If you dig long enough you can find Mine fall protection and anchor point safety guidance. (Yes, pun intended!)

If you dig long enough you can find Mine fall protection and anchor point safety guidance. (Yes, pun intended!)

You know that avoiding falls is critical since work place fall injuries are known to be serious and long-term recovery.  You no doubt are familiar with the Occupational Health Safety Act (OSHA) fall protection regulations.  They tend to be well detailed offering solid guidance.  For example, OSHA requires anchor points be rated to hold 5,000 lbs. per person attached. (OSHA 1910.140 (c )  (13) (i) and 1926.502 (d) (15)

But you work in mining.  The Mine Act of 1977 does not express any specific pound weight for anchor points as does OSHA. You know this because you dug through the entire MSHA statutes. You found nothing.  Where should you turn for guidance for fall protection guidance in the mining world.

Well, after a fair amount of digging myself I  stumbled across several sources you may find helpful.

First is a Program Policy Letter No. P12-IV-01 issued by MSHA stating that OSHA 1926.501 (b) (1) may in many cases be satisfy MSH Act standards 56/57.15005 (safety belts).

Second, MSHA best practices document states that anchor points must satisfy the 5,000 lbs. (https://arlweb.msha.gov/training/docs/safe-steps-fall-arrest-task-training-outline.pdf)

I hope this saves you some digging.