MSHA Offering Dust Monitor Certification Courses
Beginning Feb. 1, 2016, mine operators must use Continuous Personal Dust Monitors to sample for respirable coal mine dust on working sections of underground coal mines. The courses are required for personnel who sample, maintain or calibrate CPDMs.
To help mine operators prepare to for using Continuous Personal Dust Monitors to sample for respirable coal mine dust, which an agency rule requires them to do as of Feb. 1, 2016, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is offering certification courses. These are required for personnel who sample, maintain or calibrate CPDMs; they must take the course, pass an exam, and be certified by MSHA.
Mine operators must use the monitors to sample on working sections of underground coal mines and other areas approved by the MSHA district manager, and they must be used to sample air for all Part 90 miners and may be used for sampling at surface mines if approved by the district manager.
For the convenience of operators and miners, MSHA is scheduling courses of instruction and certification exams at locations across the country. Each class and exam, held separately for Sampling and for Maintenance & Calibration, will last about eight hours.
The agency's website lists scheduled courses in the districts and at the National Mine Health & Safety Academy (located in Beaver, W.Va.). More courses may be added, according to MSHA. Advanced registration via phone call or email is required to ensure adequate space and instruction resources. Also available on the site are two sets of examination pool questions from which the test questions will be pulled. MSHA is encouraging all candidates for certification to review the materials in order to prepare for the certification process and to be better educated about the responsibilities and duties of those who hold these MSHA certifications.
Mine operators also may request an on-site course presentation by MSHA by contacting their local MSHA district office.