ISSUE DATE: 03/03/09 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P09-04 

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

 Administrator for 

 Coal Mine Safety and Health 

 JEFFREY A. DUNCAN

 Director for 

 Educational Policy and Development 

SUBJECT: AMS Operator Training Guide and Part 48 Task Training Addendum 

Scope

This program information bulletin (PIB) applies to underground coal mine operators, 

independent contractors, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personnel, 

and other interested persons. 

Purpose

This PIB provides compliance information to assist operators in the modification of the 

task training component of their Part 48 training plan. Further, this PIB announces the 

availability of a training guide that can be used to assist in training AMS operators. 

Information

The final rule for Flame-Resistant Conveyor Belt, Fire Prevention and Detection, and 

Use of Air From the Belt Entry was effective on December 31, 2008 and requires mine 

operators to submit modifications to their training plans and conduct AMS operator 

task training by March 2, 2009. 

A trained AMS operator must be on duty at mines that use an AMS to comply with the 

following standards: §§ 75.323(d)(1)(ii) – actions for excessive methane, 75.340(a)(1)(ii) 

and 75.340(a)(2)(ii) – electrical installations, 75.350(b) and 75.350(d) – use of air from the 

belt entry to ventilate working sections and point-feed regulators, or 75.362(f) – on-shift 

examinations. 

30 C.F.R. § 75.156(a) requires that to be qualified as an AMS operator, a person shall be 

provided with task training on duties and responsibilities at each mine where an AMS 
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operator is employed in accordance with the mine operator’s approved Part 48 training 

plan. Since no AMS operator was required to receive task training under an MSHAapproved Part 48 training plan before December 31, 2008, they now must be trained 

under this new provision. 

All underground coal mine operators that are required to have AMS systems in their 

mines must conduct task training for their AMS operators. Part 48 training plans must 

be modified to include the new task training requirement for AMS operators in 

§ 48.27(a). This modification must be submitted to the appropriate District Manager for 

approval. To assist in developing a task training plan modification, MSHA has 

developed a task training plan addendum. Operators who choose to use this task 

training addendum should modify it as necessary and submit it to the appropriate 

District Manager for approval. 

MSHA has also developed a training guide entitled, Atmospheric Monitoring Systems 

Operator’s Training Guide. This guide is intended to assist operators in conducting AMS 

task training and annual retraining as required in § 75.351(q)(1). This guide can also be 

used as an aid to train personnel that monitor carbon monoxide sensors. 

Both the task training plan addendum and guide can be downloaded from the MSHA 

website, www.msha.gov/beltair/beltair.asp#AMS, or ordered from the: 

National Mine Health and Safety Academy 

Department of Instructional Materials 

Printing and Property Management Branch 

1301 Airport Road 

Beaver, West Virginia 25813-9426 

Phone: (304) 256-3257 

Fax: (304) 256-3368 

E-mail: MSHADistributionCenter@dol.gov 

Background

This training addresses AMS operator qualification requirements in the final rule on 

Flame-Resistant Conveyor Belt, Fire Prevention and Detection, and Use of Air from the 

Belt Entry. 

Authority

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

30 C.F.R. Part 48 and §§ 75.156 and 75.351(q). 
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Internet Availability

This PIB may be viewed by accessing MSHA's home page at (www.msha.gov), 

choosing "Compliance Info" and "Program Information Bulletins." 

Contact Person(s)

Coal Mine Safety and Health 

Michael G. Kalich 

E-mail: kalich.michael@dol.gov

Educational Policy and Development 

Thomas W. MacLeod 

E-mail: macleod.thomas@dol.gov

Distribution

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders 

Mine Operators and Independent Contractors 

Mine Safety and Health Administration Personnel 

Special Interest Groups