70.204—Approved sampling devices; maintenance and calibration.
(a)
Approved sampling devices shall be maintained as approved under part 74 (Coal Mine Dust Personal Sampler Units) of this chapter and calibrated in accordance with MSHA Informational Report IR 1240 (1996) “Calibration and Maintenance Procedures for Coal Mine Respirable Dust Samplers (supersedes IR 1121)” by a person certified in accordance with § 70.203 (Certified person; maintenance and calibration).
(b)
Approved sampling devices shall be calibrated at the flowrate of 2.0 liters of air per minute, or at a different flowrate as prescribed by the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the particular device, before they are put into service and at intervals not to exceed 200 hours of operating time thereafter.
(c)
A calibration mark shall be placed on the flowmeter of each approved sampling device to indicate the proper position of the float when the sampler is operating at a flowrate of 2.0 liters of air per minute or other flowrate prescribed by the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the particular device. The standard to denote proper flow is when the lowest part of the float is tangent to the top of the calibration mark.
(d)
Approved sampling devices shall be tested and examined immediately before each sampling shift and necessary external maintenance shall be performed to assure that the sampling devices are clean and in proper working condition by a person certified in accordance with § 70.202 (Certified person; sampling) or § 70.203 (Certified person; maintenance and calibration). This testing and examination shall include the following:
(1)
Testing the voltage of each battery while under actual load to assure the battery is fully charged. The voltage for nickel cadmium cell batteries shall not be lower than the product of the number of cells in the battery pack multiplied by 1.25. The voltage for other than nickel cadmium cell batteries shall not be lower than the product of the number of cells in the battery pack multiplied by the manufacturer's nominal voltage per cell value;
(2)
Examination of all components of the cyclone to assure that they are clean and free of dust and dirt;
(3)
Examination of the inner surface of the cyclone on the approved sampling device to assure that it is free of scoring;
(4)
Examination of the external tubing on the approved sampling device to assure that it is clean and free of leaks, and;
(5)
Examination of the clamping and positioning of the cyclone body, vortex finder and cassette to assure that they are rigid, in alignment, and firmly in contact.
(e)
MSHA Informational Report IR 1240 (1996) referenced in paragraph (a) of this section is incorporated-by-reference. This incorporation-by-reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be inspected or obtained at MSHA, Coal Mine Safety and Health, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2424, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939 and at each MSHA Coal Mine Safety and Health district office. Copies may be inspected at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.