USBM Health and Safety Legacy Continues Under NIOSH

 The Pittsburgh (Pa.) and Spokane (Wash.) Research Laboratories are among the world’s 

foremost mining research establishments. Once a part of the former U.S. Bureau of Mines 

(USBM), which was abolished by the U.S. Congress in fiscal year 96, health and safety research 

at these laboratories was transferred to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH). NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making 

recommendations for the prevention of work-related illness and injury. The Institute is part of the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services. 

 Over the past two decades, the Pittsburgh and Spokane Research Laboratories have 

produced sustained technological achievements in mining health and safety, including— 

• Development of novel respirable coal dust control technologies and more effective 

monitoring techniques to reduce worker exposure to hazardous mine dusts. 

• Improved ground control technologies to warn and protect miners from the dangers 

of coal mine roof collapses and other hazardous strata conditions. 

• Improved ergonomic design criteria and training methods to protect mine workers 

from injuries and fatalities associated with equipment and manual tasks. 

• Development of enabling technologies that allow miners to control their mining 

equipment from a physically safe, protected work area away from respirable dust, 

harmful noise levels, and roof collapses. 

• Improved mine fire detection and extinguishment techniques. 

• Development of smaller, lighter, and safer emergency breathing devices. 

 Research at the Pittsburgh and Spokane Research Laboratories has reached a high degree 

of maturity, with numerous techniques and procedures already in use or approaching the point 

where they can be applied by the U.S. mining industry. However, much remains to be done, 

because traditional causes of injuries and fatalities and the potential for underground disasters 

still exists in U.S. mines today. For example, mine roof collapses account for a major portion of 

underground deaths and injuries. Respirable coal mine dust, which can lead to “black lung” 

disease, and harmful noise levels remain persistent health concerns. The introduction of novel 

high-productivity mining technologies may create hazards not yet recognized. 

 The transition of mining health and safety research from the former USBM into NIOSH 

creates a novel approach and partnership for improving the health and reducing the risks of 

injury and fatality for all mine workers. The strengths of the public health model, derived from 

the medical sciences, are greatly enhanced with the integration of a solutions-oriented 

engineering expertise. This partnership improves the health of workers and reduces their risks of 

injury and fatality by— 

1. Establishing research priorities based on accurate surveillance data; 

2. Developing interventions from products of research and emerging technologies; 

3. Assessing the effectiveness of interventions; and 

4. Delivering products of research and knowledge to people who can prevent disease, 

injuries, and death in the workplace. 
 With extensive input from customers and stakeholders, this novel safety and health 

improvement model places special emphasis on the following research areas: dust control and 

measurement, including silica, diesel, and toxic substances; hearing loss prevention; human 

factors; haulage; equipment design; surface and noncoal mining; new and emerging practices and 

technologies; fires and explosions; life support; and ground control. 

 Under their new home with NIOSH, the Pittsburgh and Spokane Research Laboratories 

will aggressively continue their efforts to develop the science and technology to protect the 

health and safety of U.S. mine workers into the 21st century. To receive additional information 

about mining issues or other occupational safety and health problems, call 1–800–35–NIOSH 

(1–800–356–4674), or visit the NIOSH Home Page on the World Wide Web at 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html 

Robert J. Tuchman, Technical Writer-Editor 

NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory 

Pittsburgh, Pa.