The mining industry has been experiencing a number of accidents and injuries associated with the operation of remote control mining machines in underground mines. These are typically crushing or pinning type accidents that occur when the operator of the remote controls gets caught between the machine and the mine walls when the machine unexpectedly or suddenly moves. The Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is seeking manufacturers of established technology that can be adapted to underground continuous mining machines to detect the presence of nearby personnel and provide warning signals and cause machine shutdown when personnel are located within the machine’s danger zone. With this notice, MSHA wishes to identify suitable companies with which MSHA could partner to develop proximity shutdown systems. Once an applicable system(s) is(are) identified, MSHA will coordinate product development with a suitable continuous mining machine manufacturer and mine operator for eventual field testing. Please contact David Chirdon at (304) 547-2026 or via e-mail at
[email protected] for futhur information.