The phase-out is based on the results of a recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)/MSHA study to evaluate the oxygen starter system on the SR-100 Self-Contained Self-Rescuer (SCSR), in which SR-100 oxygen starters failed to operate in five out of 500 units tested. MSHA and NIOSH agree that action is needed to assure the safety and health of miners, and that the SR-100 SCSR must be phased out of use in a timely and orderly manner.
In addition, NIOSH has determined the manual start procedure for the SR-100 should only be used as a last resort. The manufacturer’s manual start procedure (a.k.a. the Cold Start procedure), is more difficult to activate and it may take more time for the SR-100 SCSR to generate sufficient oxygen to allow for a rapid escape. MSHA wants to assure that miners are trained to know what to do if they have a problem starting their SR-100 SCSR. For more information, go to: http://www.msha.gov/regs/complian/PIB/2012/pib12-09.asp.
