MineVentilationunderMSHARegulation.ppt.pptVIP

Mine Ventilation under MSHA Regulation ?Dr. B. C. Paul 2004 Revised April 2008 Note – Basic information in this lecture was drawn from the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Register, the MSHA website, and Historical compilations and reports of accidents from the U.S. Bureau of Mines and MSHA Underground Coal Mines Major Objectives Provide for escape in the event of a fire Limit exposure to dust and methane Main Approach Specify air velocities and volumes to areas of the mine Specify any reuse of air Require approved mine ventilation plans Approved Ventilation Plans(30 CFR 75.370) Have to have an approved ventilation plan New Plans or Changes must be shown to the representative of the miners Plans must be posted on the bulletin board MSHA has to review each mines ventilation plan every 6 months to make sure it still fits conditions Ventilation plans can usually adapt fixed rules of the regulations to individual mine Ventilation Plan Contents(30 CFR 75.371) Company Information Name and location of company Name, Location and MSHA number of mine Name of individual submitting plan Main Mine Fan Information Only Anthracite coal mines are allowed booster fans underground (30 CFR 75.302) Main mine fans have to be monitored continuously with at least a pressure recording device and a person on the surface Person must have two way communications to working areas Mine fans need an independent power supply from the rest of the mine (separate circuit) (30 CFR 75.310) Things Regs will look for in Main Mine Fans Have to be 15 ft offside from opening Have to have weak stopping or explosion door to protect Have to be located away from surface combustibles Have to have doors that can close if ventilation air could conceivably reverse Required Operation of Mine Fans (30 CFR 75.311) Fans must run at all times If not run have to shut down machinery, limit people underground to servicing things requiring shut-down, turn off power to underground circuits unless have some sort