ISSUE DATE: 08/26/2010 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P10-14 

FROM: JOHN P. FAINI

 Acting Director of Technical Support 

KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

 Administrator for 

 Coal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Clarification of MSHA Policy and Regulations Related to SCSRs 

Scope

Coal mine operators, miners and miners’ representatives, independent contractors, 

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel, and other 

interested parties should have this information. 

Purpose

The purpose of this Program Information Bulletin (PIB) is to provide information to clarify 

MSHA policy relative to Program Policy Letter (PPL) No. P10-V-1, and regulations 

pertaining to Self-Contained Self-Rescuers under Title 30 Code of Federal Regulation 

(30 C.F.R.) § 75.1714-8.

 

Information

Program Policy Letter No. P10-V-1 states, in part: “The [operator] ERP [Emergency 

Response Plan] should contain a provision adopting manufacturers’ recommendations 

for SCSR maintenance, routine examinations, storage, and retirement. The ERP should 

also address SCSR performance by specifying a schedule for opening, initiating the 

breathing cycle, and establishing operational reliability for a representative number of 

SCSR units on an annual basis. Units at the end of their service life, if available, may 

be used for this purpose.” 

Inspectors can ask operators to see a record showing that the test, establishing 

operational reliability, has been performed. It is important for mine operators to perform 

this annual test and report any problems to MSHA. When testing for operational 
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reliability, mine operators should obtain a representative sample of SCSRs to test, 

which generally would be a sample consisting of 1% of the SCSRs at each mine. 

Only SCSRs that pass manufacturers’ inspection criteria should be used for annual 

testing purposes. SCSRs should not have any visible damage and should not be 

beyond their service-life expiration dates. Damaged and/or out-of-date SCSRs are 

susceptible to failures and should not be used for testing. SCSRs that are nearing their 

expiration dates can be used for this test. 

30 C.F.R. § 75.1714-8

Section 75.1714-8 (a) requires mine operators to submit to MSHA a complete inventory 

of all SCSRs at each mine. It also requires mine operators to update this inventory on a 

quarterly basis if there are any changes within that quarter. 

Where possible, mine operators should submit this information online. The current 

inventory for each mine is available through the MSHA website. Under “Online Tools,” 

choose “SCSR Inventory and Report.” Then choose “File online electronically” and 

enter your email address and EGov password. 

Section 75.1714-8 (b) requires mine operators to report to MSHA any defect, 

performance problem, or malfunction with the use of an SCSR. This report must 

include a detailed description of the problem. Mine operators should promptly report 

any SCSR problems to MSHA. 

Section 75.1714-8 (c) requires mine operators to preserve and retain each SCSR 

reported under paragraph (b) of this section for 60 days after reporting the problem to 

MSHA. It is important for mine operators to retain these SCSRs so that MSHA and 

NIOSH can investigate the problem, if necessary. 

Background

Due to the recent MSHA/NIOSH investigation concerning a problem with CSE SR-100 

SCSRs, and related questions regarding SCSR reliability, MSHA wants to clarify 

provisions of PPL NO. P10-V-1, and requirements under 30 C.F.R. § 75.1714-8.

MSHA’s authority for this PIB 

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.; 

30 C.F.R. § 75.1714-8. 

Internet Availability

This PIB may be viewed on the internet by accessing MSHA’s home page at 

www.msha.gov, choosing “Compliance Info” and “Program Information Bulletins.” 

Issuing Office and Contact Persons

Technical Support, Pittsburgh Safety and Health Technology Center 

Jeffery Kravitz, (412) 386-6923 

E-mail: kravitz.jeffery@dol.gov
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Coal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division 

John Arrington, (202) 693-9549 

E-mail: arrington.john@dol.gov

Distribution

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders 

Coal Mine Operators 

Miners’ Representatives 

Independent Contractors 

MSHA Enforcement Personnel 

Special Interest Groups