MSHA Discusses the Future of Autonomous Mining Equipment
The Nevada Mining Association's (NMA) safety and health committee recently engaged with senior officials from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to address safety in Nevada’s underground and surface metal/nonmetal mining operations. Representatives from Ogletree Deakins were also present at the meeting.
During the session, MSHA officials, including Brian Goepfert, deputy administrator for metal and nonmetal, and Kevin Hirsch, acting district manager for the Western District, provided insights on topics such as ground control, fire safety, seatbelt usage, escape and evacuation strategies, and powered haulage safety. They also responded to questions from attendees, emphasizing their willingness to collaborate with mining operators and consider safety initiatives proposed by the NMA. MSHA announced the launch of a new initiative on February 4, 2019, focusing on preventing collisions between large and small vehicles, which will involve sharing training materials and best practices without instituting targeted inspections.
Regarding autonomous mining equipment, NMA members raised concerns about the lack of specific regulations, particularly regarding operational requirements like wheel chocking for autonomous vehicles or the necessity of traditional pre-shift inspections for machines capable of self-diagnosis. MSHA clarified that unless there is a direct hazard to a miner, the regulations tied to human safety do not apply to autonomous equipment. They emphasized that their standards are only relevant when there is a potential risk to human workers.
Hirsch highlighted that MSHA is committed to supporting the deployment of autonomous equipment that can reduce risks to human miners. The agency advised against filing petitions for modifications of standards that are only applicable when human safety is at risk. Additionally, MSHA clarified that operators do not need to obtain separate Mine IDs for each piece of autonomous equipment. If a field office issues citations related to autonomous vehicle usage under inapplicable standards, operators are encouraged to contact district managers for resolution.
Finally, MSHA stated that it currently does not plan to use drones for regular inspections, though their technical support division has a drone available for special circumstances.
Ogletree Deakins will continue to monitor developments in this area, providing expertise on the unique safety issues related to the deployment of autonomous mining equipment.