Accident InvestigationRequirements of 30CFR Part 50

A.8.a.

Contributed by: Randy Tatton, CMSP

Interwest Mining Company

PART 50 - NOTIFICATION, PART 50 - NOTIFICATION,

INVESTIGATION, REPORTS INVESTIGATION, REPORTS

AND RECORDS OF AND RECORDS OF

ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, ACCIDENTS, INJURIES,

ILLNESSES, EMPLOYMENT ILLNESSES, EMPLOYMENT

AND COAL PRODUCTION IN AND COAL PRODUCTION IN

MINESMINES

PURPOSE OF PART 50PURPOSE OF PART 50 It applies to operators of coal, metal and It applies to operators of coal, metal and non-metal mines.non-metal mines.•Requires mine operators to Requires mine operators to immediatelyimmediately notify notify (MSHA) of (MSHA) of accidentsaccidents..

•Requires mine operators to investigate Requires mine operators to investigate accidentsaccidents..

•Restricts disturbance of Restricts disturbance of accidentaccident related areas. related areas.

•Requires operators to file reports pertaining to Requires operators to file reports pertaining to accidentsaccidents, , occupational injuriesoccupational injuries and and occupational occupational illnessesillnesses; as well as employment and coal production ; as well as employment and coal production data.data.

•Requires operators to maintain copies of reports of Requires operators to maintain copies of reports of relevant data at mine offices.relevant data at mine offices.

50.10 IMMEDIATE 50.10 IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION.NOTIFICATION.

If an If an accidentaccident occurs, the operator shall occurs, the operator shall immediately contact the MSHA District or immediately contact the MSHA District or Subdistrict office having jurisdiction over Subdistrict office having jurisdiction over its mine. If the operator cannot contact its mine. If the operator cannot contact the appropriate MSHA District or the appropriate MSHA District or Subdistrict office it shall immediately Subdistrict office it shall immediately contact the MSHA Headquarters Office in contact the MSHA Headquarters Office in Washington DC.Washington DC.

““ACCIDENT”ACCIDENT”1. 1. A death of an individual at a mine;A death of an individual at a mine;

2. 2. An injury to an individual at a mine An injury to an individual at a mine which has a reasonable potential to which has a reasonable potential to cause cause death;death;

3.3. An entrapment of an individual for more An entrapment of an individual for more than than 30 minutes;30 minutes;

4.4. An unplanned inundation of a mine by a An unplanned inundation of a mine by a liquid liquid or gas;or gas;

5.5. An unplanned ignition or explosion of An unplanned ignition or explosion of gas or gas or dust;dust;

““ACCIDENT”ACCIDENT”

6.6. An unplanned mine fire not extinguished An unplanned mine fire not extinguished within 30 minutes of discovery.within 30 minutes of discovery.

7.7. An unplanned ignition or explosion of a An unplanned ignition or explosion of a blasting agent or an explosive.blasting agent or an explosive.

8.8. An unplanned roof fall at or above the An unplanned roof fall at or above the anchorage zone in active workings where anchorage zone in active workings where roof roof bolts are in use; or an unplanned bolts are in use; or an unplanned roof or roof or rib fall in active workings that rib fall in active workings that impairsimpairs ventilation or impedes ventilation or impedes passage;passage;

““ACCIDENT”ACCIDENT”9.9. A coal or rock outburst that causes A coal or rock outburst that causes

withdrawal of miners or which disrupts withdrawal of miners or which disrupts regular mining activity for more than one regular mining activity for more than one hour.hour.

10.10. An unstable condition at an An unstable condition at an impoundment, refuse pile, or culm bank impoundment, refuse pile, or culm bank which requires emergency action in which requires emergency action in order to order to prevent failure, or which causes prevent failure, or which causes individuals to individuals to evacuate an area; or failure evacuate an area; or failure of an of an impoundment, refuse pile or culm impoundment, refuse pile or culm bank.bank.

““ACCIDENT”ACCIDENT”

11.11. Damage to hoisting equipment in a shaft Damage to hoisting equipment in a shaft or slope which endangers an individual or slope which endangers an individual or or which interferes with use of the which interferes with use of the equipment for more than 30 minutes;equipment for more than 30 minutes;

12.12. An event at a mine which causes death An event at a mine which causes death or bodily injury to an individual not at or bodily injury to an individual not at

the the mine at the time the event occurs.mine at the time the event occurs.

““PRESERVATION OF PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE”EVIDENCE”

Unless granted permission by a (MSHA) Unless granted permission by a (MSHA) district or subdistrict manager, no operator district or subdistrict manager, no operator may alter an accident site or an accident may alter an accident site or an accident related area until completion of all related area until completion of all investigations pertaining to the accident investigations pertaining to the accident except to the extent necessary to rescue or except to the extent necessary to rescue or recover an individual, prevent or eliminate an recover an individual, prevent or eliminate an imminent danger, or to prevent destruction of imminent danger, or to prevent destruction of mining equipment.mining equipment.

50.20 Preparation and Submission of 50.20 Preparation and Submission of MSHA Report Form 7000-1 - (Mine MSHA Report Form 7000-1 - (Mine

Accident, Injury, and Illness Report).Accident, Injury, and Illness Report).

Mine Operator Shall Report:Mine Operator Shall Report:

1. Each Accident1. Each Accident

2. Each Occupational Injury2. Each Occupational Injury

3. Each Occupation Illness3. Each Occupation Illness

““OCCUPATIONAL INJURY”OCCUPATIONAL INJURY”

Means:Means:

Any injury to a miner which occurs at a mine Any injury to a miner which occurs at a mine for which medical treatment is administered, for which medical treatment is administered, or which results in death or loss of or which results in death or loss of consciousness, or inability to perform all job consciousness, or inability to perform all job duties on any day after an injury, temporary duties on any day after an injury, temporary assignment to other duties, or transfer to assignment to other duties, or transfer to another job.another job.

““OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS”OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS”

Means:Means:

An illness or disease of a miner which An illness or disease of a miner which may have resulted from work at a mine may have resulted from work at a mine or for which an award for or for which an award for compensation is made.compensation is made.