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Mining & ExplosivesMine Rescue Team Rules (30 CFR 49)
Twenty flashcards on the federal rules for U.S. mine rescue teams: members, equipment, physicals, training hours and contests.
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20 cards
- What must every U.S. underground mine operator assure under 30 CFR Part 49?
- The availability of mine rescue capability for emergency rescue and recovery.
- How many mine rescue teams must be available, and when?
- At least two teams, available at all times when miners are underground.
- How many people make up a mine rescue team?
- Five members and one alternate, fully qualified, trained and equipped.
- What underground experience does a team member need?
- At least one year working in an underground mine within the past five years.
- What experience do members of a contract coal mine rescue team need?
- At least 3 years of underground coal mine experience within the 10 years before joining the contract team.
- How far can a metal or nonmetal mine be from its mine rescue station?
- No more than two hours of ground travel time.
- And how far can an underground coal mine be from its station?
- No more than 1 hour of ground travel time.
- How many breathing apparatus must a mine rescue station have?
- Twelve self-contained breathing apparatus, each with at least 4 hours capacity.
- How much oxygen supply must the station keep for each team?
- Enough to sustain each team for eight hours using the breathing apparatus, plus two extra full bottles for every six apparatus.
- What gas detectors must the station have?
- Four for each gas that may be met: methane 0 to 100 percent, oxygen to at least 20 percent, carbon monoxide to at least 9,999 ppm.
- What communication system must the station keep?
- A portable mine rescue communication system at least 1,000 feet long, with wire strong enough to serve as a manual signal line.
- How often must breathing apparatus be inspected and tested?
- At intervals not exceeding 30 days, by a trained person who signs and dates the check.
- What medical exam do team members need?
- A physician's exam every year certifying fitness for strenuous rescue work; the first within 60 days before initial training.
- What initial training does a new team member need?
- A course of at least 20 hours on the use, care and maintenance of the team's breathing apparatus.
- How much refresher training do metal and nonmetal teams need?
- At least 40 hours a year, given at least 4 hours each month or 8 hours every two months.
- What must the refresher training include?
- Underground sessions at least once every 6 months and at least two hours under oxygen every two months, among other topics.
- When does a member become ineligible to serve on a team?
- If more than 8 hours of training are missed in one year, unless the time is made up.
- How much refresher training do coal mine rescue teams need?
- At least 96 hours a year, including wearing apparatus in smoke or simulated smoke at least once every 12 months.
- How many local mine rescue contests must coal team members join each year?
- At least two local mine rescue contests a year.
- What makes an event a valid local mine rescue contest?
- Held in the U.S. under MSHA-recognized rules, at least three teams, a winner, teams under oxygen, and judges trained every year.
Official sources
MSHA, via eCFR
30 CFR Part 49: Mine Rescue Teams
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