[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20351]



[[Page 40799]]

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Part III





Department of Labor





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Mine Safety and Health Administration



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30 CFR Parts 56, 57, and 77



Safety Standards for Surface Haulage; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 146/ Thursday, July 30, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 40800]]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 56, 57, and 77


Safety Standards for Surface Haulage

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: MSHA is considering rulemaking to address factors believed to 
cause or contribute to the occurrence or severity of surface haulage 
accidents. Surface haulage equipment accidents are a leading safety 
concern in the mining industry. MSHA is sharing its ideas and seeking 
suggestions to reduce these accidents.

DATES: Submit comments and requests for meetings on or before August 
31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this notice may be obtained from the Office of 
Standards, Regulations and Variances, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 
22203 and from any MSHA district office. Send mail comments to MSHA, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, at the above address. 
Commenters are encouraged to submit comments on a computer disk along 
with an original hard copy. Send comments by electronic mail to 
[email protected] or by facsimile to 703-235-5551.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director; MSHA, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances; 703-235-1910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Thirty percent of fatal mining accidents at surface mines and 
surface areas of underground mines over the past three years involved 
surface haulage equipment. Further, this equipment was cited as the 
primary cause in 40 percent of the fatalities last year in the metal 
and nonmetal mining industry.
    MSHA examined approximately 8,000 surface accidents (from 1987 to 
1996) involving powered haulage equipment which resulted in either 
fatalities or lost work days. During that time, 120 miners were killed 
and 1,377 were injured due to three causes or contributing factors: 
unused or inadequate occupant restraint systems on the equipment; blind 
areas on self-propelled mobile equipment; and lack of adequate 
illumination.

II. Discussion of the Contributing Factors

Restraint Systems

    The Agency is considering a requirement for all vehicles to have 
restraint systems for the lower torso (seat belts) for both equipment 
operators and passengers, whether or not the vehicle has Roll Over 
Protective Structures (ROPS).
    For newly manufactured equipment, except for on-highway trucks, the 
Agency is considering requiring upper torso restraint systems (e.g., 
harnesses or equivalent) and an interlock system to prevent movement of 
the vehicle unless the equipment operator's restraint system is 
engaged. As an added safety feature, a light on the cab exterior could 
indicate when the equipment operator's restraint system is engaged. The 
Agency is also considering whether to extend the metal/nonmetal 
requirement that grader operators wear safety lines and a harness when 
operating the grader from a standing position to coal mines, instead of 
a restraint system with interlock.
    Issues to be considered include (1) requiring use of an interlock 
system together with a mandated seat belt rule; (2) whether it is safe 
to use restraint systems on vehicles not equipped with ROPS; (3) 
whether there is a need to require restraint systems for passenger 
seats; and (4) whether upper torso restraints would result in more neck 
injuries. Specific examples, including documented evidence, if 
available, would be useful.

Illumination

    Illumination deficiencies contributed to a number of surface 
haulage accidents because of problems associated with inability to see 
victims, judge distances, clearly see berms and slope edges, and 
restricted vision during inclement weather such as fog.
    MSHA is considering the following requirements for illumination:
     Permanently mounted lighting for pre-operational 
examination of equipment;
     Automatic backup lights that illuminate the rear-tire-to-
ground contact area;
     Ground surface lighting for certain excavating equipment 
operating in areas with uneven or irregular surfaces;
     Lighting necessary to see the road ahead and objects in 
blind areas; and
     For off-highway equipment only, lighting on steps and hand 
grip areas used to get in and out of the operator's compartment, and to 
illuminate the ground area at the base of the steps.

Blind Areas

    Surface haulage equipment involved in most fatal accidents include 
rear dump trucks and articulated front-end loaders; they are also the 
most used. The Agency is considering that this surface haulage 
equipment should: (1) Have a system, such as video cameras, to enable 
the operator to see blind areas; (2) have an automatic sensor to detect 
objects or people in the blind area; (3) have a signal to alert people 
that they are in blind areas; and (4) provide a signal to the operator 
when objects or people have been sensed. The sensor could use infrared, 
radio frequency, Doppler radar, or equivalent technology, so long as it 
emits a signal. In order to be effective, object sensors would have to 
automatically activate a viewing device (such as a video camera) and 
monitor when an object is sensed. When a spotter is used to assist a 
rear dump truck operator, two-way electronic communication between the 
spotter and the operator is necessary for adequate protection.
    MSHA is considering a performance approach where mine operators 
would be required to eliminate left, right, and front blind areas on 
all rear dump trucks and articulated front-end loaders. The Agency is 
considering a requirement that all blind areas, including the rear, 
must be eliminated on off-highway rear dump trucks and articulated 
front-end loaders.
    To enhance the visibility of smaller vehicles, such as service 
trucks, pick-ups, and other vehicles that may operate in close 
proximity to large surface haulage equipment, MSHA is considering a 
requirement for flashing lights and pole or antenna-mounted flags on 
these vehicles. Experience has shown that these smaller vehicles are 
often obscured from the field of view of operators of larger equipment.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Parts 56, 57, and 77

    Mine safety and health, Surface mining.

    Dated: July 24, 1998.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 98-20351 Filed 7-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P