First Aid

The MSHA guidelines for first aid requirements for surface metal and nonmetal mines differ from the guidelines for surface coal mine operations.

First Aid at Surface Metal and Nonmetal Mines

The following are some guidelines for administering first aid at surface metal and nonmetal mines:

• An individual capable of providing first aid must be available on all shifts.
• The individual must be competently trained and have skills in the following areas: patient assessment, artificial respiration, blood loss control, shock treatment, wound and burn care, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.
• First aid training must be made available to all interested miners.

First Aid at Surface Coal Mines

The mine operator must conduct first aid training courses for selected supervisory employees at the mine. Within 60 days of the selection of a new supervisory employee who must receive first aid training, the mine operator must certify by signature the name of the employee and the date on which the employee satisfactorily completed the first aid training course.

Per MSHA's regulations, refresher first aid training programs must include five class-hours of training. Each operator of a surface coal mine must conduct refresher first aid training programs once a year for all selected supervisory employees and make refresher first aid training courses available to all employed miners.

To learn more about MSHA Part 48 training requirements visit our MSHA Part 48 Subpart B Surface Mining Online Training web page.