ISSUE DATE: 03/21/2012

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P12-05

FROM: NEAL H. MERRIFIELD

Administrator for 

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health

SUBJECT: Reissue of P07-21 - Clarification of Requirements of Conveyor Start-Up 

Warnings for 30 CFR §§ 56.14201 and 57.14201

Scope

Metal and Nonmetal mine operators, miners and miners' representatives, Mine Safety 

and Health Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel, and other interested 

parties should have this information. 

Purpose

MSHA is issuing this Program Information Bulletin (PIB) to emphasize to the metal 

and nonmetal mining industry the requirements for conveyor start-up warnings

involving both manually-operated and automatically operated conveyor belt systems

at surface and underground mining locations. 

Information

Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR) § 56.14201, which applies to conveyor

systems at all surface metal and nonmetal mines and 30 CFR § 57.14201, which applies 

to conveyor systems at all underground metal and nonmetal mines, require that 

conveyor operators either: (a) visually check to make certain all persons are in the clear 

before starting a conveyor that is visible for its entire length from the starting switch; or 

(b) provide a visual or audible warning within 30 seconds before starting a conveyor 

that is not visible for its entire length from the starting switch.

MSHA interprets 30 CFR §§ 56.14201 and 57.14201 to apply to conveyors that are 

operated manually and to conveyors that are operated automatically, including 

automatic systems controlled by a computer, such as a programmable logic controller. 

Thus, MSHA enforcement personnel will inspect all automatically operated conveyors 

to determine compliance with 30 CFR §§ 56.14201 and 57.14201.
2

Prior to belt motion occurring, automatically operated conveyor systems are incapable 

of recognizing whether all persons are in the clear along the entire length of a conveyor.

For this reason, automatically operated conveyor systems must provide a visual or 

audible warning before the conveyor is started.

In determining how to apply the standards to conveyors that are automatically stopped 

and started as part of a regular production cycle, MSHA enforcement personnel should, 

on a case-by-case basis, consider the period of time the conveyor is stopped. If such 

stoppages are for periods of sufficient duration that persons located in the vicinity of 

the conveyor may reasonably perceive that the conveyor has been turned off 

intentionally and would anticipate that a warning will be given before the conveyor is 

restarted, enforcement personnel should apply 30 CFR §§ 56.14201 and 57.14201 and 

take appropriate enforcement action when the required warnings are not given.

Questions concerning the application of 30 CFR §§ 56.14201 or 57.14201 to automatically

operated conveyor systems should be directed to the appropriate MSHA District 

Manager for clarification.

Background

As a result of technological advancements in conveyor belt systems, questions were 

raised as to whether automatically operated conveyor systems are required to comply 

with the requirements of 30 CFR §§ 56.14201 and 57.14201.

Authority

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

30 CFR §§ 56.14201 and 57.14201, Conveyor Start-up warnings

Contact Person(s)

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health

Chief of Safety

Brian Goepfert, (202) 693-9600

E-mail: Goepfert.Brian@dol.gov

Internet Availability

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

(www.msha.gov) by choosing "Compliance Info" and "Program Information Bulletin." 

Distribution

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders

Miners' Representatives

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Operators

Special Interest Groups