Cannon Face Drill Operator

At least one fire fighting system must be operable at all times. If defects are found on both systems, tag-out drill and immediately report to supervisor.

Check fire suppression cartridge & ring pin

Check gauge to ensure extinguisher is properly charged

Ensure pin is in place and is secure

Ensure LED indicator is functioning and green light is on

Underground mine fires cause carbon monoxide gas, as well as, an oxygen deficient atmosphere which can be explosive with the right mixture of oxygen.

Ensure drill feed lever is in neutral position

Start engine

Enter cab

Push by pass button

Turn key clock wise

Ensure the Murphy switch is operable

Ensure red indicator light is working

If light is not working shut down engine and properly tag out. Notify supervisor.

Listen for working audible alarm

If alarm is not heard shut down engine and properly tag out. Notify supervisor.

Check voltage gauge

Ensure gauge indicator is in the green

Check drill and tram lights

Flip toggle switch to on position

Ensure all lights are on

Check windshield

Check for cracks

Ensure windshield is properly within the seal

Check for wiper operation

Check engine speed control

Flip toggle switch to full position to ensure engine goes to high RPM

Check tram alarm

Release parking brakes

Listen for alarm

Check park brakes

Report any safety defects and/or unusual conditions to the supervisor and immediately shut down and tag out equipment

Fill out pre-shift inspection form immediately after conducting pre-shift inspection

It is the responsibility of the operator to complete the form. If the form is not completed the employee would be disciplined.

4. Drill Operation

Start engine

Start compressor

Flip toggle switch to on position

Start rotation

Flip toggle switch to forward rotation to left

Turn on water

Ball valve located in cab

Engage air

Valve located on top water valve

Push feed tilt lever down

Drilling the correct angle will ensure that the face will pull the maximum amount

Ensure the correct angle of minus 18 degrees is maintained

Position boom on the first bottom hole on fifth line from right rib.

Push boom swing lever down

Ensure the steel stays straight with the face (perpendicular)

Release boom swing lever when lined over the bottom left hole to be drilled

Push feed extend lever down until drill touches the face

To maintain the optimal efficiency of the drilling operation, it is important to follow the provided drilling sequence listed in the job steps that follow. If obstruction and/or sandstone is encountered, the drill hole locations may have to be moved over a few inches. Start drilling and make setup moves from right to left to stay ahead of cutter.

Push feed lever forward to begin drilling

Observed feed pressure gauge

Pressure should read 400 psi maximum. If pressure exceeds 400 psi, adjust feed pressure according to manufacture specification. Pressure chart is posted in cab.

Observe shavings for dust control

If area becomes to dusty add water accordingly. If shavings become to wet decrease water.

Listen and look for feed retract

This would indicate the hole is completely drilled.

Pull feed extension lever back to retract the feed extension

Position boom to bottom hole on third line from right rib

Pull the boom swing lever to swing the boom to the right

Ensure that the boom is lined up with the hole then release the lever

To minus 18 degrees.

Ensure the correct angle of minus 18 degrees is maintained

Continue to position boom and drill the remaining bottom holes until you reach the right rib

Pull boom lift lever up to raise boom until marker on chain is even with bottom hole on right rib

Set boom angle to minus 16 degrees

Pull feed tilt lever up

Release lever when minus 16 degree is reached

Drilling the correct angle will ensure that the face will pull the maximum amount.

Position boom to the second hole on the second row on the right rib

Push feed extend lever until boom contacts the face

Ensure marker on chain is even with bottom hole on right rib

Proceed using the procedures to drill holes as specified above

To maintain the optimal efficiency of the drilling operation it is important to follow the provided drilling sequence listed in the job steps that follow

Continue to drill hole up the right rib using the drill/angle pattern chart located in cab

Each row requires a different angle. The angles are as follows: (from bottom up) minus 18, minus 16, minus 12, minus 6, 0 and plus 3 degrees.

Position boom to number two hole on the second row from right rib using the levers and procedures outlined above

Drill the number two hole on the second row of right rib using the levers and procedures outlined above

Continue drilling holes according to pattern from right to left/left to right working up until setup is completed

Shut off rotation

Return boom to center

Push boom lift lever down until boom is level with operator cab

Lift on the boom swing lever to swing boom to right until boom is centered with arrow

To prevent drill from tipping over

Lift out riggers

Pull lever toward operator to lift outrigger (there is four different levers that control all outriggers)

Ensure that all outriggers are lowered/raised one at a time

The levers are located on left rear side of operator seat

Release park brakes

Tram drill to next setup

Stand up in the cab

Ensure area is clear before moving to next set up

If the cutter is in the room, make sure that you don't back over the cutter cable.

Push tram lever forward and to the right to steer drill away from face and toward the center of the room approximately 50 feet away from the face

Release lever

Pull lever to forward position to tram drill to center of next setup

Steer drill and place boom approximately 3 feet away from face

Release tram lever

Apply parking brakes

Exit cab

Walk to rear of drill approximately 30 feet

Visually ensure that the drill is square to the face

If drill is not square to the face reposition drill accordingly

Drill holes starting at the bottom left and continue left to right/right to left, using drill pattern until setup is completed

Use drill controls and procedures as out lined above

Tram drill to third set up

Use tram procedures outlined above

Follow same tram and drill procedure to complete third set up

Tram to final set up along left rib

Begin drilling the bottom right hole on the fifth line left of center

Follow drilling procedures as previously out lined

Drill right to left until last hole against left rib is completed

Drill holes up left rib until last hole at back is completed according to drill/angle pattern specification

Set up boom and begin drilling second hole second row

According to drill/angle pattern specification

Continue drilling left to right/right to left until last hole is completed

According to drill/angle pattern specification

Turn off rotation

Turn off air

Turn off water

Center the boom following the same procedure as described above

To prevent drill from tipping over

Prepare drill to tram to next room

5. Changing Drill Bits

Lower boom to approximately 4' above floor

Shut drill off

Tag out drill

Turn off master key switch located by the door of operator cab next to the second step

Remove key from master switch and place key in drillers pocket

Fill out tag and place on door

Lock out tag out according to company policy

Obtain hammer and new bit from tool box

Located at right rear fender

Don full face shield

Hit bit with hammer to loosen bit

Proper PPE as required per company policy

Remove bit (unscrew)

Apply never seize to new bit

Install new bit and hand tighten

Place old bit in bucket

Bucket is located on drill inside cab

Place hammer in tool box

Remove tag from door

Replace master key

Turn master key to on position

6. Changing Drill Steel

Lower boom to approximately 4' above floor

Notify supervisor that steel needs to be replaced

Obtain drill steel

Tag out drill

Turn off master key switch located by the door of operator cab next to the second step

Remove key from master switch and place key in drillers pocket

Fill out tag and place on door

Lock out tag out according to company policy

Obtain two 18 inch pipe wrenches from tool box

Tool box located on right rear of drill

Place one pipe wrench on the steel adaptor

To prevent rotation of adaptor

Place second pipe wrench on the steel

Pull second pipe wrench down to break connection

Remove pipe wrenches after the connection is broken

Unscrew steel by hand and remove from steel guides

Place old steel in truck

History at this mine shows that steel has entered the mining cycle causing shut downs and loss of production. May put maintenance personnel in dangerous positions to repair or remove steel.

Place new steel in guide

Apply never seize to the threads

Hand screw steel into adaptor until hand tight

Install new bit into steel

Hand tighten new bit into steel

Place tools back in tool box

Remove tag from door

Replace master key

Turn master key to the on position

7. End of Shift Activities

Ensure drill steel is not left in the drill hole

Ensure air, water, and rotation are off

Ensure drill is shut down

Equipment should not be left unattended when it is running

Leave job site approximately 45 minutes prior to end of shift and travel to lunch room

Communicate with supervisor and turn in pre-shift and work place inspection reports

Communicate to supervisor the drilling progress that was completed

Leave lunch room approximately 30 minutes prior to end of shift

Travel to 900' level production shaft

Wait until supervisor calls the man cage (approximately 2-3 minutes)

Enter the air-lock

Close air-lock doors

Open inside air-lock door and exit

Close air lock after last person has exited the air-lock

Ensure the man cage is spotted

Ensure horn is sounded prior to opening shaft gate

Open shaft gate

Open man cage door

Enter man cage

Close shaft gate

Close man cage door

Ride man cage to surface after signal is given to the hoist operator

Ensure that the horn is sounded prior to opening man cage door

Open the man cage door

Open shaft gate

Exit man cage

Close man cage door

Close the shaft gate

Release the man cage

Walk to the change room

Punch out time clock

Save mine light and place on charger

Tag out

Replace PPE in personal locker

Walk to vehicle


Back to Top	www.msha.gov	www.dol.gov
Frequently Asked Questions \| Freedom of Information Act \| Customer Survey Accessibility \| Privacy & Security Statement \| Disclaimers

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor Arlington, VA 22209-3939	Phone: (202) 693-9400 Fax-on-demand: (202) 693-9401 Technical (web) questions: Webmaster On-line Filing Help: MSHAhelpdesk@dol.gov or call (877) 778-6055 Contact Us