MSHA HANDBOOK SERIES U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration Mine Safety and Health Enforcement December 2020 Handbook Number: PH20-V-4 Health Inspection Procedures Handbook PREFACE Miners can be exposed to many health hazards in mining. This handbook sets forth general procedures for conducting mine health inspections consistent with Section 103(a) of the Mine Act. This handbook supersedes previously issued instructions included in separate Coal and Metal and Nonmetal (M/NM) handbooks. The guidance will be general, and persons should refer to title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that govern coal and other mines for specifics. Compliance related instructions in the MSHA Program Policy Manual remain in effect. The following sets forth guidance for a mine inspector when conducting mine health inspections, and inspection procedures should be consistent with mine conditions and practices. Not all procedures and requirements are applicable for all mine types. Any deviation from the procedures outlined in this handbook should be based on the inspector’s sound discretion, and that of the inspector’s supervisor. Timothy R. Watkins Administrator for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 - EVALUATING A MINE’S HEALTH PROGRAM ................................................. 1-1 CHAPTER 2 - PARTICULATE SAMPLING METHODS ............................................................... 2-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 2-1 B. DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................. 2-1 C. SAMPLING STRATEGY .................................................................................................................. 2-2 D. SAMPLING COMPONENTS ........................................................................................................... 2-4 E. COLLECTING THE SAMPLE(S) ...................................................................................................... 2-9 F. SAMPLE ANALYSIS PREPARATION ............................................................................................ 2-11 G. SPECIAL LABORATORY REQUESTS AND INSTRUCTIONS .......................................................... 2-12 H. COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION ............................................................................................... 2-13 I. INSPECTION REPORTS/DOCUMENTATION............................................................................... 2-13 CHAPTER 3 - NOISE ............................................................................................................................... 3-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 3-1 B. SAMPLING STRATEGY .................................................................................................................. 3-1 C. SAMPLING COMPONENTS ........................................................................................................... 3-2 D. SAMPLING PREPARATION ........................................................................................................... 3-3 E. COLLECTING THE SAMPLE(S) ...................................................................................................... 3-3 F. COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION ................................................................................................. 3-5 G. INSPECTION REPORTS/DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................ 3-8 H. P-CODE PROCESS .......................................................................................................................... 3-8 I. P-CODE EVALUATION CHECKLIST .............................................................................................. 3-9 CHAPTER 4 -ELECTRONIC DIRECT-READ INSTRUMENTS ................................................... 4-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 4-1 B. DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................. 4-1 C. SAMPLING STRATEGY .................................................................................................................. 4-2 D. SAMPLING PREPARATION ........................................................................................................... 4-4 E. COLLECTING THE SAMPLE(S) ...................................................................................................... 4-4 F. COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION ................................................................................................. 4-6 G. INSPECTION REPORTS/DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................ 4-6 CHAPTER 5 - IONIZING RADIATION (M/NM MINES) ............................................................. 5-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 5-1 B. DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................. 5-1 C. SAMPLING STRATEGY .................................................................................................................. 5-2 D. SAMPLING COMPONENTS ........................................................................................................... 5-3 E. SAMPLING PREPARATION ........................................................................................................... 5-5 F. COLLECTING THE SAMPLE(S) ...................................................................................................... 5-5 G. SAMPLE ANALYSIS PREPARATION .............................................................................................. 5-6 H. SAMPLE ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................... 5-6 I. COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION ................................................................................................. 5-8 J. INSPECTION REPORTS/DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................ 5-8 CHAPTER 6 - ASBESTOS FIBERS ....................................................................................................... 6-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 6-1 B. DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................. 6-1 C. SAMPLING STRATEGY .................................................................................................................. 6-1 D. SAMPLING COMPONENTS ........................................................................................................... 6-2 E. COLLECTING THE SAMPLE(S) ...................................................................................................... 6-5 F. SAMPLE ANALYSIS PREPARATION .............................................................................................. 6-7 G. COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION ................................................................................................. 6-8 H. INSPECTION REPORTS/DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................ 6-8 CHAPTER 7 - MISCELLANEOUS SAMPLING METHODS ......................................................... 7-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 7-1 B. DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................. 7-1 C. SAMPLING STRATEGY .................................................................................................................. 7-2 D. SAMPLING COMPONENTS ........................................................................................................... 7-4 E. COLLECTING PERSONAL SAMPLE(S) ......................................................................................... 7-17 F. COMPLIANCE DETERMINATION ............................................................................................... 7-19 G. INSPECTION REPORTS/DOCUMENTATION .............................................................................. 7-19 CHAPTER 8 - SAMPLING PUMPS & AIRFLOW CALIBRATORS ............................................. 8-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 8-1 B. DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................. 8-1 C. SAMPLING PUMP CALIBRATION PROCEDURES .......................................................................... 8-1 D. ANNUAL CALIBRATION CHECK PROCEDURES FOR WET METHOD ELECTRONIC AIRFLOW CALIBRATORS (E.G., SENSIDYNE, GILIAN) .......................................................................................... 8-4 CALIBRATION VERIFICATION RECORD ..............................................................................................