CMSP Body of Knowledge
The Certified Mine Safety Professional Examination
What to expect
The Certified Mine Safety Professional examination shall be given at intervals and at locations to
be determined by the Certified Mine Safety Professional Certification Board (CMSPCB) not less
than every six months at locations intended to geographically cover the continental United States
The examination is a 200 question objective test of the applicant’s knowledge of a body of
knowledge encompassing five domains. Those domains are:
DOMAIN
Safety and Health Program
Management
Occupational Safety
Occupational Health
Education and Training
Ethical and Legal Responsibilities
% of TEST
22.5
23.0
18.5
23.0
13.0
Total 100.0
The examination will comprehensively test the candidate’s knowledge and skills in each of the
domain areas.
Time allowed for the examination will be eight hours. The candidate will need to bring at least
two #2 pencils and a non-programmable calculator. Paper will be furnished for making
calculation, etc. No other material will be permitted.
Grading of the completed examinations will be performed by an independent grading
facility. Results will be communicated as soon as available, usually within three to four weeks.
The fee for the examination is $500 payable 30 days prior to the examination date.
Following is an outline of the Body of Knowledge, as determined by the CMSPCB that will be
addressed on the examination. This outline is intended only to provide a potential candidate
or other interested parties information on the broad outlines of the information base from which
the CMSP examination is derived.
Certified Mine Safety Professional Program
Outline of Domains and Content
A. SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (22.5%)
1. Hearing Conservation
a. Elements of a Model Hearing Conservation Program
b. Ear Protection and Proper Fit
c. TWA Calculations
2. Mine Rescue
a. Determination of Ventilation Changes (when appropriate)
b. Determination of Mine Rescue Team Requirements
c. Mine Rescue Team Training
3. Loss Control
a. Incidents, Accidents, and Root Cause Analysis
b. Accident Prevention and Hazard Recognition
c. Tracking Loss Control Costs
4. Recognition
a. Recognition Techniques
b. Successful Recognition Programs
5. Leadership
6.
a. Principles of Leadership
i.
Styles
ii. The Difference between Leadership and Management
b. Effective Leadership Tools
7. Standard Operating Procedures/Job Safety Analysis
8.
a. The Need for SOPs and JSAs
b. How to Structure an SOP
c. How to Create a JSA
9. Accident Investigation
10.
a. Requirements of Part 50
b. Supervisory Roles and Responsibilities
c. Data Collection and Documentation
d. Fact Finding vs. Fault Finding
e. Barrier Analysis
B. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY (23.0%)
1. Ground Control
a. Roof Control Plan Requirements
b. Roof Control Components and Materials
c. Roof Bolt Installation Procedures (Resin/Conventional)
d. Roof Control Theory
e. Surface Mining Ground Control
2. Ventilation
a. Ventilation Plan Requirements
b. Air Measurements
c. Fan Systems and Requirements
d. Auxiliary Fans and Requirements
e. Industrial Ventilation Systems
f. Ventilation Theory
3. Guarding
4. Fall Protection
a. Fall Protection Systems
b. Guardrails and Handrails
c. Barriers
d. Care, and Inspection of Fall Protection Equipment
e. Proper Use and Application of Fall Protection Equipment
f. Stairs, Ladders, and Scaffolds
5. Diesel Equipment
a. Safety Standards
b. Particulate Matter Control
6. Fire Protection
a. Fire Extinguisher Use and Procedures
b. Fire Fighting Procedures
c. Fire Protection Requirements
i.
Beltlines
ii. Working Sections
iii. General Mines
iv.
Surface Areas and Plants
d. Fire Suppression Systems and Requirements
i.
Beltlines
ii. Underground Equipment
iii. Surface Equipment
7. Personnel Transportation, Material Haulage and Hoisting
a. Hoist and Rope Requirements
b. Personnel Transportation on Belts
c. Safety Examinations of Personnel Carriers
d. Securing of Loads
e. Belt Conveyor Safety
8. Cutting and Welding
9. Hazardous Materials
a. Identification, Placards, and Labels
b. Handling and Storage Procedures
c. Flammable and Combustible Materials
10. Explosives
a. Transportation of Explosives
b. Storage of Explosives
c. Detonators
d. Disposal of Damaged or Deteriorated Explosives
e. Blasting Devices
f. Magazine Requirements
g. Loading of Explosives into Boreholes
h. Stemming Requirements
i. Misfire Procedures
j. Explosive Gases
11. Emergency Preparedness
a. First Aid and Supplies
b. Drills
c. Evacuation
d. Training
e. Medical Management (Incident/Injury Management)
f. Disaster Procedures
g. Dealing with the Media
12. Electrical Systems
a. Lockout/Tagout
b. Grounding
c. Circuit Breakers
d. Trailing Cables
e. Distribution Centers
C. OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH / INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE (18.5%)
1. Noise
a. Sound and Noise
b. The Human Ear
2. Heat and Cold
3. Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation
4. Gases and Sampling Procedures
a. Gas Table
b. Gas Rules (i.e., minimum O2 requirements, etc.)
c. Composition of fresh air
d. Withdrawal of personal due to gas content
e. Relationship between specific pressure, vapor pressure, density, and vapor
volume
f. Effects of gases on humans
g. Gas meter scale readings and interpretations
5. Hazardous Materials
a. Requirements of Part 47
b. Basic Industrial Hygiene Terminology
c. Explanation of MSDS
d. Explanation of HAZCOM plan
e. Hazard Determination
f. Labeling
6. Ergonomics
a. Ergonomic Principles and Musculoskeletal Disorders
b. NIOSH Lifting Equation
7. Personal Protection Equipment
a. Hierarchy of Controls
b. Respirators
c. Hearing Protectors
d. Face Protection
e. Foot Protection
f. Hand Protection
g. Body Protection
8. Respiratory Protection and Dust Control
a. Respirator Selection, Fitting, and Use
b. Dust Sampling Equipment and Techniques
c. Implementation of Dust Control Procedures
D. EDUCATION AND TRAINING (23.0%)
1. 30 CFR Parts 46/48
a. Part 46 Link
b. Part 48 Link
2. Teaching and Training Techniques and Evaluation
a. Recordkeeping (Parts 46/48)
b. Approved MSHA Training Plans (Parts 46/48)
c. Annual Refresher Training Requirements
d. New Miner Training Requirements
i.
Inexperienced
ii. Experienced
e. Task Training
f. Contractor Training
g. Hazard Training
h. Safety Meetings
i. Teaching Techniques
j. Techniques Designed for Adult Learning
k. Training Needs Assessment
l. Verification of Knowledge and Competency
m. Qualified and Competent Persons
n. Designing Effective Training Programs
3. Safety Committees
4. Basic Mine Calculations
a. Air Velocity
b. CFM through a duct
c. BHP requirements given efficiency, cfm, and inches of water gauge
d. Stopping distance for vehicles given speed, coefficients of friction
for the road and tires, and the distance of an object in
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
front of the vehicle
Weight by volume of container
Flow rate given time and quantity of air
Force on a steel plate given size and applied force
Relationship between ohms, voltage, and amps
Relationship between specific gravity of a liquid, vapor pressure density, and
vapor volume
Relationship between allowable working loads on equipment, capacity (in
lbs.) on the vehicle, and safety factor
Relationship between
pumps, pipes, and fluid flow
Basic Probability
Noise Reduction in Ducts
E. ETHICAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES (13.0%)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ethics Defined
ISMSP Code of Ethics
Definitions of Liabilities
30 CFR Part 50
a. Part 50 Link
5. 30 CFR Parts 47/56/57
a. Part 47 Link
Part 56 Link
Part 57 Link
1. 30 CFR 70/75
a. Part 70 Link
b. Part 75 Link
2. 30 CFR Part 62
a. Part 62 Link
b. MSHA’s New Noise Regulations
3. 1977 Mine Health and Safety Act
a. Link to the 1977 Act
4. MSHA Enforcement Tools
5. Employee Personal Safety Responsibilities
a. Examination of Work Areas
b. Examination of Equipment
Protection of Fellow Workers
Proper Use and Care of PPE