EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/19/2012 EXPIRATION DATE: 03/31/2014

(Reissue of PIL I10-V-01)

PROCEDURE INSTRUCTION LETTER NO. I12-V-07

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

 Administrator for

 Coal Mine Safety and Health

SUBJECT: Supplemental Roof Support Materials

Scope

This Procedure Instruction Letter (PIL) provides instructions to Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) personnel responsible for enforcing the requirements of Title 

30 Code of Federal Regulations (30 C.F.R.) § 75.214, and reviewing and evaluating new 

and revised roof control plans for underground coal mines to insure the plans are 

suitable to the prevailing mining conditions.

Purpose

This PIL will assist MSHA enforcement personnel in determining the location, type, and 

quantity of supplemental roof support required at a particular mine and whether the 

supplemental roof support materials should be identified in the mine’s roof control 

plan.

Procedure Instructions

30 C.F.R. § 75.214, Supplemental support materials, equipment, and tools provides that:

(a) A supply of supplemental roof support materials and the tools and equipment 

necessary to install the materials shall be available at a readily accessible location on 

each working section or within four crosscuts of each working section.

(b) The quantity of support materials and tools and equipment maintained in 

accordance with this section shall be sufficient to support the roof if adverse roof 

conditions are encountered, or in the event of an accident involving a fall.

Mines using traditional roof bolting systems typically maintain wooden props/posts, 

cribs, cap pieces, wedges and crossbars with the tools necessary for installation on the
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section for use as supplemental roof support. In these situations, it is normally not 

necessary to address supplemental support material in the roof control plan as the 

identification of those materials and the quantity necessary at the mine is apparent to 

the inspector and miners.

Other mines may use more complex and sophisticated roof support systems including 

cable bolt systems, resin grouted roof bolts and trusses, tensioned bolting systems and 

conventional point anchor bolts, steel friction props, machined wooden cribbing and 

cementatious cribbing. The distinction between required support components and 

supplemental support components may become blurred and lead to confusion on the 

part of the inspectors and miners. Where these conditions exist, the District Manager 

will examine the mine’s roof control plan to determine whether the plan should clearly

identify which components are present to meet the supplementary requirements of 30 

C.F.R. § 75.214. For both initial plan approval as well as the semi-annual review, 

District Managers, as part of the approval process, will determine whether additional 

supplemental support is necessary, whether additional support requirements should be 

added to the roof control plan, and whether the supplemental support materials and 

equipment required under 30 C.F.R. § 75.214, should be identified in the roof control 

plan. This review will assure that the plan is suitable to the geological conditions and 

the mining systems used at the mine, and assure that additional measures are available 

to protect persons if unusual hazards are encountered. In addition, during the plan 

review, the District Manager will take into consideration any falls of the roof, rib, or face 

and the adequacy of the support systems used at the mine.

Supplemental roof support materials and the tools and equipment necessary to install 

them should be regularly examined during mandatory inspections to assure that 

supplies have not been used, lost, or misplaced. These materials must be available in 

sufficient quantity and in a readily accessible location to support the roof if adverse roof 

conditions are encountered or a roof fall accident occurs.

Background

This PIL provides directions for inspectors to assure that the standard is being applied 

properly and uniformly. 

Authority

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 C.F.R. § 75.214(a) and (b), 

75.220(a)(1), 75.221(a)(5), 75.222(a), and 75.223(d).

Internet Availability

The PIL may be viewed on the World Wide Web by accessing the MSHA home page 

(www.msha.gov) and choosing “Compliance Info” and “Procedure Instruction Letter.”
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Issuing Office and Contact Person

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division

Johnny P. Calhoun, (202) 693-9507

E-mail: calhoun.johnny@dol.gov

Distribution

MSHA Coal and All-volume Program Policy Manual Holders

Underground Coal Mine Operators