Trailing cables

Examination of the exposed trailing cable is required at the beginning of each shift, with the remainder of the cable to be examined within one hour upon arrival of the producing shift.

Battery charging stations

The split of air ventilating a storage battery charging station can be ventilated to a belt entry provided the belt entry air is not used to ventilate working face and a carbon monoxide monitoring system is in place.

Underground electrical installations

Underground transformer stations, battery charging stations, substations, rectifiers and water pumps must be housed in noncombustible structures or areas or equipped with fire suppression systems.

Accompaniment (walk around rights)

A representative of the miners, selected by at least two miners, is permitted to accompany a state inspector on mine inspections. The representative of the miners must be employed at the mine being inspected. The department may determine that more than one representative of the miners would further aid an inspection; however, only one such representative shall suffer no loss of pay during their participation in the inspection.

Qualifications

The requirement that a prospective miner provide a certificate as to his or her character and temperate habits is repealed. 

Shafts

Does not permit dual compartment shafts.  The distance between emergency escape shafts can be no less than 200 feet, and the distance between openings to the surface of slopes and between drifts can be no less than 50 feet. Permits exceptions to distance requirements with written consent of DEP. Permits the use of an escapeway capsule with a minimum capacity of two persons to meet the emergency hosting capability requirements of the act.

Pre-Shift examinations

A pre-shift examination is required 3 hours preceding the beginning of any 8-hour shift.  Specifies the frequency and details of pre-shift and on-shift examinations of underground mine areas.

Track distance

Where transportation of personnel is exclusively by rail, the track is required to be maintained to within 750 feet of the tailpiece on a longwall or the nearest working face on development sections. Distance may be extended up to 1500 feet if a self-propelled transport vehicle with rubber tires is readily available to transport sick or injured miners.

Permits DEP to issue variances, provided that in all cases a self-propelled transport vehicle with rubber tires shall be readily available at all times.

Directs the Coal Mine Safety Board to determine the appropriateness of four specific exceptions to the track distance requirements. This determination shall be made within 14 days of the Board’s organization, and will become effective upon the Board’s approval of a proposed rulemaking, pending the completion of the rulemaking process.