Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. Telephone or
equivalent two-way communications shall be established between equipment
operators working on stockpiles and those persons who are operating conveyors,
feeders, hoppers or load-out facilities drawing from those stockpiles.
Communication shall be maintained as necessary to keep such equipment operators
advised of potential hazards during draw down activities.
B. No person shall travel on foot directly
over areas of coal stockpiles where underlying feeders are in place, except:
1. In accordance with the provisions of
subdivision D 5 of this section, or
2. On an emergency basis, under direct
supervision of a certified foreman while secured by a safety line with coal
stockpile feeders de-energized, locked out, and suitably tagged.
C. No person shall operate
equipment on a coal stockpile directly over areas where underlying coal feeders
are in place without a stockpile safety plan approved by the chief. The plan
shall be submitted by the mine operator or agent and, when approved, shall be
posted at the mine site. Before any person first works on stockpiles with
underlying feeders, the approved plan shall be reviewed with that person. A
record shall be maintained of such review for a period of two years.
D. The plan shall outline procedures to
protect the health and safety of mobile equipment operators working on a
stockpile or coal storage area directly over areas where underlying coal
feeders are in place. Plan procedures shall be approved and shall include:
1. A method of determining that no miners or
equipment are in the affected area before starting stockpile underlying
feeders;
2. A method of determining
the expected draw hole size in correlation to the stockpile size;
3. Safe procedures for breaking through
bridged cavities;
4. Development of
contingencies for safe recovery of personnel should a piece of equipment become
entrapped, which shall be reviewed with all personnel during annual
retraining;
5. Safe procedures for
travel by foot should it be necessary during nonemergencies;
6. Information on how the operator will
comply with the requirements of this section.
E. The following requirements will be met
where mobile equipment operators work on stockpiles with underlying feeders:
1. Beginning August 25, 2004, all mobile
equipment manually operated on coal stockpiles, where there is a potential of
the equipment falling into a cavity, shall be equipped with an enclosed cab
fitted with chemically tempered glass and a window support system. However,
glass certified to withstand 40 psi may be installed without a window support
system provided that such glass is installed in a frame that provides equal
strength and support. Other types of glass and window frames or support system
may be used provided that an equal or greater amount of protection is
afforded.
2. Mobile equipment shall
be equipped with an enclosed cab and doors and windows shall be closed and
secured at all times the equipment is in operation on the stockpile.
3. The equipment cab shall be provided with
two self-contained self-rescuers. Equipment operators shall be trained in the
donning and use of self-rescuers.
4. The equipment operator shall be provided
with a remote control device capable of stopping the flow of coal from the
feeder and coal coming onto the stockpile. Such device shall be tested
weekly.
5. Emergency lighting shall
be provided for the mobile equipment operator.
6. Warning signs shall be posted at the
entrances to all coal stockpiles with underlying coal feeders.
7. Underlying free-flowing feeders shall be
equipped with gates or other controls so that material cannot inadvertently
discharge when the feeder is not activated.
8. When pushing material over the crest of a
stockpile or draw hole, the equipment shall be stopped a safe distance from the
edge and other material will be used to bump the material over such
area.
9. When underlying feeders
are used, the location of each draw-off point will be clearly indicated by a
marker suspended directly above the underlying feeder.
10. Visual indicators shall be provided to
show the mobile equipment operators which feeders are being used.
11. The equipment shall have a primary
two-way communications system and a back-up communication system supplied by an
independent power source.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.106 and 45.1-161.254 of
the Code of Virginia.
