[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 208 (Friday, October 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 55152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26636]



      

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 208 / Friday, October 27, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 55152]]


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


First Aid Training for Selected Supervisors

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration. Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has decided 
against issuing a Program Policy Letter (PPL) concerning first aid 
training for selected supervisors. Instead, the Agency is revising the 
existing standard. Notice of the new standard is published elsewhere in 
this issue of the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rodric M. Breland, Chief Division of 
Safety, Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health, 703-235-8647.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to determinations of repeated 
instances of noncompliance with Secs. 56/57.18010, on October 3, 1994, 
MSHA issued Program Policy Letter (PPL) No. P94-IV-2, First Aid 
Training for Selected Supervisors, to underscore the standard's intent. 
The policy letter emphasized that the requirement for first aid 
training is separate from 30 CFR part 48, Training and retraining for 
miners, and also addressed frequently asked questions concerning the 
standards. MSHA received a number of objections and withdrew the 
October policy letter by Federal Register notice of February 22, 1995 
(60 FR 9986). The Agency began a new process of seeking public comment 
on certain policies. In an accompanying notice, MSHA requested comments 
on the October policy letter for first aid training.
    MSHA received written comments from labor and industry 
representatives and subsequently held public meetings on July 6, 1995, 
in Cleveland, Ohio; July 12, 1995, in Elko, Nevada; and July 19, 1995, 
in Dallas, Texas. At the public meetings, MSHA officials discussed the 
purpose and enforcement history of the standard as well as compliance 
problems raised by industry.
    Commenters at the public meetings had a number of objections to the 
draft policy statement, expressing their concerns about training in 
first aid being required for supervisors when medical professionals 
were available at the mine; the belief that supervisory presence was 
being required during off-shifts; subjects included in a first aid 
course; duration of training; refresher training requirements; and the 
offering of the first aid training to interested miners. The commenters 
requested specifically that MSHA not issue a policy, but rather 
promulgate a new first aid standard.
    MSHA has reviewed both written and oral comments from the mining 
community. In response to commenters, MSHA will not issue a final PPL 
on this standard, but will continue its existing enforcement policy 
pertaining to this standard while proposing a new standard. Notice of 
the Agency's proposed rule is published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register.
    If persons have questions on compliance requirements of 30 CFR 56/
57.18010, they should contact the MSHA district manager in their area 
or the MSHA official as indicated in this notice.

    Dated: October 20, 1995.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 95-26636 Filed 10-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P