refuge chambers (initial and supplemental)
The number of miners willing to serve as team members
The operator’s alternative plan i.e..
• Teams farther than 2 hours travel
• Teams that may be flown in
Alternative mine rescue capability
for special mining conditions
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Plan must be submitted to the district manager showing that all these special mining
conditions exist:
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Multiple adits or entries exist
Mined material is non-combustible and mine is non-gassy
Multiple openings are present to allow fire and rescue vehicles access to all areas where
miners work
Roadways/openings are not lined with combustible material
No history of methane or other flammable or toxic gases
Gas/oil wells and drill holes plugged 100 feet above and below seam/ore body
Applications shall contain:
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Explanation of special mining conditions
Number of miners employed underground/shift
Distance from two nearest mine rescue stations
The operator’s mine fire history
The established escape and evacuation plan
The operators alternative plan i.e.:
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Local fire departments and/or ambulance services willing to respond
What constitutes a mine rescue
station
• Location of the station shall be designated by
the operator
• The station shall be a centralized storage
location for equipment either at the mine site, at
affiliated mines, or a separate structure
• The station shall have a proper storage
environment
• MSHA has the right to inspect any designated
mine rescue station
Equipment and maintenance
requirements per station
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12 approved self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus’ with 2 hour
capacity
Supplies of oxygen and chemicals to support each apparatus for six hours
of use
One extra oxygen bottle for every six apparatus’
A means to refill oxygen bottles (pump or cascade system)
12 cap lamps and chargers
Two gas detectors for testing gases which may be encountered (CO, O2,
and CH4 are acceptable unless the mine has a history of unusual gases
A communication system and lifeline (can be combination or separate)
1,000 feet in length
Spare parts for apparatus and communication system
Equipment must be tested every 30 days by a person trained, and a record
must be maintained at the station for one year
Physical requirements for team
members
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Team members must receive a physical examination with 60 days of initial
training and at least annually
The following examination shall be included:
– Seizure disorder
– Perforated eardrum
– Hearing loss without a hearing aid greater than 40 decibels at 400, 1,000, and
2,000 Hz
– Repeated blood pressure reading which exceeds 160 systolic, or 100 diastolic, or
which is less than 105 systolic, or 60 diastolic
– Vision less than 20/50 Snellen scale in one eye, and 20/70 in the other
– Heart disease
– Hernia
– Absence of limb or hand
– Any other condition which the physician determines makes the candidate unfit for
mine rescue service
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Records (MSHA Form 5000-3) shall be kept on file for one year
Training for teams
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Each new team member shall receive 20 hours of training on the care, use,
and maintenance of the apparatus being used
40 hours of refresher training shall be provided each year at increments of 4
hours each month or 8 hours every two months and shall include:
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Underground training at least each six months
Wearing apparatus two hours each two months
Use of auxiliary apparatus where applicable
Advanced mine rescue training and procedures (as prescribed by MSHA)
Training in ventilation and mine maps
If less than 40 hours of training is received, the team member will be
ineligible unless receiving make-up time
Training must be done by MSHA qualified instructors:
– One year underground experience in last 5 years
– Completion of MSHA or State Approved Instructor’s course
– or, designated by the District Manager based on qualifications
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A record of training must be kept at the station for 1 year
Mine emergency notification
• Each mine must have a mine rescue
notification plan outlining team notification
procedures
• A copy of this plan must be posted at the
mine and made available to miner’s
representatives