Due to accidents and methane ignitions at highwall miner and auger operations, MSHA is providing best practices to aid mine operators in developing sound ground control plans.

Best Practices

• Provide adequate spacing/webbing between holes to reduce potential cut through and increase highwall stability.
• Ventilate to dilute methane or inert with adequate volume of non- combustible gas.
• Use water sprays to suppress float coal dust.
• Monitor for methane and have action levels established.
• Use explosive-proof equipment inby the collar of the hole.
• Employ an alignment process to assure sufficient barriers are maintained.
• Locate gas wells and/or abandoned mines near the mining zone.