[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 30, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 30CFR48.6]

[Page 222-223]
 
                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 48--TRAINING AND RETRAINING OF MINERS--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart A--Training and Retraining of Underground Miners
 
Sec. 48.6  Experienced miner training.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (e), this section applies to 
experienced miners who are--
    (1) Newly employed by the operator;
    (2) Transferred to the mine;
    (3) Experienced underground miners transferred from surface to 
underground; or
    (4) Returning to the mine after an absence of more than 12 months.
    (b) Experienced miners must complete the training prescribed in this 
section before beginning work duties. Each experienced miner returning 
to mining following an absence of 5 years or more, must receive at least 
8 hours of training. The training must include the following 
instruction:
    (1) Introduction to work environment. The course shall include a 
visit and tour of the mine. The methods of mining utilized at the mine 
shall be observed and explained.
    (2) Mandatory health and safety standards. The course shall include 
the mandatory health and safety standards pertinent to the tasks to be 
assigned.
    (3) Authority and responsibility of supervisors and miners' 
representatives. The course shall include a review and description of 
the line of authority of supervisors and miners' representatives and the 
responsibilities of such supervisors and miners' representatives; and an 
introduction to the operator's rules and the procedures for reporting 
hazards.
    (4) Entering and leaving the mine; transportation; communications. 
The course shall include instruction in the procedures in effect for 
entering and leaving the mine; the check-in and checkout system in 
effect at the mine; the procedures for riding on and in mine 
conveyances; the controls in effect for the transportation of miners and 
materials; and the use of the mine communication systems, warning 
signals, and directional signs.
    (5) Mine map; escapeways; emergency evacuation; barricading. The 
course shall include a review of the mine map; the escapeway system; the 
escape, firefighting, and emergency evacuation plans in effect at the 
mine; the location of abandoned areas; and, where applicable, methods of 
barricading and the locations of barricading materials. The program of 
instruction for escapeways and emergency evacuation plans approved by 
the District Manager shall be used for this course.
    (6) Roof or ground control and ventilation plans. The course shall 
include an introduction to and instruction on the roof or ground control 
plan in effect at the mine and procedures for roof and rib or ground 
control; and an introduction to and instruction on the ventilation plan 
in effect at the mine and the procedures for maintaining and controlling 
ventilation.
    (7) Hazard recognition. The course must include the recognition and 
avoidance of hazards present in the mine.
    (8) Prevention of accidents. The course must include a review of the 
general causes of accidents applicable to the mine environment, causes 
of specific accidents at the mine, and instruction in accident 
prevention in the work environment.
    (9) Emergency medical procedures. The course must include 
instruction on the mine's emergency medical arrangements and the 
location of the mine's first aid equipment and supplies.
    (10) Health. The course must include instruction on the purpose of 
taking dust, noise, and other health measurements, where
    (11) Health and safety aspects of the tasks to which the experienced 
miner is assigned. The course must include instruction in the health and 
safety aspects of the tasks assigned and the safe work procedures of 
such tasks. Experienced miners who must complete new task training under 
Sec. 48.7 of this part do not need to take training under this 
paragraph.
    (12) Self-rescue and respiratory devices. The course shall include 
instruction and demonstration in the use, care, and

[[Page 223]]

maintenance of self-rescue and respiratory devices used at the mine. 
Training in the use of self-contained self-rescue devices shall include 
complete donning procedures in which each person assumes a donning 
position, opens the device, activates the device, inserts the mouthpiece 
or simulates this task while explaining proper insertion of the 
mouthpiece, and puts on the nose clip.
    (13) Such other courses as may be required by the District Manager 
based on circumstances and conditions at the mine.
    (c) The operator may include instruction on additional safety and 
health subjects based on circumstances and conditions at the mine.
    (d) The training time spent on individual subjects must vary 
depending upon the training needs of the miners.
    (e) Any miner returning to the same mine, following an absence of 12 
months or less, must receive training on any major changes to the mine 
environment that have occurred during the miner's absence and that could 
adversely affect the miner's health or safety.
    (1) A person designated by the operator who is knowledgeable of 
these changes must conduct the training in this paragraph. An MSHA 
approved instructor is not required to conduct the training outlined in 
this paragraph.
    (2) No record of this training is required.
    (3) The miner must also complete annual refresher training as 
required in Sec. 48.8, if the miner missed taking that training during 
the absence.

[43 FR 47459, Oct. 13, 1978, as amended at 47 FR 23640, May 28, 1982; 53 
FR 10335, Mar. 30, 1988; 53 FR 12415, Apr. 14, 1988; 63 FR 53760, Oct. 
6, 1998]

    Effective Date Note: At 67 FR 42388, June 21, 2002, Sec. 48.6 was 
amended by revising paragraph (b)(11), effective Sept. 23, 2002. For the 
convenience of the user, the revised text is set forth as follows:

Sec. 48.6  Experienced miner training.

                                * * * * *

    (b) * * *
    (11) Health and safety aspects of the tasks to which the experienced 
miner is assigned. The course must include instruction in the health and 
safety aspects of the tasks assigned, including the safe work procedures 
of such tasks, information about the physical and health hazards of 
chemicals in the miner's work area, the protective measures a miner can 
take against these hazards, and the contents of the mine's HazCom 
program. Experienced miners who must complete new task training under 
Sec. 48.7 do not need to take training under this paragraph.

                                * * * * *