ISSUE DATE: 03/21/2012

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P12-03

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

 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 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 
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disabled miners using an escape 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 during transport.

MSHA standards at 30 C.F.R § 75.382 contain requirements for mechanical escape 

facilities. MSHA recommends the following best practices be considered for use in 

mechanical escape facility design:

•The conveyance should have a minimum floor area of 10 square feet and be large 

enough to accommodate an injured person on a stretcher with at least one other person 

in attendance.

•The conveyance should be fully enclosed and covered with a substantial steel roof (1/8

inch thick minimum recommended) and any opening in the closed conveyance should 

be small enough to prevent falling material from entering the conveyance 

(recommended that a 3/8 inch diameter rod should not pass through any opening in 

the closed conveyance).

•The conveyance door should be provided with a latch; and be operable from the inside 

and the outside.

•The top and bottom edges of the conveyance should be tapered or beveled to prevent 

the conveyance from becoming caught or wedged in the shaft (a taper of 45 degree for a 

minimum of 6 inches of vertical height recommended).

•Handholds for the occupants should be provided.

•The hoist should have a rated line pull of at least 150 percent of the maximum load 

based on the conveyance floor area using 21⁄2 square feet per person at 200 pounds per 

person, the weight of the conveyance and the weight of the wire rope. Partitioning off 

the conveyance to reduce the floor area in order to reduce the rated capacity should not 

be permitted.

•Wire rope used for emergency hoists should have a safety factor of 10, based on the 

static load.

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.
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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), 75.381 (c) (1), 75.382, and 75.1502.

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 persons for this PIB?

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division

John Arrington, (202) 693-9549

E-mail: arrington.john@dol.gov

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division

Michael G. Kalich, (202) 693-9714

E-mail: kalich.michael@dol.gov

Who will receive this PIB?

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders

Underground Coal Mine Operators

Miners' Representatives

Independent Contractors

Special Interest Groups