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Mining & ExplosivesChecking the roof and ribs for loose ground
Under oxygen, the captain is the one who looks up. As the team advances, the captain checks the roof and the ribs for loose ground, out loud, at every place the rules list, warns the team each time bad ground shows up, and nobody works where the captain has not looked. On the way out, the rear captain gives the same warnings.
Free to startScenarios
- Advancing into an intersection with a placard of loose roof.
- Reaching a stopping where the team will build a temporary stopping.
- Retreating toward the fresh air base.
The steps
- The captain checks the roof and ribs visually while the team advances.
- Say out loud that you are checking the roof at intersections, shaft stations, rooms, faces and mine openings, before entering the area.
- Check at every point of farthest advance, in front of any barrier to advancing.
- Check before building or erecting any structure, and before breaching a stopping, barricade or curtain.
- Check when passing through any barricade, stopping, bulkhead, air lock, door or check curtain.
- Check as soon as you reach a placard of fire or intense heat.
- When bad ground appears, warn the team out loud before any other member passes the placard.
- At a team stop, nobody works or moves into any part of an area until the captain has checked it in person.
- On the retreat, the rear captain gives the warnings.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Never travel under bad roof or ground.
- Never advance past a placard of intense heat or fire out of control.
To pass
- Each missed warning or missed out-loud roof check costs 5 points.
- Each member who travels under bad roof or past a placard of intense heat counts as endangered: 15 points.
- An area counts as examined only once the captain has been there and checked it.
Official source
Federal · MSHA Mine Rescue Contest Rules 2026
2026 Metal and Nonmetal Mine Rescue Contest Rules
MSHA's mine rescue contest rules list every place the captain must check the roof out loud and the discount for each miss.
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