ISSUE DATE: 02/25/2010 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P10-02 

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

 Administrator for 

 Coal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Examination of Electrical Underground Coal Mine Equipment 

Who needs this information? 

Operators of underground coal mines, miners’ representatives, Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel, and other interested parties should 

have this information. 

What is the purpose of this bulletin?

This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) revises PIB No. P07-11. It provides 

information to the mining community on examination of electrical underground coal 

mine equipment, under 30 C.F.R. §§ 75. 512, 75.800-3, 75.821, and 75.900-3, regarding 

equipment that is put into service for the first time, out-of-service equipment, and idled 

equipment. In addition, this PIB provides information for consistent enforcement of 30 

C.F.R. §§ 75.512, 75.800-3, 75.821, and 75.900-3. 

Information

Electrical Equipment Put Into Service For The First Time.

To ensure that electrical equipment put in service for the first time in an underground 

mine is properly installed to prevent fire, electrical shock, or operational hazards, it 

should be examined before use. In addition, the equipment must be examined at least 

weekly under 30 C.F.R. § 75.512-2, at least once every 7 days under 30 C.F.R. § 75.821, 

and/or monthly in accordance with 30 C.F.R. §§ 75.800-3 and 75.900-3. 

Out-of-Service Equipment. 

Equipment may be out of service due to scheduled vacation time at a mine, for 

maintenance or repair, or for any reason other than being idled as discussed below. 

Out-of-service equipment should be de-energized. De-energization can be achieved in 

a number of ways: removing power from the equipment by disconnecting circuit 

breakers or cable couplers; disconnecting the cable from the power center and rolling 
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up the cable to the equipment; or other methods dependent on the system. To ensure 

that equipment remains de-energized, it should be locked out and tagged at the 

equipment or the power center. When equipment is out-of-service, it should be labeled 

with a tag to identify it as “out of service.” Locking out and tagging equipment alone 

does not indicate that the equipment is out of service unless the tag actually says that it 

is out of service, since there are other reasons equipment may be locked out and tagged. 

Out-of-service equipment should be listed as “out-of-service” in the electrical 

examination records, either in the weekly examination record or in the monthly 

examination record for circuit-breakers, whichever applies. Defective circuit breakers 

and receptacles cannot always be locked out. In these instances they can be deenergized by removing the conductors from the line or load side of the circuit breaker 

and/or removing the conductors supplying the receptacle, and suitably tagging the 

defective circuit breaker or receptacle to indicate how the circuit breaker or receptacle 

was removed from service. Before such equipment is returned to service, it must be 

examined, in accordance with 30 C.F.R. §§ 75.512, 75.800-3, or 75.900-3, if the equipment 

was out of service for a period of time exceeding the examination frequencies 

prescribed by these standards. 

Idled Electrical Equipment. 

Idled electrical equipment is equipment that is not in use, but is ready to be used at any 

time when the need arises. Idled equipment should be maintained in a safe operating 

condition so that it can be used safely when needed. This equipment must be examined 

weekly, in accordance with 30 C.F.R. § 75.512-2, at least every 7 days in accordance with 

30 C.F.R. § 75.821, or monthly, in accordance with 30 C.F.R. §§ 75.800-3 or 75.900-3. 

What is the background for this PIB?

Several accidents have occurred where miners have been shocked by electrical 

equipment that had not been examined prior to being placed in service. 

In addition, questions have been raised regarding what constitutes out-of-service 

equipment, how enforcement personnel determine whether equipment is out of service, 

and how enforcement personnel apply 30 C.F.R. §§ 75.512, 75.800-3, 75.821 and 75.900-3 

to such equipment. 

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. §§ 75.512, 75.800-3, 75.821 and 75.900-3. 
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Is this PIB on the Internet?

This PIB may be viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA home page 

(www.msha.gov ) then choosing “Compliance Info” and “Program Information 

Bulletins.” 

Who is the MSHA contact person for this PIB?

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Division of Safety 

Salwa El-Bassioni, (202) 693-9525 

E-mail: el-bassioni.salwa@dol.gov 

Who will receive this PIB?

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders 

Underground Coal Mine Operators 

Coal Special Interest Groups