Communicating in an Emergency: Mining

MSHA requires mines to report certain accidents and emergencies within 15 minutes of its discovery to MSHA headquarters. This does not typically include emergencies that only result in basic first aid response. There are 12 offenses which must be reported immediately using the accident hotline (1-800-746-1553):

• A death of an individual at a mine
• An injury to an individual at a mine which has a reasonable potential to cause death
• An entrapment of an individual for more than 30 minutes or which has a reasonable potential to cause death
• An unplanned inundation of a mine by a liquid or gas
• An unplanned ignition or explosion of gas or dust
• In underground mines, an unplanned fire not extinguished within 10 minutes of discovery; in surface mines and surface areas of underground mines, an unplanned fire not extinguished within 30 minutes of discovery
• An unplanned ignition or explosion of a blasting agent or an explosive
• An unplanned roof fall at or above the anchorage zone in active workings where roof bolts are in use; or, an unplanned roof or rib fall in active workings that impairs ventilation or impedes passage
• A coal or rock outburst that causes withdrawal of miners or which disrupts regular mining activity for more than one hour
• An unstable condition at an impoundment, refuse pile, or culm bank which requires emergency action in order to prevent failure, or which causes individuals to evacuate an area; or, failure of an impoundment, refuse pile, or culm bank
• Damage to hoisting equipment in a shaft or slope which endangers an individual or which interferes with use of the equipment for more than 30 minutes
• An event at a mine which causes death or bodily injury to an individual not at the mine at the time the event occurs

To learn more about Workplace First Aid visit our Workplace First Aid Online Training web page.