ISSUE DATE: 08/16/2010 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P10-11 

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

 Administrator for 

 Coal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Maintaining Face Ventilation Control Devices 

Scope

This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) applies to underground coal mine operators, 

miners’ representatives, independent contractors, Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel and other interested parties. 

Purpose

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

information regarding the required maintenance of face ventilation control devices. 

Information

Face ventilation controls are a critical feature for providing underground coal miners 

with reliable ventilation. Failure to maintain controls or make prompt repairs to restore 

ventilation places miners’ safety and health at risk due to an increased risk of a 

methane ignition and elevated respirable dust. Moreover, most miners on a working 

section do not have a means of measuring air quantities. Miners, however, can 

determine when ventilation controls are damaged substantially and when the controls 

are likely to adversely affect the air quantity. 

MSHA’s standard at 30 C.F.R. § 75.330 (a) requires brattice cloth, ventilation tubing, 

and other face ventilation control devices to be made of flame-resistant material 

approved by MSHA. In addition, 30 C.F.R. § 75.330(b)(1) requires that face ventilation 

control devices be used to provide ventilation at each working face from which coal is 

being cut, mined, drilled for blasting, or loaded, and at other working faces as specified 

in the mine’s approved ventilation plan, such as in locations where roof bolting is being 

conducted. Mine operators must ensure that face ventilation devices are used to 

effectively direct air where miners are working to dilute, render harmless, and to carry 

away flammable, explosive, noxious, and harmful gases, dusts, smoke, and fumes from 

areas where miners work. If MSHA finds evidence that the face ventilation devices are 

not used, the Agency will take prompt enforcement action to protect miners. 
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Section 75.330(b)(2) requires ventilation control devices to be maintained at a distance 

not to exceed 10 feet from the area of deepest penetration to which any portion of the 

face has been advanced unless an alternative distance is specified in an approved 

ventilation plan. The alternative distance requirement must be effective in maintaining 

concentrations of respirable dust, methane, and other harmful gases at safe levels, as 

required by the applicable MSHA standards. 

Under 30 C.F.R § 75.330(c), when line brattice or any other face ventilation control 

device is damaged to an extent that ventilation of the working face is inadequate, 

production activities in the working place are required to cease until necessary repairs 

are made and adequate ventilation is restored. MSHA expects mine operators to be 

diligent and prompt in adequately repairing damaged face ventilation control devices. 

MSHA emphasizes to the mining industry that if these devices become damaged or 

cannot adequately ventilate a face, potentially dangerous conditions for miners can 

result. Therefore, mine operators must cease mining operations in the working place 

until appropriate repairs are made. MSHA intends to continue to obtain air quantity 

measurements prior to issuing citations and orders under MSHA standards and the 

Mine Act. 

MSHA maintains an anonymous hotline to report hazardous conditions. The phone 

number is 1-800-746-1553. Persons may also report hazardous conditions to their 

MSHA District office. MSHA will promptly investigate any report of a hazardous 

condition at a mine. 

Background

On April 21, 2010, MSHA launched inspections at 57 coal mines whose enforcement 

history indicated a significant number of violations related to methane accumulations, 

ventilation practices, rock dusting, and mine examinations. These impact inspections 

followed the April 5, 2010, explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West 

Virginia, and focused attention on mine ventilation, rock dusting, methane monitoring, 

and mine examinations. 

In addition, on May 24, 2010, the House Education and Labor Committee conducted a 

hearing on the Upper Big Branch explosion. The Committee heard testimony from 

deceased miners’ families. The testimony addressed issues regarding safety conditions 

in existence prior to the explosion including inadequate ventilation, intentional changes 

to ventilation systems, high levels of methane, excessive coal float dust, “bridging out” 

methane monitors on mining equipment, advance notice of MSHA inspections, and 

retaliation for miners who raised safety and health issues. 

This PIB emphasizes that MSHA intends for mine operators to fully comply with the 

Mine Act and MSHA’s regulatory requirements. 

 
 

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Authority

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

and 30 C.F.R. § 75.330. 

Availability

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

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

Issuing Office and Contact Persons

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Division of Safety 

John Arrington, 202-693-9549 

E-mail: arrington.john@dol.gov 

Distribution 

MSHA PPM holders 

Underground Coal Mine Operators 

Coal Miners’ Representatives 

Independent Contractors 

Special Interest Groups