ISSUE DATE: 07/17/09 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P09-12 

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN Charles Thomas for

 Administrator for 

 Coal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Escape Capsules in Underground Coal Mines 

Who needs this information?

Underground coal mine operators, miners' representatives, independent contractors, 

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

Support personnel, and other interested parties should have this information. 

What is the purpose of this Program Information Bulletin?

The purpose of this Program Information Bulletin (PIB) is to inform the underground 

coal mining community of MSHA’s intent to evaluate emergency escape capsules for 

their capacity to carry a disabled miner on a stretcher and be accompanied by an 

attendant and to determine if escapeways are properly maintained to ensure the safe 

operation of such escape capsules during an emergency. 

Information

As part of an emergency evacuation and firefighting program under 30 C.F.R. § 75.1502, 

underground coal miners are instructed in the proper procedures they must follow if a 

mine emergency occurs, including consideration of different scenarios to determine the 

best option for evacuation under various mine emergency situations. Differing 

scenarios may include conditions and situations that use escape capsules to evacuate 

miners to the surface. 

With the passage of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) 

ACT in 2006, MSHA considers the use of such capsules as part of an Emergency 

Response Plan (ERP) to evacuate miners to the surface in the event of an emergency. 

MSHA intends to evaluate the carrying capacity of these escape capsules to determine if 

all miners underground could be evacuated in a swift and timely manner, including 

disabled miners. MSHA will also determine if each escapeway is maintained in a safe 

condition to always assure passage of miners and disabled miners using an escape 
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capsule to evacuate to the surface. Accordingly, MSHA may conduct a stretcher test of 

any escape capsule to insure that a disabled person, secured on a stretcher, could fit 

inside the capsule and be accompanied by another person, to maintain the injured 

person during transport. Escape capsules used in escapeways to evacuate miners 

should be of sufficient size to transport a stretcher in a horizontal position. 

 

What is the background for this PIB?

MSHA is aware that escape capsules are being used by some mine operators as part of 

their emergency evacuation and firefighting program of instruction. MSHA intends to 

evaluate these escape capsules to determine if they are suitable to be included within an 

ERP and if they comply with the requirements in 30 C.F.R. § 75.380 (d)(1), § 75.381 

(c)(1) and § 75.1502. 

What is 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. § 75.380 (d)(1) and 30 C.F.R. § 75.381 (c)(1) Escapeways and § 75.1502, Mine 

Emergency Evacuation and Firefighting Program of Instruction. 

Where Is this PIB on the Internet?

This PIB may be viewed on the World Wide Web by accessing MSHA's home page at 

(www.msha.gov ), choosing "Compliance Info" and "Program Information Bulletins." 

Who are the MSHA contact person for this PIB?

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Division of Safety 

John Arrington (202) 693-9549 

E-mail: arrington.john@dol.gov

Who will receive this PIB?

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders 

Underground Coal Mine Operators 

Miners' Representatives 

Independent Contractors 

Special Interest Groups