Technical assistance is routinely provided to the field in the areas of fire protection, industrial safety and related areas. Fire protection services include the evaluation of new or novel fire suppression and detection systems to determine compliance with applicable sections of 30 CFR, assistance in the design of fire protection systems for underground shops, storage and conveyor belt drive areas and training to MSHA inspectors and industry. The Division also participates in accident investigations and provides field, laboratory and expert witness services. With respect to laboratory services, the Division maintains a forensic laboratory designed to perform testing and evaluation on evidence obtained during fire and explosion investigations conducted by the Agency and other Federal Agencies for the purpose of determining the potential cause and origin. Training on the process and the associated fire and explosion hazards was also provided to the inspectors.
Plans are under way to transmit the acquired knowledge to the copper refinery operators.
A new conveyor belt regulation is in the final rule development stages. This final rule would change the conveyor belt flammability requirements from one in which a small scale laboratory test apparatus is used to determine acceptability to one in which a larger, more representative test apparatus is utilized. An engineering study is being prepared to investigate the fire and explosion hazards associated with the gold mine autoclaves. Similar to the SXEW investigation, this study will include visits to the gold autoclaves. Training on the process and the associated fire and explosion hazards will also be provided to the inspectors.