NIOSH is the U.S. federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations to

prevent worker injury and illness. NIOSH was established under the Occupational Safety

and Health Act of 1970. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information

SPOKANE MINING RESEARCH DIVISION

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The Spokane Mining Research Division (SMRD) is 

part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health (NIOSH). SMRD works to eliminate mining 

fatalities, injuries, and illnesses across all mining sectors, 

focusing on mining in the western United States. SMRD 

partners with labor, mining associations, equipment 

manufacturers, mine operators, and other government 

agencies to study worker health and safety problems, and 

to develop products and interventions that offer solutions 

to workplace challenges.

SMRD conducts field research at various mine sites across 

the western United States, as well as laboratory research 

at the SMRD testing facilities. 

SMRD Support and Rock Properties Laboratory: 

This laboratory is where 

various rock, cemented backfill 

samples, shotcrete, and 

ground support technologies 

are prepared, characterized, 

and tested. The laboratory 

has multiple test machines 

to simulate ground stresses to test a sample’s strength 

characteristics. Shown here is a test to determine the 

strength and deformation characteristics of a combination 

of support types: bolts, steel mesh, and shotcrete.

Health Studies Laboratories:

These laboratories include: 1) an 

environmental chamber where 

temperature and humidity can be 

varied to simulate mining conditions 

and tasks to study health effects 

such as heat stress, and 2) a new industrial hygiene 

laboratory for preparation and analysis of field samples to 

understand and characterize exposure to respiratory and 

other health hazards.

Machine Safety Laboratory:

This laboratory is where machine safety issues related 

to maintenance, manual operation, automation, and 

situational awareness are studied and proposed solutions 

are tested to improve worker safety. A test conveyor 

allows distributed sensors, 

automation, and mobile interfaces 

to be evaluated to improve 

worker awareness of machine 

status, maintenance activities, and 

proximity to hazardous areas.

Technology & Product Highlights

Ground Stability Software:

The Ground Support 

Factor of Safety Calculator 

software determines the 

deadweight factor of safety 

(FOS) for an underground 

mining excavation’s ground 

support design based on user inputs and established 

methods. Both two-dimensional (2D) design and threedimensional (3D cone) options are available for drift and 

intersection design. In addition to support design tools, 

NIOSH has developed new open-source software libraries 

to automate and improve analysis of seismic data related 

to the effect of mining on ground stability. This package, 

called ObsPlus, is available on Github.

Heat Stress Fact Sheets: 

This series of six fact sheets and 

poster offer practical information 

about working in hot mining 

conditions. They provide an 

overview on heat stress and focus 

on risk factors, acclimatization, 

hydration, work and rest 

schedules, and first aid. Miners 

can use these fact sheets to promote safe behavior while 

working in the heat.

www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining

(509) 354-8000
To receive NIOSH documents or more information about occupational safety and health topics, please contact NIOSH:

Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636) TTY: 1–888–232–6348 

CDC INFO: www.cdc.gov/info or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/NIOSH

For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted.

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018145revised062022

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-145 (revised 06/2022)

June 2022

Our Health and Safety Research Areas

Surface Mine Safety

Miner Health

Ground Support 

Technologies

Mine Stability and 

Seismicity

Automation and Machine Safety

Exposure Science

Centers and Programs

The Miner Health Program (MHP) was recently established as a long-term, systematic 

effort to understand and improve the health and well-being of all miners through 

focused integration of research, transfer of findings, evaluation, and community 

engagement. The MHP is part of the NIOSH Mining Program, whose mission is to 

eliminate mining fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through relevant research and 

impactful solutions.

OUR STAFF

SMRD has 50 full time positions and has offices and labs in Spokane, Washington. Staff have experience in the 

following areas: 

Engineering: General Engineers | Mining Engineers | Mechanical Engineers | Chemical Engineers | 

Electrical Engineers | Materials Engineers

Physical Science: Geophysicists | Physical Scientists

Epidemiology and Surveillance: Epidemiologists | Industrial Hygienists | Statisticians

Human Factors and Workplace Health: Behavioral Scientists | Medical Officers