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Guidelines - Extending Shelter Holes - Section 254 (b)(2)


In general, these guidelines will be used for evaluating Section 254 (b)(2) requests for shelter hole spacing that exceeds 105 feet:

  1. Pedestrians shall have the right of way and all vehicle operators must stop until pedestrians are able to reach a shelter hole or walk past the vehicle.
  2. Mine-specific standards shall be engineered to establish trip loads that can be stopped within a safe distance (100 feet maximum). Established load limits shall be posted on each locomotive. This is not intended to require in-mine test of stopping distances.
  3. Signs shall be posted at the entrance to all extended shelter hole areas stating the shelter hole spacing.
  4. A means of identifying shelter hole locations shall be provided by a reflective marker which must be visible from along the track haulage travelway. Markers shall be of standardized color and design for each mine.
  5. In areas where shelter hole spacing exceeds 105 feet, all crosscuts which are available for shelter holes shall be maintained free of obstructions, other than roof-to-ground support. Clearance must be maintained for a depth of at least 6 feet and height of 4 feet.
  6. Shelter holes shall be maintained at all switch throws and manually operated equipment doors
  7. Loads shall be pulled in the direction of travel. When it is necessary to push loads, it shall be done only from the last available track switch, and a trip light or reflector shall be placed on the front end of the trip.
  8. Workers performing assigned tasks along track haulage roads shall be provided with flashing warning lights. These devices shall be placed at least 100 feet from each approach to each work site, and in clear view of approaching haulage equipment.
  9. Maximum distance between shelter holes will be limited to 165 feet in rooms or panels and 135 feet in mains and submains, unless a signal light block system, dispatcher, or another system is used to prevent pedestrians and vehicles in the same area at the same time.
  10. In areas where extended shelter holes are used and the haulage grade can cause runaway equipment, a signal light block system, dispatcher controlled system, or other approved method shall be implemented to prevent more than one trip or pedestrians and haulage vehicles from being in the area at the same time.
  11. Haulage roads shall have a clearance of at least 30 inches on the wide side and 12 inches on the tight side from the farthest projection of normal traffic.
  12. Miners entering the mine shall be adequately trained concerning these shelter hole safety provisions.