Mine Safety and Health Administration
Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978
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U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978 |
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Last Updated 09/07/2004 MSHA has entered into a project with Massey Energy, Nautilus International, and Joy Mining Machinery to introduce proximity protection technology to continuous mining machine operations. The mining industry has experienced 24 fatal crushing or pinning accidents since 1988 that involve the operation of remote control continuous miners. In most of these accidents, the miner, helper or other worker, was located within the danger zone (red zone) around the machine when the accident occurred. Proximity protection is a system that can be installed on a continuous miner and programmed to send warning and machine shutdown commands when a miner enters the red zone. This website has been developed to provide regular updates on the status of the project and to provide information regarding proximity protection. Project Partners In 2002, Massey Energy approached MSHA and expressed a desire to work with MSHA to develop a system that could be incorporated on their continuous mining machines to prevent remote control related accidents and improve safety at their operations. MSHA had previously researched available proximity protection systems and, after discussions with Massey, determined that a system manufactured by Nautilus, International was most applicable to continuous mining operations. Since Massey Energy uses Joy continuous miners, Joy was approached and they offered to work with Massey, Nautilus and MSHA to develop a permissible system that could be installed on continuous miners. Massey Energy committed to providing the necessary machines and mine sites to develop and test the proximity protection system. Nautilus International has committed to adapting their existing non-permissible system for continuous miners and to design a permissible system. Joy Mining Machinery has committed to provide the necessary technical assistance to design and install a permissible proximity protection system. MSHA has provided coordination of the project, and also technical assistance in the development of a permissible proximity protection system. MSHA also provides the evaluation of the design of the system to ensure that it complies with the applicable requirements in Title 30 Code of Federal Regulation (30 CFR), Part 18. Current Project Status Updated 09/07/2004 The Nautilus proximity protection system is close to readiness for the 3rd field trial. Nautilus has revised the system to address the parasitic coupling problem noted in the June field trial and shipped the system to Joy. Joy will package the new system and ship to its Duffield Service Center by September 10, 2004. Massey Energy has indicated that the new mine targeted for field testing should be ready for MSHA testing the week of September 20, 2004. Contacts
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Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor Arlington, VA 22209-3939 |
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