NIOSH Releases New Safety Video: 

Make It Safer With Roof Screen 

 Coal miners, especially roof bolter and continuous 

miner operators, work in a hazardous underground 

environment where they are often exposed to poor 

roof conditions. Nearly 500 rock fall injuries are 

reported each year, and 99% of them are caused by 

rocks falling from between the roof bolts. These 

loose rocks that injure miners are usually just a few 

inches thick, but on average weigh 280 pounds. 

 NIOSH has found that most rock fall injuries can 

be prevented by installing roof screen during the 

bolting cycle. Roof screen is a sheet made of steel 

wires in a grid pattern. When screen is bolted up 

against the mine roof, it provides far more coverage 

than any common surface control used in the mines 

today. Because more mine roof is covered, there is 

less chance that a rock will fall and injure a miner. 

 The facts about roof screen are shown in the new 

NIOSH video entitled “Make It Safer With Roof 

Screen.” Using extensive underground footage, the 

7-minute video shows how well screen keeps loose 

rock from falling in difficult roof conditions. 

Techniques for installing screen from both outsidecontrolled and walk-thru roof bolting machines are 

shown. The video also provides safe handling tips, 

best practices, and information about machine 

technology that can greatly improve material handling. 

Throughout the video, a coal mine safety manager and 

a shift foreman talk about the tremendous difference 

that roof screen has made at their mines. 

 An instructional booklet supplements the video with 

additional information. It presents compelling data 

from mines that have practically eliminated rock fall 

injuries with a roof screening program. Other sections 

of the booklet discuss in greater detail roof screen 

installation, tips for manual screen handling, a material 

handling system for roof screen, and use of the 

personal bolter screen, which can be easily handled by 

one person. Screen specification and custom ordering 

are described, including the sizes of screen, grid sizes, 

reinforcing (indicator) wires, edge cut options, and 

screen strength. A list of additional sources of 

information is also provided. 

Nearly every mine eventually encounters poor roof. 

Screen is one of the most powerful control techniques 

available. This new video will help make mine 

managers aware of screen, and it can help them in 

developing a roof screen installation program. It also 

serves as an information source and teaching tool for 

safety managers and trainers. The video can easily be 

integrated into new miner training programs or annual 

refresher training. 

No. 508 March 2005
 

The goal of all coal mine safety professionals is to 

make mines a safer place to work. Reducing the 

number of rock fall injuries by installing roof screen 

will help. This roof screen video module provides 

information and ideas for developing an effective roof 

screen program, thus achieving the goal of a safer 

workplace. 

 To order a free copy of the “Make It Safer 

With Roof Screen” video and booklet, contact 

Susan B. Robertson at 412–386–6720, e-mail: 

SBRobertson@cdc.gov, or Christopher Mark, 

Ph.D., at 412–386–6522, e-mail: CMark@cdc.gov. 

Or you may complete the order form below, detach, 

and mail to Susan B. Robertson, NIOSH Pittsburgh 

Research Laboratory, Cochrans Mill Rd., P.O. Box 

18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236–0070, or fax to 412–

386–6891. 

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To receive more information about occupational 

safety and health problems, call 1–800–35–

NIOSH (1–800–356–4674), or visit the NIOSH 

Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

Mention of any company name or product does not 

constitute endorsement by the National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health.