30 USC § 844 - Rock dust and gas hazards; controls

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t30/s844"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "30 USC § 844 - Rock dust and gas hazards; controls"
title_number: 30
title_name: "MINERAL LANDS AND MINING"
section_number: "844"
section_name: "Rock dust and gas hazards; controls"
chapter_number: 22
chapter_name: "MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "INTERIM MANDATORY HEALTH STANDARDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 91–173, title II, § 204, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, § 509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)"
---


# § 844. Rock dust and gas hazards; controls

The dust resulting from drilling in rock shall be controlled by the use of permissible dust collectors, or by water or water with a wetting agent, or by ventilation, or by any other method or device approved by the Secretary which is at least as effective in controlling such dust. Respiratory equipment approved by the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be provided persons exposed for short periods to inhalation hazards from gas, dusts, fumes, or mist. When the exposure is for prolonged periods, other measures to protect such persons or to reduce the hazard shall be taken.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–173, title II, § 204, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, § 509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to  which is classified to , Education.

### Effective Date

Section operative six months after , except to the extent an earlier date is specifically provided for in , see , set out as a note under .